An empowering and motivating conversation with Shawn Anderson – The Extra Mile Man
“I don’t want to end my life wishing there were still things I wanted to do.”
That was the answer Shawn Anderson gave when I asked where his passion for keeping moving comes from. But more than an answer to a question, this I believe is the mantra for ‘The Extra Mile Man’!
On episode 51 of the podcast, I had the gift of sitting down with a guy who is so inspiring, so motivating, so electric with positivity that I could literally feel it radiating throughout my own body. Talking to Shawn is like sticking your finger in the electrical outlet! But in a good way of course.
I want to share some of my biggest takeaways from this conversation. I must say however, that my list is in no way even close to capturing the magnitude of absolutely life-changing pieces of gold Shawn drops in this episode. I seriously just can’t even begin to explain how powerful this guy truly is! I honestly feel as though me trying to jot down pieces of what Shawn shared is like trying to catch individual drops of water from a firehose!
Nuggets of Gold from Shawn Anderson
“Everest you might be bigger than me, but you chose to grow bigger than it!”
Right out of the gate Shawn Anderson, one of the most amazing men I have ever met in my life did what Shawn does. He flipped the script, turning the focus away from his own greatness and directed it to me. He uses this reference to Mount Everest as a representation of the challenges I have faced in my own life.
When you have a big goal in life, stop looking at the finish line.
In an almost symbolic gesture, Shawn dipped the back tire of his bicycle into the water of the Pacific Ocean, before setting off on a trip across the United States. 48 days later Shawn would dip the front tire of his bike in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. And that was just the first time. He would do this a second time as well.
“Are you him?”
3 words is all it took to lift Shawn up from his lowest point while cycling through the Colorado Rockies. This was during his second cycling trip across the United States. As Shawn sat with his head in his hands, feeling emotionally and physically defeated a voice broke through the silence, “Are you him?”
A woman recognized Shawn from the news story that had just aired in Colorado about ‘The Extra Mile Man’ and now, here he was!
Shawn started a movement to celebrate the everyday heroes in all of our towns called Extra Mile Day. Each November 1st, 1/11, Mayors throughout the country recognize people in their own communities that are making a difference, who are going the Extra Mile.
512 mayors in 2020 participated in Extra Mile Day
If you would like to see your own city participate in this amazing event, please visit ExtraMileAmerica.org to learn more and to share with your mayor and city officials. Let’s keep this movement growing!
“If there is a will, there is a way”
Shawn has a letter taped to a wall in his office as a reminder of what someone said he could not do. He was advised to not come to the Philippines. They said the people would not show up.
Shawn would end up speaking to tens of thousands of people throughout the Philippines. The Filipino people did show up, and showed up in a very big way!
People telling you that you can’t do what you want to do is not something he believes.
Random Words of Wisdom from Shawn Anderson
“When we stop listening to the whispers and nudges inside, they stop coming.”
“Always keep planning bigger than yourself.”
“How close can we come to becoming the person we were supposed to be?”
“Become the inspiration that inspires others.”
“Stop giving ourselves permission to quit.”
Shawn literally leaves me speechless as he so effortlessly spouts out line after line of truly life-changing, global impact type statements.
Since our conversation I have been left to wonder…
What changes in my life can I make to get to have the same sense of excitement for life that Shawn has? What do I need to do, so that I too can wake up each morning with the same type of drive and determination that Shawn Anderson possesses?
I can only hope that you too have been impacted by this conversation with Shawn Anderson the way I have been.
I will end with one last thought…
Each one of us have the ability to do something really, really magical with our lives. As incredible as Shawn Anderson is, he’s actually no different than you or me. He has just figured out how to tap into himself in a way that only brings out the very best in Shawn Anderson. Let this be a reminder to all of us to tap into that same thirst for life!