Bill Phillip's | Transformation

Brick Walls are Meant for Other People

If you are not familiar with "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch, I highly recommend it (see link below). Randy was a professor at Carnegie Melon who was diagnosed with cancer and offered a last lecture to students and faculty to offer what he felt were life lessons that he would want to leave behind for his 3 children. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

Randy's message is a powerful one and I quote him often. One of my favourite Randy quotes is that "Brick Walls are not meant to keep you from your dreams and aspirations, they are meant to keep other people out...people who don't want it as badly as you do." That quote has caused a fundamental shift in the way I am viewing the world and achieving what I want.

One example is what happened on the Cruise this July. I realised that I wanted to become a personal trainer. Here are the barriers that presented themselves:

1. Recognised Personal Training Certification in Canada requires a university degree in Kinesiology and writing of a national examination upon completion of the degree. 

2. University applications to attend university are processed in January...I missed that one by a mile.

3. University Registration occurs in May for regular Kinesiology courses. I was well beyond this time frame.

4. One of the Intro courses I needed had a waiting list of 24 people.

5. One of the Intro courses I needed only took place two afternoons a week (I work M-F 7:30 to 5:00pm).

6. University costs $2-3,000 per year for part time attendance plus books.

Wow! This was quite an endeavour. So, I decided to apply the brick wall principle. I met with the Chair of the Kinesiology department and explained my motivation and my desire to learn (I think passion is infectious). He was moved by the story and allowed me to register and get into courses over cap, based on the fact that there were no alternatives for me other than waiting a full year to register. I assure you I applied for continuance the very next day, and he helped me work through the university bureaucracy six weeks ahead of the regular progress (it just shows that if you don't ask, you don't receive!).  

University was one thing. Next was the workplace. I decided to suggest to my boss that I use 2 weeks of vacation in 1/2-day increments this fall to attend the 1 course that I need to attend on Tues. & Thurs. afternoon. It is a big sacrifice of vacation time, but it did get approved, which mean one other brick wall surmounted. 

Finally was the issue of cost. I registered for the ISSA (International) certification in August to ensure that I really wanted to do this. I have written most of the examination for this certification and should receive this international certification in early October. This was important for a few reasons: I can work as a personal trainer as I work on my degree, thereby making some extra money, but it also reaffirm this will be a good use of my time and money, as I completed the 13-14 week program in just 4 weeks - I love this stuff!). I have also decided to sell my Honda Pilot and commute by foot or bike to cover the costs of tuition. Bottom line, I can afford it by making changes in other aspects of my life.   

As a result of the above, I feel alive, energised and extremely thankful. Classes are great, I love the material and I realise the mountains others had to move to help me get onto the path I have chosen to take. 

I am also happy to report that, since this pursuit, I've applied this principle to other areas in my life. Somehow the walls don't seem so ominous when you realise you can work your way around, over, under, though them as the case may be.

The ability to achieve what we want in life is part of the fundamental definition of health and wellness. Please go after what you want. Your body, mind and spirit will thank you for it. For that reason, Randy will always be, in my mind, one of the healthiest people I have ever met or heard about.

Namaste.

Helene