Have you ever wondered how some people manage to have amazing, almost miraculous success stories to share with the world? When smashed between a rock and a hard place, they somehow wind up on a cloud. It’s so amazing that you can’t help but feel inspired, and maybe even a little jealous.
I gave this a lot of thought today after re-watching the animated escape drama Chicken Run. In this film, a feisty chicken named Ginger is determined to help all of her fellow chicken inmates to escape the confines of their chicken coop. Although she was capable of getting herself out with ease, that wasn’t enough for Ginger. Her goal was to somehow get every single one of the chickens out of a place that was perfectly constructed to keep them inside. To say the odds were against them is a quite the understatement.
Every chicken followed Ginger’s lead in hopes that she would get them out. However, they didn’t make plans of their own and they did a mediocre job of carrying out Ginger’s plans.
Without her constant pushing, they would’ve submitted to laying eggs for their creepy captors until the day they were chopped up for chicken salad. Yikes!
Ginger constructed one elaborate escape scheme after another. And each failed attempt resulted in the same punishment: she was forced to spend the night alone in a giant garbage can. It was dark, lonely, uncomfortable and scary. Nonetheless, Ginger arose the morning after her punishment with a new plan. After countless failed escape attempts, Ginger made everyone’s dream come true. She found a way to do the (seemingly) impossible.
Although Chicken Run is just a movie, there are many people who seem to have this “Ginger syndrome.” Some famous examples are Helen Keller, Chris Gardner, Harriet Tubman and Henry Ford. So, I’ve been thinking… What separates the average person (or chicken) from the Gingers of the world?
Burning desire
We all want something, but the question is “How much do you want it?” Do you want it bad enough to risk life and limb? Do you go to sleep with it on your mind and wake up filled with thoughts of reaching your goal?
When you have a pure, burning desire for something, you don’t waste time thinking about the fact that you don’t yet have it. This type of desire does not feel like yearning or lack. It fills you with exhilaration and positive expectation. You can almost taste the goodies that are right over the mountain you’re trying to climb. And that inspires you to get there no matter how impossible it may seem.
Willingness to sacrifice
Ginger spent countless nights alone in a giant garbage can, but it didn’t deter her. She was willing to sacrifice comfort and safety in order to achieve her goal. Harriet Tubman risked her life and her freedom to help slaves escape via the Underground Railroad. Chris Gardner slept in homeless shelters while pursuing his dream job as a stock broker.
Many people are not willing to sacrifice for what they want. However, the choice is available. At any moment, you can decide to have what you want no matter what you have to give up. It may not be practical, but it is an option. If security, money or comfort means more to you than bringing your dream to fruition, you may simply choose to keep on dreaming. The Gingers of the world choose sacrifice.
Love
Sometimes what drives our efforts is love for others. For Ginger, it was love for all the other chickens. She hated seeing her friends and family taken in to become the farmer’s dinner.
Because teaching a deaf, blind and mute child can’t possibly pay an adequate salary, Annie Sullivan obviously continued her work with Helen Keller out of love.
Chris Gardner could have taken a regular, low-paying job. He could have given up on his dreams. He could have sent his son away. He could have done so many things that would have gotten him out of that homeless shelter, but his love for his son drove him to stay the course.
Lucky is the person who loves so deeply that they are filled with the motivation to achieve the impossible.
Positive Attitude
When Ginger was told that her chance of getting every chicken out together was a million to one, her response was, “good…there’s still a chance.” That is the attitude of success!
One highly successful person whose positive attitude helped her to overcome (seemingly) insurmountable odds is Helen Keller. She often spoke of being able to see a God-made world instead of a man-made world. She could have just been angry or depressed about the absence of sight, but she decided to focus on her ability to see in a way that most “sighted” humans do not see. Her world, she said, was dark by our description but golden to her. Success is inevitable when you look at life from this positive perspective.
Unfounded Belief
Those who strive for the impossible are criticized for being unreasonable and unrealistic. They are judged harshly by others for their excessive idealism and optimism. However, it is their refusal to accept the limitations of others’ reality that allows them to do what is unfathomable for the average Joe. They believe whether they have a logical reason to believe in it.
Henry Ford is a perfect example of this. Despite expert proof to the contrary, he believed that there was a way to have an 8 cylinder engine. He wouldn’t take no for an answer. Others may have thought he was wasting money, time, and other resources; but he believed it would pay off. No amount of evidence could convince him that this was impossible. The result of his unfounded belief is the V8 engine.
One of my favorite lines from Ginger in Chicken Run is: “The fences aren’t just around the farm. They’re up here— in your heads.” She couldn’t have been more right. With burning desire, willingness to sacrifice, a heart filled with love and a positive attitude—there is no fence that can hold back your success.
Nea is a Transformational Life Coach whose mission is to help you love your life.
If you desire the “good life” and you want to know how Nea can help you attain it, contact her now.
Hi, I'm Nea. As a 
{ 22 comments }
Dear Nea,
First of all, thank you for providing the world with such insightful and positive reflective articles. You are doing a great job on your journey of self discovery and leading other people to theirs, or just gain connection of insight.
Secondly, thank you for the lovely comments you left on my blog.
I think this article speaks direction and truth in that it resolves what many people in the world turn their minds to. I like the way you included your experience, with what you have learnt about the film and yourself in it. I think that there aren’t either impossibilities or possibilities, there is just simply experience and choice.
The knowingness to just go with the flow of energy is the ultimate revelation as it is who we are beyond the mind of emotion, and once we know this powerful force, we begin to understand what we are really here for.
Great blog!
Thank you Ana. Your compliments mean the world to me.
You are exactly right. It is amazing to be or be around those types of people. Those are the kind of people that everyone always says, “they get all the breaks.” The reason it seems like that is because they never stop making progress and pushing forward. They don’t get lucky and get all the opportunities, they make them.
That’s right… nobody GETS all the breaks. But some people are determined enough to MAKE the breaks.
perfect description of some of the prerequisites you need to succeed in life and business. If you read any self-help/improvement books these underlying principles are often talked about in great length,
a truly great post & blog.
Thanks a ton.
awwwwwsome post.
supr inspiring.
sorta at a conflict about burning desire though. i’ve had some mad success, more than most people ever dream of, by using the “do i really want this” method of building huge emotion and wanting it really badly. but at the same time, wanting it is a mindset of lack and limitation and lately i’ve had some mad success of epic proportions by letting go of wanting it and allowing myself to be whole without it ala “the sedona method”.
i think the desire is great as long as you’re okay whether or not you get it
awwwsome site.
keep well and in touch
alex – unleash reality
Thanks for your comment Alex. Burning desire (or pure desire) is not yearning or wanting. It is an enthusiastic expectation of what IS to come. It is a pure desire that doesn’t consider lack. Sounds like you’ve been applying it in your life.
Hmm great
Nea,
You totally got me, I had to break out the old Chicken Run movie and re-watch it. I don’t know for something top do and some stimulation.
I think that probably one of the biggest way of winning is to focus on what is going to work and not on anything else. Even glancing at why something won’t work, pushes energy in the wrong direction.
I say focus forward on success only there is no failure in that.
Brad West ~ onomoney
Thanks for commenting Brad. You’re so right about the direction in which we’re pushing energy. Hope you enjoyed rewatching the movie.
OK I got into the movies and saw the Lion King also. Need I say more?
Focus forward is a great hing but too many are afraid of failure that they cant move forward. Fail forward fast, welcome failure! You now know one more thing not to waste any more time doing. The more and faster you take action the closer you get to where you want to be.
Take massive action now and fail forward fast!
Brad West ~ onomoney
This really don’t have anything to do with learning or experience. I feel that these people are blessed with divine love for others and will to sacrifice for others. i don’t see much of them around in present day life.
These are some great tips, thanks for sharing. I would agree that if you have a burning desire to do something and you are willing to sacrifice to get it, you are on your way to achieving pretty much anything you put your mind to.
Cool blog! I commented here before, its nice to know there are still some great posts out there. Thanks for the great info…
i think what this post want to share is try to share our mind like jesus and sacrifice for the the good thing for life
wow, I gotta go check out Chicken Run. Yea I definitely the best way to live is when you are constantly helping others improve their lives. Great post!
Thanks for the blog it was comfirmation of things I’ve been thinking and talking about. I most see this movie now, I never had any interest in watching it be.
Thanks for the blog it was comfirmation to things I’ve been thinking and talking about. I most see this movie now, I never had any interest in watching it before.
What a excellent post! I “stumbled upon” this as I am taking a break from working on my “burning desire”. Thanks for the Chicken Little POV…it will keep me motivated to continue the Small Business Journey.
i actually enjoy all your posting style, very interesting.
don’t quit and also keep writing due to the fact it simply just well worth to read it,
excited to view much more of your own article content, enjoy your day!
I do not think I’ve seen this depicted in such a way before. You actually have made this so much clearer for me. Thank you!
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