How Chris Nikic Beat Impossible Odds by doing 1% Better Each Day

The following is an excerpt from Dave Crenshaw’s interview with Chris Nikic on The Dave Crenshaw Success Project, a new podcast. You can subscribe to Dave’s new podcast here.?

Chris Nikic is the world's first person with Down Syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon. With the help of his father, Nik Nikic , they developed a program that helped him achieve his seemingly insurmountable goals, including completing the Ironman Triathlon not once, but three times now! Chris and his father have since gone on to co-write a book, start Chris' career as a public speaker, and so much more. They attribute their success to doing 1% better every day.?

The Diagnosis

When Chris was born, he was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. "It was actually devastating at first," Nik shared, "They said he'll never be able to care for himself…he won't be able to even tie his own shoes." Nik and his wife felt sad and heartbroken at this news.

Nik discussed his early parenting mistakes with Chris compared to how they treated their first daughter.

"Jackie was gifted. So I treated her as gifted. I pushed her hard. I worked her hard," Nik explained. Nik continued, "On the flip side, we treated Chris as special. Which means we protected him, we nurtured him, we watched over him, we guarded him, we did not treat him like we treated Jackie."

Nik found that this parenting style limited Chris' ability to be independent.?

"It was only at the age of 18, when I decided to treat Chris as gifted, that his whole life changed." - Nik Nikic

After Chris endured multiple surgeries, Nik realized this wasn't the future he wanted for his son. His mindset shifted, and he knew things had to change for them both.

A Different Approach

Nik started a new fitness regimen with Chris, so they could both get healthier together. He quickly discovered that Chris enjoyed the physical activity and challenges thrown at him.

"I started playing golf," Chris said, "I realized I liked playing golf to get a better score."

It wasn't long before Nik recognized the natural athlete in his son.?

"We're proving them wrong," Chris Nikic shared about what doctors predicted at his birth. This sentiment motivates Chris to keep going when it gets hard, too.

As a team, Chris and his father began to set goals. That’s when they decided to participate in the Special Olympics.

"The Special Olympics is interesting because it's an inclusive environment. Everybody gets to participate. And they don't push you beyond just having fun and participating," Nik said.

"There needs to be a bridge or an avenue, if you will, between the Special Olympics and the real world." - Nik Nikic

The moment Nik understood that Chris needed a more significant challenge came after Chris swam the 1,000 meters race.

"I signed the wall," Chris said. He wrote “Chris - World Champ.”

At the time, Chris was doing sprint triathlons with the Special Olympics and at the state championships in September of 2019. Then, they announced the end of the triathlons, and Chris was devastated.

"That's when the light bulb went off," Nik explained. He brought up the idea of doing the Ironman triathlon, and Chris immediately agreed.?

Training for Ironman

Nik relied heavily on motivation to help Chris push through the grueling aspects of training for Ironman, which was the hardest challenge they'd faced together so far.

"There are two things about Chris: he loves people, and he loves praise. And we found that when he was training with other people, to him, it was a game," Nik said. He recruited others to train with Chris to make it fun. Nik encouraged regular breaks for fun to keep Chris motivated, as well.??

"Chris can do the same thing over and over again and enjoy it as if it was the first time," Nik shared, "He never gives up."

He believes that Chris' gift for repetition and his coachable mindset are his superpowers that make achieving his improbable dreams a reality.

Nik discovered that the traditional triathlon training plan wouldn't work. He used his experience as a business coach to develop one designed to fit Chris' needs.

"I designed a different system for Chris. A different approach that everybody thinks is crazy," Nik shared, "They all thought it was crazy every step of the way until he finished Ironman."

Visualizing the Dream

Nik believes in planning for the future and shares this value with Chris, too. On New Year's Eve of 2019, they sat down to make a plan for him.

"I printed a four-foot by eight-foot dream board for Chris," Nik said, "We had sections that started with his dream, and goal milestones, his strategy, and then a four-foot by eight-foot area where he could write down what he accomplished every single day for six months."

Today, Chris has reached five out of the six goals on his dream board.?

"Number six is being married to a 'smokin' hot blonde.' And he gave her that promise ring last week," Nik said.

Nik and Chris both believe in the power of having a visual dream board. He continues to update the accomplishment section today!

1% Better Every Day

"The strategy is always 1% better," Nik shared. One more push up, one more squat, one more yard.?

"Our greatest enemy to success is our brain, our subconscious mind that's protecting us from pain," Nick explained.

Nik developed the 1% better concept to work around the brain's natural mechanism of defense that prevents you from experiencing the pain of progress.

"We are tricking the brain into developing an achievement habit, one that says I can always do one more." - Nik Nikic

Nik found that by taking small steps forward daily, Chris never wanted to give up. "It's all a brain workout. It's not really physical," Nik shared.

When Chris did want to quit, Nik always asked him one question, "What's going to win, buddy? Your pain or your dreams? And that's all he needed."

The Mission

Chris' mission is to break down barriers and open up more opportunities for people with disabilities like Down Syndrome. He wants them to know they can also have a happy, successful life.

"They are being excluded, they don't get the opportunity to experience the same things we've experienced," Nik shared.

"Life is about the journey, and the attempt, and all the things along the way to get there." - Nik Nikic

Nik and Chris found that most kids with disabilities don't even get to participate in the journey because they don't have goals in the first place.?

"We're opening the door to give them that goal to shoot for; whether or not they ever make it is irrelevant," Nick said," The fact that they're participating in their local run communities and are part of the community is big."

Chris continues to set impossible goals and reach them thanks to consistent training patterns and the support of wonderful coaches and his family. He wants others to know if he can do it, so can you!

Action Principles?

Pick one to do this week:?

1. Know your motivation. Understand why you’re doing something. When you have your motivation in mind, it gives you the push to keep moving forward. One action you could take: Create a visual motivation board and keep it somewhere you’ll see it daily.
2. Customize your plan. Everyone has unique needs and challenges. Figure out what works for you, and what doesn’t, and make those changes.One action you could take: Find a plan that’s proven to be successful for others, then make adjustments that fit your needs and lifestyle so it works for you.
3. Ask the right questions. There’s a real power in asking yourself the right questions.Whether you ask yourself, or you have a great coach, the answers you get could make a big difference. One action you could take: Rather than forcing yourself to push through, stop and ask yourself this important question: “Do I really want to quit or keep going?”
4. Follow the 1% Better principle. Commit to getting 1% better at something that will get you a little closer to your goal every day. Over time, the 1% will compound into big results. One action you could take: Ask yourself, “What can I do to get just 1% better today that will help me get closer to my goal?” Then do it!

You can learn more about Chris’ journey by visiting Chrisnikic.com or by following him on Facebook and Instagram.?