Years ago, I had the privilege of studying with the late great outdoor photographer Galen Rowell. Galen was an icon. He lived life on a grand scale and made some of the most beautiful, memorable, moving images of the natural world that exist today.
Galen believed that his most powerful images were made on the edges: On the edges of time and space: at the edge of land and sea; in the gathering dusk; in the face of the oncoming storm; in the gentle light of a new day’s dawn. 
Edges are powerful. They are exciting and exhilarating. I know this one is. On the left, a drop of 1000’; on the right, a 5000’ drop across the great South Face of Mt. McKinley. Not much margin for error. It keeps your attention, your focus. It makes your heart beat fast. And, oh, yes, the view. You can see forever.
You can see what is before you… all that is possible.
Life is lived most poignantly along the edge. Where we are engaged and vital and alive.
When we find our edge in our jobs, our sales, our careers, our businesses, our professions, we are happier, more satisfied, more profitable, more prosperous.
When we find our edge in our relationships, we feel loved, appreciated, joyful and safe.
When we are healthy and fit, at the top of our game, when we push ourselves to the edge of what we are capable of, we feel energized, we feel as if we can accomplish anything.
What would it be like to have that edge in your life?
What would it be like to believe that what you dream of is POSSIBLE.
Here’s a well-kept secret. It doesn’t really take a lot of extra effort to up your game. Do you know what the time difference was between Michael Phelps’ recent Gold medal finish in the 100 meter butterfly and the dude who got the Silver? Two-tenths of a second! What’s water at 211º? It’s hot. At 212º it becomes steam… with enough power to drive a locomotive. Two-tenths of a second; a one-decree difference; just a LITTLE extra effort. And EVERYTHING is transformed. Everything becomes possible.
And here’s another well kept secret. Big changes don’t generally happen all at once. It’s small, consistent steps over time; a slow, steady pace that gets you to where you want to go. With a very moderate training schedule, you could run your first marathon inside of a year, even if you’ve never run before! If you lost just a 1/4 lb a week, that would be nearly 25 lbs over the course of a year! Just $2k deposited each year in a Roth IRA (less than 6 bucks a day) starting at age 20 would leave you a millionaire. And a date night just once a month with your significant other might well restore the sizzle to the steak.
So let’s think about the POSSIBILITY of just a LITTLE extra effort. Pick an area of your life; just one to start. Maybe it’s health and fitness; maybe it’s your work; maybe it’s your relationships. But imagine, for a minute, that you could crank it up just a bit; that you could make just a 10% improvement in the way things are. Imagine for a minute what it would be like to get up every day excited about your job; imagine what it would be like to have just 10% more money in the bank; a paycheck that was 10% higher; imagine being at your ideal weight again; the weight you were in high school; imagine coming home every night to a relationship that rocked your world.
What would that be like? Pick just one area. Think about it just the way you would want it to be. Imagine it, picture it, feel it.
Now, say to yourself: it’s possible.
Yes, it’s POSSIBLE.
Now begin.
Thanks, Walt. In my post-big effort lull, this is a good reminder. I’ve found myself beginning to slip into the doldrums just a bit after my climb & run in the Caucasus, and coming back to a frenzied concert schedule. The timing of your post is perfect!
Julie