This newsletter is about what it takes to do the impossible. It is designed specifically for those of us with completely irrational standards for our own performance and totally unreasonable expectations for our lives.

Impossible is all the stuff that has never been done before and, most believe, will never be done. These are the feats that exceed both our capabilities and our imagination. They lie beyond our wildest dreams in the most literal sense. Impossibles are those things that we believe are impossible for us.

Understanding "Impossible”.

Figuring out how to get paid to do what you love is another lowercase "i" impossible. As is rising out of poverty; overcoming deep trauma; becoming a successful entrepreneur, CEO, artist, musician, comedian, or athlete; or generally being world-class at what you do. What’s the common thread among these accomplishments?

There is no clear path between points and, statistically, very poor odds of success. So while this is a newsletter based on lessons learned from people who have accomplished capital "I" Impossible, it’s meant to be used by anyone interested in accomplishing lowercase "i" impossibles.

The Emotional Toll of Excellence

That said, lowercase "i" impossible is probably not for everyone. As far as I can tell, the only thing more difficult than the emotional toil of pursuing true excellence is the emotional toil of not pursuing true excellence. Chasing the impossible has a cost. And for people that you look up to who have already pulled off the impossible, there had to be an explanation.

Perhaps a skill set. Maybe a process. I know this is a startling realization to some of us. It meant that impossible had a formula. And more than anything you had ever wanted, you want to know that formula. The impossible always had a formula and the weirder part is, if you applied yourself, sometimes you could learn that formula. Always remember, very little is impossible with ten years of practice. Like my mentor always says, if you don’t know the formula, it looks like magic.

Sports and the Formula for the Impossible

Whenever sports athletes started performing impossible feats on a regular basis, I assumed there was a formula. So the big question is: What does it take for individuals, organizations, even institutions, to significantly level up their game?

What does it take to achieve paradigm-shifting breakthroughs? And, in a phrase, if we can get past the hyperbole and unearth the practicality, what does it take to accomplish the impossible? Abundance is about individuals and small groups tackling and solving impossible global challenges such as poverty, hunger, and water scarcity—challenges so big that just a decade earlier they’d been the sole province of large corporations and big governments.

What Did I Learn?

The same lesson I learned about magic. Whenever the impossible becomes possible, there’s always a formula. Again, definitions are helpful. I’m using the term "formula" in the same way that computer scientists talk about algorithms, as a sequence of steps that anyone can follow to get consistent results.

And while the rest of this newsletter is dedicated to the details of this formula, there are a couple of key questions that are worth answering up front. We are all capable of so much more than we know. This is the main lesson a lifetime in peak performance will teach you.

Why Is There a Formula for the Impossible?

This is the first question we need to confront. The answer is rooted in biology. As humans, we've been molded by millions of years of evolution. Consequently, we all share the same fundamental machinery.

Personality doesn’t scale, but biology does. When it comes to peak performance, what works for one person often doesn't work for another because personality traits—like how much risk you can handle or whether you're introverted or extroverted—are unique and deeply ingrained. These traits are also shaped by factors like culture and social status, making it even harder to apply one person’s success formula to someone else. Biology, however, is universal. It’s designed by evolution to work for everyone, making it more reliable than personality.

What’s the Biological Formula for the Impossible?

The answer is flow. Flow is an “optimal state of consciousness where we feel and perform our best.” It’s the state evolution designed for peak performance. In every field, when the impossible becomes possible, flow is always key.

More precisely, flow refers to a state of optimal consciousness where we feel and perform our best. Flow is key in making the impossible possible, driving peak performance through deep focus and total immersion. In this state, time fades, self-awareness disappears, and performance soars.

The Role of Evolution in Peak Performance

So, why would evolution create a state of consciousness that boosts these skills? Evolution shaped our brains for survival, with resource scarcity being the biggest threat. To survive, we can either fight over limited resources or innovate, explore, and create new ones. But when it comes to tackling the impossible, flow is necessary but not sufficient.

Achieving the impossible—and significantly advancing your skills—requires flow, but it also demands development in areas like motivation, learning, and creativity, which flow enhances. This might seem contradictory, but the path to achieving the impossible is long, and there will be times when we must proceed without flow.

Building a Solid Foundation

Moreover, to handle the intense boost that flow provides, we need a solid foundation. Imagine a bicycle hitting a bump at a slow speed versus at high speed: at low speed, the ride is bumpy, but at high speed, the impact can cause much greater damage. The same principle applies to flow.

Harvard psychologist William James pointed out that we’re not reaching our potential because we haven’t made it a habit. We’ve automated the wrong processes and are focused on the wrong goals, leading to poor outcomes.

The Journey of Peak Performance

Each of us holds the potential for greatness in the present moment. However, this potential only emerges when we challenge ourselves and step beyond our comfort zones. It is in pushing our limits that we uncover our true selves and capabilities. The only real way to discover if you are capable of pulling off the impossible—whatever that is for you—is by attempting to pull off the impossible.

This is why peak performance is an endless journey. But it’s also why the quartet of skills at the heart of this newsletter series matters so much. Motivation gets you started; learning keeps you in the game; creativity guides you; and flow propels your results beyond all expectations.

This, my friends, is the true essence of achieving the impossible. Welcome to the infinite game.

– Princewill Nzube