They Didn’t Think They Were Good Enough...Until They Did This | Ed Mylett
When facing seemingly impossible odds, focus on finding the one person who believes in possibility rather than dwelling on those who doubt you. A hospital nurse's simple willingness to 'try' helped someone walk again after a 2% chance of survival. The lesson: sometimes you're just not asking the rig
1h 30mKey Takeaway
When facing seemingly impossible odds, focus on finding the one person who believes in possibility rather than dwelling on those who doubt you. A hospital nurse's simple willingness to 'try' helped someone walk again after a 2% chance of survival. The lesson: sometimes you're just not asking the right person. Your breakthrough might come from changing who you're listening to, not changing your circumstances.
Episode Overview
This powerful episode features two inspiring comeback stories. First, Michael Chandler, a UFC fighter, discusses overcoming imposter syndrome, the importance of mental preparation alongside physical training, and how his faith and personal development work enabled him to fight Conor McGregor after a difficult losing streak. The second segment features an extraordinary story of a professional horse trainer who broke her neck (C2 vertebra, same injury as Christopher Reeve) with a 2% chance of survival, yet walked out of the hospital in days and returned to competitive riding within a year. Both stories emphasize the power of persistence, finding the right support, and making your future vision brighter than your past.
Key Insights
Healthy Imposter Syndrome Drives Performance
A small amount of imposter syndrome can be beneficial—it keeps you humble, training hard, and prevents complacency. The key is ensuring it doesn't become your dominant thought. Michael Chandler maintains this mindset even as a top UFC fighter, using it to fuel preparation rather than paralysis.
Life is About Taking Hits While Throwing Back
The real challenge in any combat—whether in the octagon or in life—isn't just delivering blows, but absorbing punishment and still moving forward. Most people stop after one setback, worrying about perception and past failures. True persistence means continuing your course of action with complete disregard to previous failures and future opposition.
Work on Your Mind as Much as Your Body
During Chandler's 688-day losing streak, he realized he was doing all the physical work but neglecting his mental game and self-image. He was building 'a bigger, faster, stronger, subpar version' of himself. Real transformation required working on his mindset, self-concept, and internal thermostat setting.
Focus on What You Have, Not What You're Missing
Training in a gym next to a physical therapy clinic provided daily perspective. Seeing people in wheelchairs and with serious injuries created gratitude for being able to train at all. When you focus on what you possess rather than what you lack, and remember someone has it worse, your 'problems' shrink dramatically.
You're Often Just Asking the Wrong Person
After a catastrophic neck injury, multiple hospital staff said it would take 6 months to walk. One nurse said 'I'm willing to try it' and helped immediately. Within 90 minutes, the patient walked the length of the hall. Sometimes your breakthrough isn't about changing your situation—it's about finding someone who believes in possibility.
If a Bad Thing Produces a Good Result, Was It Really Bad?
The 688-day losing streak and the paralyzing injury were both 'painful windings of the spring' that eventually catapulted both guests to become better versions of themselves. If something makes you a better person, father, human being—was it truly negative? This reframe transforms setbacks into necessary preparation.
Make Your Future Brighter Than Your Past
After being told she'd never ride again, the horse trainer set a goal so compelling (returning to National Finals Rodeo) that it made her future look brighter than her past. When your vision is bright enough, you'll stay hooked through all the failures, losses, and setbacks along the way.
Notable Quotes
"The golden diamonds was reserved for God's people, not the devil's bunch. I do think that the good among us are supposed to go out and capture those things."
"If you don't have a bunch of fruit on the back of your cart, you can't pass it out to people. I have a duty to be successful because I can then use it to change people's lives."
"The definition of persistence is continuing in a course of action with complete disregard to previous failures and future opposition."
"We don't follow people because of their successes. We follow people more even for their failures because they were able to overcome something. People love a comeback."
"I am so blessed to be able to do what I get to do. Every single one of those people would give anything to trade one week of this well-enabled body."
"I was doing all the physical work. But what I wasn't working on was my mind. I was building up a bigger, faster, stronger, subpar version of the man that I was really created to be."
"If a bad thing happens to you, but a good thing comes from it and you become a better person, you got to ask yourself, was it really a bad thing if a good thing comes from it?"
"Sometimes you're just not asking the right person."
"If you just put one foot in front of the other, you know, you can get down to the end of the hall and it could take you months, but we're going to try it."
"If I can have a goal big enough that makes my future look brighter than my past, then that will keep me hooked towards something that I want so badly."
Action Items
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1
Embrace Perspective Practice Daily
Each day, consciously focus on what you possess rather than what you're missing. Look for people who have it worse than you—not to feel superior, but to cultivate genuine gratitude. Before complaining about your workout, remember those who can't move their limbs. This reframe transforms 'hard' into 'blessed.'
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2
Balance Physical and Mental Training
Assess your current development ratio. If you're doing all physical work (skills, practice, execution) but no mental work (mindset, self-concept, vision), you're building a 'subpar version' of yourself. Dedicate time to reading, personal development events, podcasts, and working on your internal thermostat setting.
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3
Find Your 'Willing to Try' Person
When facing a major obstacle, stop asking people who default to 'no' or 'impossible.' Actively seek out someone who responds with 'I'm willing to try it.' Sometimes your breakthrough isn't changing the situation—it's changing who you're listening to. One supportive voice can matter more than ten doubtful ones.
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4
Create a Future Vision Brighter Than Your Past
Set a goal so compelling that it makes your future look brighter than your past. This vision needs to be vivid enough to keep you 'hooked' through inevitable failures and setbacks. Write it down. Visualize it daily. Let it pull you forward when everything else pushes you back.