In 1992, I started out on a journey, inspired by Art Niemann and W Clement Stone.  I say journey, but really, it has been more of a ‘quest’; think The Impossible Dream if you know the words ‘To right the unrightable wrong, to fight the unbeatable foe, to try when your arms are too weary, to run where the brave dare not go’.

Me to a tee really; game for anything.

‘Change millions of lives for the better’ was what they dared me to do.

‘Right then; I will’ I thought.

It’s only when the bravado wears off, I guess, that you realise how many lives ‘millions’ actually is, so I hope that never happens to me.

I’m on the case anyway, with the i2i team.

So, that November (1992), I sat down and wrote a list of the goals I wanted to achieve as if I was hell bent on this quest. I wrote and wrote, and it became a long list, a crazy list, a who on earth do you think you are list, a never in a million years list, a you’ve never even done this before list, a you must be mad list, a you’re getting too big for your boots list, a well that’s just typical list.

For example:

• Win The Ashes
• Win The FA Cup
• Coach Manchester United
• Win The Open Championship
• Win The Cricket World Cup
• Win the Football World Cup with England (I know!)
• Help an athlete win a medal at the Olympics
• Work with world famous people
• Win The Ryder Cup
• Speak in front of tens of thousands of people
• Work all over the world
• Work for the world’s biggest companies
• Help children in schools
• Write three books
• Win an Oscar
• Make my family and friends proud

You get the idea.  A not a cat in hell’s chance list.

I wrote it because I felt I was giving up a lot to do this, so I’d have to make it worth it.

So, last year, Neil, a client and father asked me if I would consider working with his son, a teenager committed to his sport and with fanciful ideas of going to the Olympics.

I said I would meet them to discuss it, and one look into the boy’s eyes later, I agreed.

A few weeks ago, that boy was selected to represent Great Britain at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.  He was thrilled.

Last Tuesday night, that same boy, Nile Wilson, now 20, won a bronze medal in the high bar, the first Briton ever to do so.

The Impossible Dream?  No; only in the eyes of the weak, the unbelievers.

But in the eyes of Nile Wilson that Dream was The Inevitable One.

Thank you Nile.  Thank you Neil.  Thank you Team Wilson.

‘Dreams come true IF you have the courage to pursue them’

About The Author – Michael Finnigan

Michael Finnigan works with the world’s most famous businesses, helping them to understand how to unleash the power lying dormant within their people. Michael consults with corporate, public sector and sporting clients all over the world to lead and deliver positive change.

Michael’s work within elite sport includes clients in Premier League football, international cricket. He worked closely with Darren Clarke ahead of his victory at the Open Championship.

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