How true is this? I was fortunate to see Noel Fitzpatrick (aka Supervet) at the Arena in Birmingham a few years ago. Seldom have I been moved to tears, laughter, inspiration, and sheer thought-provoking contemplation in the way that I was for those few hours. Noel managed to take his audience on a journey from humble beginnings to a promising future for all humankind. He characterises the journey with hope, devastation, joy, and loss and ultimately demonstrates sheer dogged determination (excuse the pun!) to achieve his goals.
He struck me with his passion and belief as he delivered his childhood dream of becoming “Vet Man” to the world, regardless of the obstacles that stood in his way. He sought solace in returning to his Chestnut tree – his source of strength – each time he was knocked back, and somehow, he found the courage to continue.
We heard a story of an injured working dog, and his owner, a Farmer, knew with unwavering faith that Noel could heal his dog. Noel himself was doubtful, and, using a kitchen table as a makeshift operating table, he did what he could. The dog recovered and regained its mobility with only a slight limp. Noel was astounded that he’d managed to help this dog the way he did, believing at the time that survival with all limbs intact was impossible. The Farmer said profoundly, “Everything is impossible – until it happens!”
The hairs stood up on the back of my neck when, in an auditorium holding thousands of people, you could have heard a pin drop when he told the tale of Bella, the dog he couldn’t save. It would have been so easy for Noel to stop pushing the boundaries at that point, to give in and settle for what he already had. Choosing to disregard the discouraging voice in his head that claimed he lacked the necessary skills, intelligence, or expertise, he persisted in acquiring additional practical experience to prove he could achieve his desired goals. He has succeeded in ways that exceed all of his initial expectations – he is changing the face of medical science as we know it.
So many people have a dream and seek to do great things; many do not have a supporter to encourage them to continue. For Coaches, our work with our clients enables us to see others achieving dreams on a daily basis. We know first-hand that “Everything is impossible – until it happens!”
Next Steps:
Resources:
Book Being the Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick
Self-development:
Self Reflection and Complete Learning Log to consider your own goals, potential downfalls and your resources to overcome them.
