AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH ARTICLES
I Never Saved Anything for the Swim Back
by Mike Mahler
You want to know how I did it? This is how I did it, Anton: I never saved anything for the swim back. -- Vincent, from Gattaca (1997)
One of my all time favorite movies is the classic, Gattaca, a thought-provoking story if you take the time to digest the multiple messages within. Unfortunately, most people watch it and return to their quiet and miserable live. I'm forever amazed by the lack of inspiration people display with all the powerful examples and sources of inspiration out there and available to all. But, save that rant for a later date...
Gattaca depicts a world of the future ruled by genetically superior humans. It's no longer about race or wealth, but about who has the best genes. If you're not born with the right genes for a desired occupation, then you've zero chance of acquiring that occupation. Neither how hard you work, nor any other effort you might put in matters--you're shut out entirely and must accept your lot. Ironically, in our society, people suffer from self-limitations more than any limitation the collective puts upon them.
Vincent Freeman (a masterful Ethan Hawke) decides he's unwilling to accept these oppressive societal limitations and figures out a way to achieve his dreams. Vincent's lifelong dream is space travel and he refuses to concede defeat. He assumes the identity of Jerome Morrow (Jude Law), who has the necessary genetic profile and is willing to sell it. Jerome is in a wheel chair, has lost his zeal for life and thus no longer cares about benefiting from his superior genetics.
While Gattaca has many powerful scenes, fans know the most powerful of all is the swim scene: Vincent has a brother, Anton, genetically superior both mentally and physically; however, being born with his gifts, Anton never develops either Vincent's mental toughness or tactical thinking skills. Growing up, Vincent and Anton competed with each other in ocean swimming to see who could swim out the farthest out from the shore. With his superior physical genetics, Anton always won; however, as Vincent matures he develops human spirit, a quality which no one is born with but is instead realized through suffering and perseverance--something about which the genetically gifted Anton knows nothing. As adults, they once again engage in the swimming contest and this time--to Anton’s surprise--Vincent wins. Anton, flabbergasted, asks Vincent how he did it. Vincent replies: I won because I never saved anything for the swim back. Though genetically superior, Anton is a slave to his genetics; Vincent wins by transcending genetics. Anton’s genetic assets thus become liabilities, causing him to lose the swim contest. Vincent, who's spent his lifetime working within enforced limitations, never lets institutionalized societal rules hold him back. Born with weakness, Vincent spends his life overcoming weakness and never gives up. Space travel becomes his obsession--as your goals must obsess you in order to excel.
Swimming out without concern for how you will get back to shore is a metaphor for pursuing your dreams without any back-up plans. Too many people opt out before truly getting started by telling themselves they can do something else when and if their dream career fails to thrive. Is this your mentality? If so, don't bother with your dream career because you've already missed. As the sage warfare strategist Sun Tzu wrote: the winner and loser of a fight is already determined before the fight starts. If you've already got your fall back job lined up in case your dream career fizzles, your fight is already determined...and you've lost! Instead, you must be so single-mindedly focused on what you want that even the idea of doing anything else is never conceived. When something isn't an option, it will never obstruct you. Excuses are unacceptable: This is do or die time and those unprepared to handle such hardcore mentality must fall back and prepare instead to accept a self-created, mediocre experience of life.
There are infinite excuses and rationalizations why now is the imperfect time. There are countless people to call you unrealistic. There are eternities in which, with no one to motivate you in pushing forward, you must be self-reliant. And so what? What else is new? No matter if they're big or small, excuses are excuses. You can thank me for the truth: You--and only you--are in charge of your life. Failure is always entirely your own fault. With an honest self-assessment comes freedom and you have the freedom to change your life...if you're willing to pay the price. Are you willing pay the price?
I can already hear people arguing that wanting a thing badly--and even working hard to achieve it--doesn't mean you will get it. While that may be true, they're missing the point. Genuine victory comes not from achieving a given goal but in refining yourself in the process. This is something that can never be taken away from you. Vincent's victory wasn't in beating Anton in a swim contest, no, it was the person he became in the process of doing so.
Are you willing to swim out so far without worrying how you'll get back?
Live Life Aggressively!
Mike Mahler
***Article Edited by Teresa Blazey: teresa.blazey@gmail.com
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