By Penelope Pangalos
Picture this: You blurt out a goal so wild, so audacious, that even you giggle at the absurdity of it. Your friends raise their eyebrows, your inner critic snickers, and the rational part of your brain whispers, “Impossible.” And yet, something inside you dares to wonder, “But… what if?”. That, my friend, is a breakthrough in the making.
A breakthrough is not about doing something grandiose, like building a bridge to the moon (though if that’s your goal, I salute you). It’s something deeply meaningful—something you desire but have absolutely no idea how to accomplish. It’s a challenge that excites and terrifies you in equal measure, something that, if achieved, would change your life, your business, or the lives of those around you.
The Anatomy of a Breakthrough
Let’s break it down. A breakthrough goal is:
- Something you deeply want. Not just a vague wish, but a goal that makes your heart beat faster.
- Something you don’t know how to do. If you had a clear roadmap, it wouldn’t be a breakthrough—it would just be a to-do list.
- Something that matters. Maybe it improves your career, your confidence, your impact on the world, your business—or just makes you feel more alive.
Breaking Through the Barriers
Let’s talk about challenges, because breakthroughs are never smooth sailing.
Example 1: The Reluctant Public Speaker
Meet Jane, a brilliant professional whose biggest fear was public speaking. Her breakthrough goal? Deliver a talk at a conference with an audience of her peers. The mere thought made her stomach churn. She had no clue how to get on a conference panel, let alone speak confidently in front of an audience.
How did she do it? She started small—speaking at team meetings, then local networking events. She sought coaching, practiced relentlessly, and yes, bombed a few times. But eventually, she nailed it. And when she walked off that conference stage to a standing ovation, she wasn’t just a speaker—she was transformed.
Example 2: The Business Game-Changer
Then there’s Mark, an entrepreneur who dreamed of expanding his small consulting firm into an international business. It seemed impossible—he had limited resources, no overseas connections, and no clue where to start.
But he declared his breakthrough goal anyway. He networked like crazy, sought mentors, and experimented with different global strategies. After months of trial and error, his company landed its first international client. That one deal led to another, and today, his firm operates in five countries.
Why Bother?
Because breakthroughs change how you see yourself and your potential. The moment you accomplish something you once believed impossible, your entire reality shifts. You stop playing small. You start questioning every limiting belief you’ve ever had. And suddenly, the world looks like a place filled with possibilities.
So, what’s your breakthrough goal? That thing that makes you laugh in disbelief? Say it out loud. Write it down. And then, start—messy, scared, unprepared—but start. Because the only way to make the impossible possible is to dare to say.
Game on!