Alcatraz served as the most secure and feared Federal Penitentiary in United States history from 1933 until its closing in 1963. Sitting atop a tiny, rocky island just off the coast of San Francisco, this maximum security prison housed the country’s most troubled and violent criminals. Over the course of its storied history, thirty-six inmates tried to escape. None were successful. The frigid San Francisco Bay temperatures along with the strong currents were enough to deter and overwhelm even the most brazen breakout attempts (although Clint Eastwood fans may beg to differ!).
Nowadays, the prison has transformed into an amazing tourist attraction. But every year, hundreds of swimmers return to make the frigid and frenetic 2-mile journey from the jagged island to the San Francisco shore in the “Alcatraz Classic”. Welcome to The Rock!
This year, my friend Tim Hohman (and his wife Kristen) made the bold and perilous pilgrimage through the turbulent waters. It was a struggle. It was more difficult than he originally anticipated. There were moments of doubt and extreme difficulty. But in the end, there was victory. And, more importantly, there were four resilient takeaways for all of us as we strive to achieve any lofty goal in our lives:
1) We Have to Jump Off the Boat!
Before the start of the race, all participants were ferried to the shores of Alcatraz. As Tim gazed over the edge of the boat into the swirling waters, he had a decision to make. He could have stayed on the deck. He could have gone back to shore on a deluxe boat. But instead, he saddled up and took that icy plunge!
And we all have that same choice to make in our own lives. We all have dreams. We all have lofty goals and aspirations. We all have to face a major challenge at some point. But we can’t get there by thinking about it. Or by reading about it in a book. Or by listening to someone else talk about it. We have to take action. It is on us. The first step is the hardest. At some point, we have to jump off the boat and take that plunge into the great unknown!
2) We Can’t Let Perceived Fears Deter Us
Prior to the race, Tim’s biggest fears were the freezing water and the random “attacks” of the sea lions. Understandable. But once he jumped in, the wet suit insulated him from the water temperature and the sea lions disappeared. He had spent so much time worrying about something that ultimately had no impact. And it almost stopped him from his goal.
The same is true for all of us. We can’t let our doubts creep into our head and stop us before we even begin our journey. What if I run out of money? What if the competition is too fierce? What if people laugh at me? These are perceived fears! They will have no impact on our results once we jump off the boat. Will there be other challenges? Of course! No goal worth pursuing is easy. But we’ll never get there unless we overcome those initial fears.
3) We Have to Put Some Skin in the Game
Tim wasn’t deterred by the cold water or the sea lions. But ten minutes into his quest, he faced a swirl of waves he did not anticipate. He lost sight of the shoreline. He became disoriented. He felt isolated and alone. Panic set in!
What kept him going? How was he able to power through the confusion and dread? He had put himself out there. He had told countless friends and family members he would complete the race. He had people waiting for him on shore. He did not want to let his wife down. He put skin in the game and that provided the motivation he needed to fight through the difficult moment.
And isn’t that true for any big goal in our lives? The more people we involve, the more vested we become. Sharing our goals with our close friends and co-workers motivates us. We don’t want to let these people down. It’s that simple! Having some skin in the game and putting ourselves out there increases the risk of embarrassment. But it also increases our likelihood of success!
4) We Need to Celebrate Our Wins
Tim eventually reached the safety and serenity of the San Francisco shore. Prior to the race, he did not think this would be something to celebrate. Of course he could swim a couple miles. No biggie! But after facing the dangerous current and the confounding waves, Tim was so thankful to be on dry land! He had initially taken the expedition for granted. But once completed, he understood and celebrated the magnitude of completing this journey!
How many times have we taken our own journey for granted? Of course we will graduate after four years of high school or college? Of course we will launch our own business? Of course we can make friends in a new town. But once we embark upon our quest, we realize it is more difficult. Academics and athletics can be challenging. Businesses crash and burn. Meeting people can be an enormous challenge. There is rarely a straight line to success.
No goal is easy. So if we stay resilient and reach our destination, why not celebrate? It will reinforce our resolve and underscore our accomplishments. And who deserves it more than us?
The Universal Battle
Tim Hohman powered through and successfully completed his journey. He faced enormous obstacles. He faced moments of doubt and panic. But he never stopped. He jumped off the boat. He overcame his perceived fears. He put skin in the game. And he eventually celebrated his remarkable feat.
And he provided a blueprint for all of us to accomplish our own goals in life. It doesn’t have to be complicated. We all have the ability to overcome our fears and realize our dreams. We all have the ability to free ourselves from the prison of self-doubt and failure.
It’s time to escape from Alcatraz!