Flanked by a number of small boats carrying team members watching for sharks and to stand-by in case she got tired or injured, Florence Chadwick began her swim. 

This was not a normal swim or swimmer.  The swim was to navigate the dangerous channel waters between Catalina Island the California coast.   The swimmer was a 34-year-old open-water, long distance swimmer in pursuit of her vision to complete this difficult swim.

After swimming 15 hours, a thick fog set in.  Exhausted and without ability to see the shoreline, self- doubt started to take over.  After another hour, exhausted and fog hiding her destination; Chadwick quit.   

Soon after entering a rescue boat, she learned she had stopped her swim only a short distance from shore. 

Persistent, she tried again two months later. 

 Despite the equally thick coastal fog, this time she succeeded.  When asked what made the difference this second time, Chadwick said she kept a mental image of the shoreline throughout her entire swim.

For Chadwick, success started with a decided vision.

However, without constant focus on her destination, she gave in to self-doubt and exhaustion.  It was not until Chadwick intentionally maintained focus on her vision was she able to successfully achieve it. 

The marathon race is similar in terms of its physical and mental demands on its participants.  Several years ago our niece Alicia fulfilled her dream of finishing a marathon.  Her first was the 42.2 kilometer Victoria Marathon.  

Congratulations Ali for having the vision and the commitment to complete the training necessary to achieve your dream. 

As I considered Alicia’s accomplishment, I remembered what Jon Gordon wrote about the point which unsuccessful marathon runners drop out of the race.

In his book Training Camp – The Playbook, Gordon wrote, “most runners quit a marathon at the 20th mile (32nd km) when they lose sight of their vision.”

Vision summarizes your choice of destination for you, your family, business or organization.  Vision is the starting point of all achievement.  Success requires keeping vision alive and top of mind.

What is your vision for yourself, family, business or organization?

How do you keep that vision alive?

6 tips to Keep Your Vision alive:

“Cherish your visions and your dreams, as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.”  - Napoleon Hill

The best is yet to come. It starts with you.

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