How do we take on the impossible (extended version)
There’s something magnetic about the word impossible. It both intimidates and inspires, a challenge that dares us to stretch beyond what we think we’re capable of. At Lord’s Cricket Ground recently, under the vaulted ceilings of sporting history, Simon Hartley of Be World Class gathered a group of remarkable individuals who have all faced their own version of “impossible.”
The masterclass, How do we take on the impossible, wasn’t about superhumans. It was about ordinary people who achieved extraordinary things; people who failed, adapted, and persisted. Simon’s conversations with them revealed lessons that resonate far beyond sport or adventure; lessons for leadership, resilience, and personal growth.
The day brought together voices of courage and determination: Adam Walker, who swam all seven oceans; Martine Wright MBE, who survived the London bombings; Tony Underwood and Nick Parkes, who explored fear and teamwork; Anne Daniels, the polar explorer; John Volanthen, the Thai cave rescue diver; and Mark Pollock, the explorer who found strength in loss.
Each of them shared their story. Each of them offered a lens on what it means to take on the impossible.
Adam Walker – swimming seven oceans
Adam Walker’s story began with a lightbulb moment, watching On a Clear Day, a film about open-water swimming. That spark became an obsession. He went on to swim seven oceans, facing jellyfish stings, exhaustion, and waves that towered like walls.
But his journey wasn’t smooth. He failed often. He had to develop winning habits, remove emotional barriers, and most importantly, use his stubbornness to keep going when everything in his body told him to stop.
He redefined success not as the absence of pain, but as perseverance through it: “The pain will subside, but the achievement will be there forever.”
His lessons for leaders are powerful:
Innovation comes from curiosity. Adam developed new swimming techniques by observing other sports
Reframing challenges changes outcomes. When you view obstacles as opportunities, resilience grows.
And success is built on belief, stay in the game and believe
For teams, he left a final reminder: Teamwork is the key to success. Never give up on your dreams.
Martine Wright MBE – The power of seven
Martine Wright’s story is one of unimaginable transformation. A survivor of the 7/7 London bombings, she lost both legs in the attacks but chose to live a life defined not by what she lost, but by what she could still give.
Martine became a Paralympian, representing Great Britain in sitting volleyball. Her philosophy is simple yet profound: Some change we can’t plan for. It’s not what happens to us, but how we respond that defines us.
She spoke of her Power of Seven, seven principles for thriving through adversity:
Make your choice. Decide who you want to be in the face of challenge
Maximise your opportunities. Growth hides in moments of discomfort
Embrace change positively. Diversity, respect, trust, commitment, and communication are the foundations of resilience
Value teamwork and alignment. Shared purpose magnifies impact
Focus on marginal gains. Tiny improvements compound over time
Learn about yourself. Understand your strengths and triggers
Believe. Without belief, progress stalls before it begins
For business leaders, Martine’s message is unmistakable: create cultures that respond, not react. Build trust, value difference, and see every setback as a stepping stone.
Tony Underwood & Nick Parkes – Facing fear and finding flow
Rugby player Tony Underwood and open-water swimmer Nick Parkes shared the stage to talk about fear, performance, and preparation.
Their central question was deeply human: What fears do you want to overcome?
Both spoke about the importance of having a great team around you; family, colleagues, mentors. Because no one achieves the impossible alone. Preparation, they stressed, is key, but so is adaptability: Sometimes the plan goes out the window.
Tony and Nick challenged the audience to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Growth happens at the edge of fear. They reminded leaders to get out of their own way and show up differently, with authenticity and intention.
Their business takeaways:
Preparation is power. Don’t just plan, live your plan.
Values drive performance. Live and breathe your values
Culture shapes outcomes. Create high-performing environments where people feel safe to stretch, fail, and try again
And perhaps their most profound reflection: We see what we look for. Leaders must decide whether to focus on problems or possibilities.
Anne Daniels – The polar explorer
Anne Daniels’ story began with a decision to change her life and follow an opportunity that most would consider impossible. A mother of triplets, she became one of the first women to lead an all-female team to the North Pole.
Her philosophy is one of ownership and mindset. Nothing is a sacrifice; it’s a decision. Every step toward the Pole required trust, teamwork, and adaptability. “If I fail, I fail, but I don’t give up,” she said.
Her key leadership lessons:
Change begins with a decision, not a perfect plan.
Build teams rooted in trust and clear roles.
Enjoy the journey; celebrate the experience.
You don’t know what you can do until you take on an impossible challenge.
In moments of doubt, Anne found something to focus on, a north star, literally and figuratively. Her message to leaders: find your focus when fear kicks in.
John Volanthen – The Thailand cave rescue
John Volanthen’s calm precision saved lives during one of the most dangerous rescues in modern history, the Thai cave rescue. His story is a masterclass in leadership under pressure.
He spoke about attention to detail, teamwork, and forward planning. Every dive was a risk, but each decision was calculated.
John’s lessons were practical and profound:
Plan ahead, assess options, and bend rules carefully.
Practice, prepare, and plan. Repetition builds calm under pressure.
Creative problem solving comes from clear minds, not panic.
No emotions allow good decision-making. In crisis, composure saves lives.
For leaders, his approach translates directly: preparation, logic, and teamwork build resilience when everything is on the line.
Mark Pollock – The explorer
Mark Pollock has faced darkness, literally. After becoming blind at 22, he went on to explore extremes and search for a cure for paralysis after a later injury. His story bridges physical endurance with emotional fortitude.
He reminded us that sometimes we choose the challenge, sometimes it chooses us. What matters is how we respond.
Mark framed three defining choices for leaders:
Spectator or competitor? Act, don’t observe. Risk failure to achieve success.
Optimist or realist? Hope isn’t a strategy; build from facts, not fantasies.
Soloist or collaborator? Collaboration raises ambition and accelerates breakthroughs.
His words cut to the heart of leadership: The hardship makes sense if the goal is clear. Do a facts inventory, good, bad, and ugly, and work from reality, not illusion.
Simon Hartley – The closing challenge
At the end of the day, Simon brought the lessons full circle. Every story had a common thread; clarity of purpose, resilience through adversity, and belief in something bigger than self.
He left the audience with four deceptively simple questions, the foundation for any “impossible” goal:
What am I trying to achieve?
Why is it important?
How will I do it?
Who do I need to become?
And then he said something powerful. “The next page is blank — what will you write on it?”
That blank page is where every leader’s story begins. It’s an invitation to define your own impossible, to confront fear with courage, and to step into the unknown with purpose.
Because the impossible isn’t conquered in one leap. It’s achieved one choice, one challenge, one belief at a time.