Achieving the Outrageous: Do What Most Are Not Willing to Do

 

                      Photo by Pixabay

When we hear about people doing things that seem totally out of this world—like scaling Mount Everest without oxygen, running crazy marathons across the Sahara, or turning down dessert three nights in a row—it’s easy to think, “Wow, they must posses something I don’t.” Well spoiler alert: they don’t! In fact, “outrageous” achievements often come down to one simple concept: doing what most people aren’t willing to do. This principle sounds straightforward to understand, but putting it into practice is where things get interesting (and a little outrageous!).

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Let’s dive into why most people don’t take the road less traveled, what happens when you actually try it, and how to start making the outrageous a reality in your own life.

Why People Don’t Do What It Takes

Let's begin with a harsh reality: most people secretly favor comfort. Why step outside when it's warm inside and binge TV reruns are calling? Even when doing something challenging or out of the ordinary could result in excellent things, people avoid doing it for a few reasons:

Comfort Zones Are Cozy – Let’s face it, Netflix, pizza, and warm blankets are hard to compete with. People often cling to what’s comfortable, even if what’s comfortable doesn't satisfy. It’s why so many New Years resolutions fizzle out by February.

Fear of Failure – This one’s huge. People often ask themselves, “What if I fail?” But honestly, we should also ponder, “What if I succeed?” Funny how success can be just as intimidating as failure sometimes!

Social Expectations – A tidy, predictable life path—job, mortgage, family, and retirement—is what society encourages us to pursue. It doesn't fit well on this idea to do something outrageous. There's a lot of pressure to have your entire life organized by the time you're 25, to put it mildly.

It’s Hard – Now this might sound obvious, but yeah, pushing boundaries is no easy task. Achieving the outrageous often requires intense preparation, possibly facing rejection, and sometimes learning skills you’d rather not (like making peace with Excel or Word).

So, Why Even Do It?

Okay, so if it’s uncomfortable, has potential risk, and requires bucking society’s expectations, why bother, right? Here are a few reasons that might make you want to reconsider your place on that comfy couch:

It Builds Resilience – You'll feel more capable of handling life's challenges after pushing yourself to accomplish one major objective. The major meeting next week seems easy when you're training for a marathon..

It Sets You Apart From the Pack– When you do what others are not willing to do, you automatically stand out from the crowd. You become the go-to person for interesting stories, advice, and inspiration. Plus some bonus points, your family can brag about you at Thanksgiving, which never hurts.

It’s Extremely Fulfilling – It's like winning at life when you take a chance and end up succeeding. Even if you don't, you'll still have a story to tell your grandchildren and important lessons to learn. Instead of saying, "I watched the entire season of The Bachelor in one sitting," picture their small lit up faces when you say, "I tried to swim the English Channel."

Taking the First Step Toward Outrageous Goals

If you’re tempted to try something big and out of this world but don’t know where to start, here are some steps to get you moving in the right direction.

1. Start Small but Go Deep

Pick one area of your life to put your focus on and go for depth rather than breadth. Don’t try to reinvent your entire life in one shot—unless you’re going for a truly “outrageous” level of chaos. Instead, zero in on something that lights you up, whether it’s learning a new skill, getting in killer shape, or working toward a career goal.

For example, instead of saying, “I want to be healthier,” try, “I want to run a 10K in three months.” This becomes more specific, more measurable, and best of all, it doesn’t leave room for excuses. Plus, once you complete a 10K, who’s to say a marathon isn’t next?

2. Tell People (and Pick the Right People)

Here’s a trick that works like magic: Share your objective with a trusted person. Actually, find someone who will hold you accountable instead of just whispering it to your cat. Inform a friend or relative who will follow up with you and offer support when you start to lose motivation. If you attempt to back out, they will give you the side-eye, which may be quite inspiring.

For the extra bold, announce your goal on social media. Nothing lights a fire under you like 500 Facebook friends who will absolutely remind you if you fall short.

3. Get Used to Discomfort (Maybe Even Befriend It)

Becoming friends with discomfort is part of accomplishing the outrageous. This could entail getting up early, working longer hours, or refusing requests that don't advance your objectives. (Yes, occasionally "things" include pizza.)

If you begin to feel uneasy, it's usually an indication that you're doing something well. It's an indication that you're entering an area where development is feasible. Remember that while suffering passes quickly, the joy of accomplishing something extraordinary lasts a lifetime.

4. Celebrate Every Step

Doing the outrageous isn’t a single act; it’s a series of actions and small wins. Give yourself some credit for each milestone, no matter how small it seems. If you get through your first week of training? Celebrate! Finished writing the first chapter of your book? Immediately reward yourself (preferably without a Netflix binge, but hey, sometimes you deserve it).

These celebrations aren’t just fun; they also help to reinforce your commitment to the goal and give you that important momentum to keep pushing forward.

5. Learn from the Pros

Learn from others who have accomplished what you wish to do. We are fortunate to live at a time when mentors are not required to be physically present. From starting a business from scratch to running an ultra-marathon, there are YouTube channels, podcasts, and blogs devoted to almost anything. Examine these tales, seek out trends, and apply what you discover.

Final Thoughts: Why Not?

The one question you should never stop asking yourself is "Why Not". Think about it. Why not pursue the wild, lovely, and ambitious dreams you've always had? The best-case situation is frequently even better than we can envision, and the worst-case scenario is typically not as horrible as we think.

You start building a life full of tales, resiliency, and a sense of fulfillment that few people get when you start taking action toward doing what most people are not willing to do. Therefore, decide what you want to do and start. Just Start! Accept the discomfort, keep going, and never forget that the most amazing things occur when you're prepared to take on challenges that others won't.

After all, someone’s got to be the outrageous one—might as well be you!

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