TIGHT-ROPE

I asked myself a lot of hypothetical questions when trying to answer the question, how do people overcome adversity?

I was trying to come up with examples, that were not personal, of how people could identify with a Daring Optimist.

An example that I kept coming back to, is a tight-rope walker.  What a strong and poignant visual to help identify what I am trying to capture!

Nik Wallenda holds 11 Guinness World Records for various death-defying acts as a trapeze artist, and tight-rope walker.  He is the seventh generation of the Great Wallenda tight-rope walking family.  He has successfully navigated high wire acts all across the world.  

Let’s visualize these feats for a second.  In 2019, Nik was in Calgary for the Stampede.  He successfully navigated himself across a 1.9cm wide wire, that was 35m off the ground, and 549m in length in front of a packed crowd.

Imagine standing on the edge, and knowing that you have to make it across that distance.  Danger most of us have never experienced is right below you.  What type of mentality would it take to achieve success?  What type of mentality would it take to even stand there and attempt that in the first place?

To be clear, let’s make apparent some factors that are unique to Nik.  Performing a stunt like this has been normalized within his family - being the seventh generation to attempt such risky behaviour.  But that does not negate family members who have died performing as well, including Karl Wallenda who died in 1978 on live TV while tight-rope walking in Puerto Rico.

Some important themes that immediately come to mind:

Planning.  There have been many times where a Wallenda walk has been called off due to weather.  There have also been times where Nik has performed despite the elements.  It is clear that there is a window of risk within certain elements of his walks that he is willing to accept.  

Practice.  It is obvious that a tightrope walker doesn’t start by crossing the Niagara Falls.  There are thousands of hours that must go in to perfecting the craft, while accepting the best coaching from generational experts that previously performed.

Confidence.  When your life's on the line, and one misstep could end it all, there must be an internal belief that you will accomplish your goal.  Normalizing conditions through preparation and practice can give anyone the mental edge to succeed.

Aid.  Even Nik doesn’t go up on that rope himself!  He has a long pole that he uses to help keep his balance.  He is constantly adjusting, based on his feel and expertise, in order to successfully navigate his way to his end point.  

Thinking about a tight-rope walker also brings me back to some advice I often heard when I was growing up:

Put your head down and just plow through it!

To me, this is some of the worst advice you can give!  

Are there times where you have to deal with pain, or adversity, or in Nik’s case, some wind that might push you too far?  Of course.  

But without the tools to deal with these stimuli, your version of success may not be attainable.  There is no chance that I would get up on that high wire right now, and that doesn’t even compute in my (sometimes) fear of heights!

So go for it.  Whatever you want to do.  Make a plan.  Create confidence by your preparation.  Ask people for help.  Find out what successful people have done before you in whatever you want to achieve.  And figure out what you’re willing to let get in the way of getting there.  

Does that mean you’re going to get there tomorrow?  Does that mean that I am going to win an NBA title as the head coach of the Toronto Raptors?  Probably not.  But you also might be amazed as to what you could find along the way.

A confident risk taker.  The first way to define a Daring Optimist.

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MS