4 Ways to Go From Impossible to Inevitable

IMPOSSIBLE !!!? Some of us have friends, family members, co workers, bosses, children, neighbors etc who for some reason think they have the power and the right to tell us that what we want to achieve is impossible.

Truth be told,?sometimes we proactively and repeatedly say that same thing to ourselves, so no one actually has to tell us our vision is impossible. We’ve already told ourselves that.

And when we begin to say that to ourselves or believe that in our mind, it causes the actions we may have taken to achieve our ambition, drive that dream, go after that goal, persevere through to our purpose, to be delayed, denied or distracted.

Whatever it is you want to achieve, if it is big enough, bodacious enough, and stretches you further than you thought possible, it will seem to be impossible, but you will get it done anyway. When you begin achieving that vision, you come to find out that it really never was impossible—it was really inevitable—it was just a matter of time until you achieved it.?

And when you achieve that one thing, you will do the next thing, and the next thing, continuing to win.

What are the 4 things you can start doing right now to get to the inevitable, and shake off the impossible thinking so you can win?

SUSPEND DISBELIEF (HOW YOU THINK)

If? you remember nothing else, remember this!! You have set out to achieve goals before, and you? achieved them!? Imagine your life’s journey so far, as a rearview mirror in your car. That mirror is small, but still allows you to see where you were, what pothole you just ran over, or the beautiful car that you passed on the street.?

You can see in your life’s mirror that you have been promoted before, you have beat competition & gained a new customer, you have brought projects in earlier than expected, you helped you company improve their demand forecasting. You have graduated with straight A’s, learned how to swim, can speak before thousands of people with no hesitation. There are SO. MANY. THINGS. you have done. If you have won before, you will win again.

Now you can say to yourself, ‘if that is where I was, where can I go/grow now”? That’s where the ‘windshield’ of your life’s next journey comes in.

The windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror, because your future is bigger and is right in front?of you.

(Now depending on the weather conditions of your road, the visibility of your future may be visible for many miles, or it may be limited due to fog. No matter the visibility, you will continue to look through that windshield and focus on getting to your destination, no matter how long it takes.)? After all, your destination is not impossible to reach, it is just inevitable—just a matter of time. ? ?

To get there, you must suspend disbelief. That involves giving ourselves ‘permission ‘ to envision a new venture or capability without being locked into telling ourselves ‘No, we can’t do that’. I need you to take your disbelief, crush it into a ball, throw it high up on a shelf, then throw away the ladder so you can never reach ‘disbelief’ again. It is when you buy into your disbelief that will make your dream or vision seem impossible.

You will see beyond any current limitations and will envision a future where your goals are possible. Roger Bannister, for instance, shattered the four-minute mile barrier by first believing it could be done. He visualized his success, trained relentlessly, and ultimately redefined what was possible in athletics.

DEVELOP A PLAN (HOW YOU LEAD)

This involves breaking down your overarching goal into smaller, manageable tasks. Each task should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). By focusing on incremental progress, you can build momentum and gradually move closer to your ultimate objective.

Consider the journey of Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black female Supreme Court Justice. I think we might have called her getting a seat on the SC an impossibility just 10 years ago. But her path to the highest court was paved with strategic career moves, each one building on the last.

She pursued excellence in her education, honed her legal skills, and took on roles that prepared her for the challenges of the Supreme Court.? She had a stellar reputation, and a phenomenal network. Her success was not a sudden leap but a series of calculated steps.

YOUR NETWORK IS EVERYTHING!? (WHO YOU KNOW)

No one achieves anything by themselves.? The books we read (even though we may read them without help) we didn’t write them.?The pens we write with, the food we cook, the clothes we wear. Everything we do to win is done in some way because of the help of others.?

Being intentional about a? strong support network is essential to turn the impossible into the inevitable.

This network can include role models, mentors, sponsors, accountability buddies, priests, colleagues, coaches, etc. who provide diverse guidance & perspectives,? encouragement, and resources.

I didn’t know I was going to become the highest ranking woman, CIO, corporate officer, and SVP, reporting to the chairman of the board of a $5B company, when my prior job was VP IT of a tiny company at J&J. But it happened, and I went higher from there.

How did I do that?? Through my network.? At J&J and outside of J&J –they helped me stay motivated, provided constructive feedback, and opened a door to the C-Suite that I walked through.

Do you want to know who you are? Just look at who you have around you. If you don’t like who you see, get new friends! Also offer your expertise to others. You may not know how special you made them feel— your help may mean the world to them.

NEVER QUIT (HOW YOU WIN)

Did I achieve everything I sought to achieve with no issues? Absolutely not.? I’ve had challenges with employees, bosses, clients, my family, my health, etc. The road from impossible to inevitable is rarely smooth.

You will fall down. But you must get back up.? If your bodacious goal is worth having, it is worth fighting for.

Your mission is to show resilience at every turn —that is the ability to bounce back from adversity—that is crucial.

This means maintaining focus and determination even when faced with failure or criticism. Learn from the failure, and I believe you must use failure as data.? Learn from it and plug in that data into your plan for tomorrow and see how you can avoid the same mistake.

I learned through time, trial and error that I was able to transform the impossible into the inevitable.? It requires a combination of thinking with growth mindset, having a plan of how you will lead you and your team through it, surrounding yourself with the people who have the power to help, the experience to guide, and the interest in your success, and continuous improvement/learning.

You can overcome barriers that stand between you and your dream. Just as Roger Bannister and Ketanji Brown Jackson defied the odds, you can too.

Remember, the journey may be challenging, but with determination and the right approach, winning is not just possible—it’s inevitable.

Are you ready to inspire your team or organization to turn the "impossible" into the "inevitable"?

As an Executive Business & Digital Leadership Coach, motivational speaker, and author of "Win When They Say You Won't," I have spent over 30 years breaking barriers, challenging the status quo, and helping others do the same.

From leading at top companies like IBM, J&J, and GE to serving on multiple public boards, I’ve learned that success isn't just about having the right skills—it’s about developing the right mindset. If you’re looking to energize your next event with actionable insights, real-world strategies, and a passion for leadership, let’s connect!

For booking inquiries, email: [email protected] ??

Let’s explore how I can help your audience discover their true potential and lead with purpose, confidence, and resilience.