How to do the impossible…

Being self-employed means constantly confronting doubt in order to turn your ideas into reality.

Some people do it better than others, though, and they seem to have a few things in common: instead of saying, “I can’t” they ask, “How can I?” They don’t always have the money, time or resources to turn their creative idea into reality, but somehow they do it anyway.

My grandfather is the perfect example of this type of person. At the age of 89 he hasn’t slowed down much, even after a lifetime of entrepreneurship. He started working when he was a kid during the depression, selling papers and popcorn, and worked his way into all sorts of exciting situations, just to make a buck or have an adventure.

When I was in high school and college I worked for my grandfather’s paddlewheel boat business. He was a tough employer. Words like “can’t” and “don’t know how” made him growl. He disdained laziness and excuses, and preferred not to be in the company of people who made them. He always worked hard, with full determination, and let nothing get in his way. Whether he was selling popcorn or boat rides, my grandfather put his heart and soul into everything he did.

When he was in his 70s he had knee surgery that caused him to lose mobility in one leg. The doctor said my grandfather would need physical therapy before he’d be able to walk. The same night he escaped from the hospital and walked across the street to have dinner with his family.

Never tell my grandfather he can’t do something. It’s the best way to ensure that he will succeed or die trying.

People who have a hard time manifesting their ideas can learn a lot from someone like my grandfather. Every obstacle becomes a challenge he must overcome. Instead of saying, “I can’t do that,” he says, “How can I do that?” Sometimes he doesn’t even question. He just does it, regardless of the consequences.

For people who have less gumption than my grandfather, it’s easy to get stuck and not take leaps. We second guess ourselves and worry about making the wrong choice. If this happens to you, you are certainly not alone. I think people like my grandfather are the exception, not the rule.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn from them, embrace the philosophies that cause people like my grandfather to cross the street when they shouldn’t be able to walk.

If you ever say “I can’t” ask yourself if it’s true. If you ever feel like you don’t have enough time or money or resources to manifest your visions, ask instead, “How can I make this happen?” If it’s important to you, you’ll find a way.

As soon as we limit ourselves by saying, “I can’t” or “That will never happen” we create that exact experience. We immediately limit our options.

But the second we say, “How can I do that?” our bodies feel hope and our minds are free to explore opportunities we may not have seen otherwise.

In 1944, my grandfather, a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne, jumped into Normandy on D-Day. He landed behind enemy lines in a precarious jump that caused him to sprain his ankle. Alone and in the dark, he nervously cut himself out of his parachute and wobbled away before meeting three other American soldiers. Together they assessed the situation and realized they had to cross a river to get to their destination. The only bridge that crossed the river was surrounded by German soldiers.

My grandfather and his army companions spent another day and night wandering around trying to figure out what to do. After the sun rose they noticed a nearby farm house. My grandfather prepared to check it out, but one of the soldiers threatened to have him court-marshaled if he did.

Not one to be deterred, my grandfather went anyway. He found a French family that was part of the French underground. They gave my grandfather food and shelter, and helped the young American soldiers, and many others, safely cross the river. He remains friends with the family to this day.

If my grandfather had said, “I can’t” he wouldn’t have lived to tell the story. Instead, every step of the way he thought, “How can I do what needs to be done?” And he did it.