How many impossible things did you do last week? None? If so, it’s about time to raise the bar. This week, I’m proposing to you, six impossible things that will make your blog more interesting, more appealing, or just that little important bit more popular.But how do you do impossible things?You can’t. If something really is impossible, then by definition, it is:
- not possible; unable to be, exist, happen, etc.
- unable to be done, performed, effected, etc.: an impossible assignment.
The trick is to know the impossible things from ones that just seem impossible:
- Landing to the moon? Impossible.
- Curing Polio? Impossible.
- Driving a car without a horse? Impossible.
- Sailing to India? Impossible.
- The Internet? Impossible.
You get the picture.Most of the big inventions were considered impossible long before anyone dared to try them out. But history shows that the doubters (most of the human kind) were wrong. Those things weren’t really impossible – just hard to imagine.That’s the loophole we are going to exploit today.
Getting Started With Doing Impossible Things
I will give you six ideas as examples to start with, but the real lesson is more profound. What I really want to show you is that it’s possible to learn a new way of looking at things: one that sees beyond the man-made limits we have set on our imagination.Let me ask you this:If everything was possible, what would you do to improve your blog?Mark all of your answers down. No matter how impossible they seem. No censorship allowed.Then take a look at your list and go through each of the impossible ideas one by one asking yourself why you think the item on your list is impossible. What needs to change for it to become possible? What would you lose by trying it out?If it becomes clear that the price for trying to achieve the impossible thing is too high, leave the idea aside. Otherwise, make no excuses, just implement it.Doing impossible things feels great, you know?
The Six Impossible Ideas
I promised six impossible ideas. And when you promise something, you need to do it – no matter how impossible it is.So, here you go. Six impossible things you can do to improve your blog.
- Interview a celebrity: Pick one who fits your topic and who your readers are familiar with, but make sure to aim high. After all, I don’t think anyone considers interviewing Leo Babauta or Skellie impossible. But how about getting an interview from Steve Jobs or the other Steve from Microsoft? Impossible. (Which to us means “go for it!”)
- Organize a competition with prizes worth thousands of dollars: Last September, a blogger I was following at that time, DevDad, organized a competition with a new Apple iMac as the prize. I was astonished: how can this 22-year stay at home dad afford to do something like this? Impossible. Well, as you see, it really is quite possible, so your mission is to top this – how about a Ferrari this time?
- Do something impossible, then tell about it on your blog: My current number one goal is to implement a 4-hour workweek to have more time for my family. Most people will tell me that it’s impossible and I shouldn’t even think of doing something like that. I know it won’t be easy – but I also know that if I manage to do it, it will have two big effects on my blog: First, I will have something important to share with my readers. And second, I will have much more time available for blogging. Both great reasons for challenging the impossible.
- Make your blog appear in the evening news: In the world of advertisement, TV is usually the most appreciated, and expensive of the alternatives. But you can still buy it with money. To make things more impossible, I’m asking you to get your air time without paying for it – as a feature spot in the evening news. Scott Ginsberg did it by being the luckiest person he knows. What’s your approach?
- Build your blog to outlive yourself: Lately many of my favorite blogs have announced their first birthdays. In Internet years that’s a huge accomplishment, but it’s still stunning that one year is all it takes to develop a Technorati top 2500 blog like FreelanceSwitch. But can you imagine a blog announcing its 50th, or 100th birthday? Impossible. And thus a worthy goal!
- Make an impossible promise and deliver on it: This post started out as nothing more than an interesting headline. I thought it would be interesting to read a post about impossible ideas that you can implement. So, I wrote the headline and decided that this will be my next post for NORTHxEAST. You’re reading it now: Writing an impossible post wasn’t impossible after all.
Now, get to work and be prepared to give me a different answer the next time I come to you and ask: “How many impossible things did you do last week?”
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela. Breaking Apartheid, impossible. It was done.Very interesting post. I’ve been proactively doing some of these things without even knowing it recently and they’ve been working well. managed to get an interview with a South African celebrity and it has paid off massively in terms of exposure. Next is the evening news!
Interesting read, it’s like Adidas always said, “impossible is nothing.” -Seriously though, some great points raised, thanks.
Nice post. Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:”Today, we will do the tough things. Tomorrow, the impossible ones. And the day after that, we will perform miracles!”Well, I’m off to perform miracles on my blog
All successDr.Mani
I could not agree more with you. The imposible is totaly posible just like many have proven it through out history. Im gonna take this advise and think a little more outside the box.
Very good post. If I stopped working on something everytime somebody told me what I was doing was “impossible”, or would never work, I’d be an accountant in a cubicle right now.What a horrid thought…Live From Las VegasThe Masked Millionaire
@Nic: Hey, that’s a great quote – and a perfect example of something that seemed impossible until it was done.Looking at your blog I’m sure you’ll be hitting the evening news rather sooner than later. Keep up the good work!@liam: Exactly, “impossible is nothing”@Dr.Mani: Thanks for sharing the quote! And it’s great to hear that all of you guys are working on those miracles.@Rafael: Good idea!@The Masked Millionaire: Thanks for showing your inspiring example!
Wow, I just tore up my office because your blog made me think of a book I had on my shelf but never got to reading all the way through. Found it: The Power Of Impossible Thinking, by Yoram (Jerry) Wind, Colin Crook with Robert Gunther.This is what expands all that we are and do, thinking beyond what we thought before and doing it. Thank you for reminding me of that.Now, I will get to writing something I previously thought impossible to write! And, I will keep the book off my shelf until I finish reading it…Best,Mary
Your post really made me think! Doing the impossible goes right along with “aim for the stars.” I think I am going to set some impossible goals for my blog.@Masked Millionaire Ha! Good One. I am an accountant escaping my cubicle to become a blogger!
@Mary: Great to hear that this post was useful to you! I’ll have to check out that book you mention as well.Have fun reaching the impossible!
This is a great post and some great ideas to work toward. Now that I think about it I have a few goals that seem impossible that would work well for my blogs.
Thanks, Holly! It’s great to hear that you are going after your impossible goals as well – it feels pretty great, doesn’t it?
What seems impossible is only an illusion and there is nothing that is impossible unless if you believe so.
Great articles. Give lots of motivation. Just as the sames as my quotes, do anything to succeed. There’s nothing imposible in this world, it’s just a matter of times…
@Bagrep: Exactly. But believing some things like, say, me teleporting from work to home, is still a bit hard for me
@exfatguy: Yep, impossible things are not always easy to do, but more often than not, they are worth it.
I know of a blogger who does video editting of latest scandals of the country. What he does is that he mixes the news and videos on that particular scandal, into a rap style video. Soon, the media caught wind of his doing, and his blog was eventually featured in the newspaper, which in turn, brought lots of traffic to his site.
Haha! Well yeah. That would definately put some spice into the blog. =) So how to get fundings to do No. 2? I’m curious
Nothing is impossible and so these are actually as possible as it could be..
@Vera: That’s a great example of doing something big / impossible. Thanks for sharing it!@zohai: I guess it all comes down to selling the idea to the potential sponsors. I’ve seen it done quite a few time, and naturally your blog’s popularity plays a big role, but also your willingness to ask… I haven’t done that myself though, but will have to try at some point…
I was thinking through the impossible things to do that is worthy of blogging, and one that came to mind is, TORNADO CHASING!
I usually try to do ‘impossible’ or ‘weird’ things and document it in my blog. Makes for interesting reading.I agree about the evening news tip. I once had my blog appear in the website of a local newspaper and in 2 days my hits were off the roof
Wow, thanks for the tips. They do seem impossible but since nothing is impossible and has been proven a lot of times before… =DWe should all achieve something high (in this case, something impossible). As my teacher once shared with us a quote, “Aim for the moon, should you fail, you’ll fall among the stars”.
Thanks for this! I might try it sometime. Adding to my favorites. Keep up the awesomeness!
they seem really difficult to do:) they are not for me.
I needed to read this post, it reminds me of how I constantly tell everyone they can do anything they really want to. I think it may be time to take my own advice!
Good post,I actually tried several Impossible Ideas ;Get on CNBC (after sending my investment charts).Get an interview with a celeb (well known investor), still waiting for a reply …Blog will outlive me ? probably ; lots of teaching on my blog….
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This post really motivates me, I think nothing is impossible as long as you put enough effort in it.Great post, great blog. Bookmarked!
Quite the list of challenges. I’d prefer to crawl into a hole and never come out than to do some of these things–that’s just the way I am. I’m not saying though that these aren’t great ways to promote your blog!
Hi,Thanks for the wonderful post. Impossible comes possible with hardwork, perseverance and knowledge. Never give up until you have prove the impossible to be possible.thanks,steven
nice article, thanks for the words of encouragement, most of the options didnt apply to me, so i took it up to myself to modify them a bit,1)interview a celebrity, i changed it to interview a respected staff in uni since i am a student, i believe many people would want to know what my core-programming tutor thinks about cloud computing. i run a tech blog(www.cub3d.co.uk) and i do not necessarily need top celebrity scoop.the other points just got my head thinking alot, which was good, now i have a much clearer vision of what i really want to do.i am also goin to try and list a “mission impossible list” of my own.cheers
Great post, really inspiring stuff, im new to the blogging world but this just gets me excited at the possibilities!
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hehe, the third reason is really a good one, and kind of impossible too. But I have done lot of Impossible things which seemed impossible then, but not now, so you never know, there may be a time when few of these 6 , might be very much possibleGood article thoughAll the best