Impossible is in fact a lot
I know it’s just a catchy slogan for a sports brand ware. “Impossible is nothing”. But that phrase as been stuck in my head for a while lately.
Because impossible is something. Actually is a lot.
In pure mathematics, an impossible event is one with a probability of zero. It doesn't even have to be exactly zero to feel impossible. Imagine all the possible numbers between 0 and 1. It could be 0.3, or it could be 0.70873903730. What's the probability of picking exactly 0.5? Practically impossible, since the number of values between 0 and 1 is infinite.
I've been thinking about Adidas' slogan because it resonates with how I've secretly lived my life. I've always believed that if I worked hard enough, I could achieve my dreams. Even if I was unlucky, working harder would turn the impossible into possible.
Who am I kidding? I still live by that motto. Even when I try to let go of those beliefs, I still aim for the hardest, the most complex, and the best. Every time someone calls me crazy, I smirk and reply with a "we shall see," which actually means I'm about to spend hours learning something new.
But here's the problem. Until my 30s, impossible really was nothing. I could always work harder, study more, invest more, and sleep less. If I wanted something, I would do it.
Nowadays, the clock ticks at a speed I can't control. Exhaustion takes over as I hold my laptop above me, reading something crucial for a new project. Side projects—actual good ideas with potential—languish on my to-do list, which I can't even clear by the end of the day.
Maybe it's because a part of me died a year ago, and I haven't yet recovered. Or perhaps it's because I have more on my plate than I can handle. But now, I'm aware that impossible is, in fact, a lot.
I didn't want to pick sides on sports brand slogans, but at least Nike is more honest with theirs. If I ever have a sportswear brand, I know what the slogan would be:
"At least I'm trying."