39. Discover More Books: The Impossible First by Colin O’Brady

"The idea of impossibility and possibility is entirely self-determined. And, it is our personal responsibilities to identify the potential sticking points and reframe them as growth points. We have to commit the effort, the time, and the energy to venture into the unknown. That is the most effective way to conquer your own impossible first." Welcome back to another episode of Discover More.  This week, we have another episode of Discover More Books, where we’ll be reviewing and discussing the book, “The Impossible First” by Colin O'Brady. The Impossible First tells the story of how Colin O’Brady became the first person to cross the landmass of Antarctica, completely unassisted and unsupported. The expedition spanned 54 days, with absolutely zero companionship or supply drop offs. This required pulling a 375 pound sled for 932 miles through temperatures as low as -112 degrees Fahrenheit. While the journey itself is powerful & inspiring, we believe the true value of this book lies in the lessons, mindsets, and approaches to life that Colin shares throughout his journey. When he was visiting Thailand at age 22, he severely burned his legs during a flaming jump rope accident. He was told he would never walk again, shattering his identity as a high-level endurance athlete. However, instead of focusing on the negative, his optimistic mother challenged him to set a goal and take the first step during recovery. Colin set a goal of running a triathlon, a seemingly impossible goal for someone in his position. Through his patience, visualization, and hard work, Colin went on to not just complete, but win the Chicago triathlon, just two years later. This story illustrates the very ethos of the Impossible First, that anything is possible if we remove the limits we put on ourselves. He believes that we are the stories we tell ourselves, and by re-writing these narratives, everyone has the power to change what is possible. We highly recommend reading this book, not just for the entertaining story, but also for the profound and inspiring lessons that O’Brady shares. We’d really appreciate it if you could leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, as it really helps the podcast grow. We hope you enjoy this episode of Discover More Books. Thank you.