Naked and Unafraid
The Story of Rollie Free and His Huge Balls
“Cowards die many times before their actual deaths.” — Julius Caesar
It’s been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes that’s not enough.
Walk into my office and you’ll be greeted by an eye-popping black-and-white image from September 13, 1948.
It’s a picture of a reasonably hairy man wearing nothing but a skin tight speedo laying face down on a Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle.
The man in the picture is Rollie Free, and it shows him setting the motorcycle land-speed record of 150 mph.
The goal was outrageous, incredibly dangerous, required huge balls and would be impossible to repeat today.
Rollie was the perfect nut-job, just the sort of guy who would strip down to his shorts to squeeze an extra mile per hour on his speed attempt.
He’s one of my heroes, and it’s my honor to share his story with the hope that it will inspire you to live an epic life and dare mighty things.
Rollie Free had several unique qualities…
- A fiercely competitive and courageous nature that some would say boarded on insanity.
- A burning desire for vengeance against Harley-Davidson (which reneged on a promise).
- A 100% commitment to achieving his goal at any cost to include removing the bike seat, laying flat on his stomach in the prone position…and stripping down to his birthday suit (almost) going 150+ miles per hour.
Rollie’s antics engendered loyalty and devotion among his friends, and an incredulous admiration from his enemies.
On the big day, he looked more set for an afternoon on Laguna Beach than for an attempt on a land speed record.
If he’d fallen, he would have suffered some serious road (salt) rash over most of his body.
Instead, Rollie averaged a blistering 150.313mph, smashing the previous American speed record and establishing a new world record.
Let’s apply some of this daredevil stuff to your own life…
When was the last time you fully committed yourself to a big, challenging goal?
A goal that you would see through to the end no matter the cost?
As you consider that question…I want to share a truth, one that functions like gravity and which kicks like a mule.
You don’t get paid for starting…You only get paid for finishing.
Therefore, don’t start anything — unless you’re fully prepared to pay the full price of victory.
Don’t start anything — unless you’re willing to embrace discomfort, embarrassment and temporary failure.
Don’t start anything — unless you’re committed to seeing it through to the end.
Here’s the deal…
Anything that you want to be, do or have…
Will have no value if you don’t finish.
And, chances are you’ll never get it across the finish line.
Why?
Commitment Issues.
There is but one acceptable degree of commitment…TOTAL
Commitments present themselves in delineations of black and white…
You either honor your commitments, or you don’t.
There are no shades of grey…zip, zero, nada.
Success is the result of making and keeping commitments to yourself and others…
While all failed or unfinished goals, projects, and relationships are the direct result of broken obligations.
It’s that simple, it’s that profound, and it’s that important.
The lack of sustained commitment…of starting something but not finishing it is a serious competitive problem…that merits a serious competitive solution.
Your ability, or should I say inability to honor your promises directly impacts your credibility, reputation, trustworthiness, earning ability, and overall peace of mind.
The greatest and most unfortunate betrayal is that of oneself.
Being able to adhere to our commitments begins with self-respect.
When you say one thing and do another…
When you set goals and start projects but don’t finish them.
When you go on a diet but quit soon after beginning…
The only things at which you become successful at is…
Sabotaging your reputation with yourself, undermining your self-esteem and setting bad precedent which is difficult to overcome.
And, when you dishonor your own commitments and lie to yourself…
How on earth can you be expected to honor the commitments you make to others?
Character defines an individual, and honoring commitments helps to define your character.
To successfully achieve your goals and to make good on your promises to yourself and others…
You must embrace this truth…
There is but one degree of commitment…Total.
Therefore, focus on building your commitment muscle.
You do that by adopting this integrity pledge…
If you make a commitment…honor it.
If you make a promise…keep it.
If you set a goal…achieve it.
Aristotle was absolutely right when he said…
“Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting in a particular way.”
By honoring your commitments…
You’ll wake up each day with determination, and go to bed with immense satisfaction.
Commitment counts…
It will make you…and without it, it will break you.
Mark it down, asterisk it, circle it, underline it and by all means enforce it.
Every successful endeavor begins with the power of your commitment…and ends with you getting your goals across the finish line.
I’m not suggesting that you need to strip down to your tighty whities to demonstrate how committed you are…but doing so certainly got Rollie Free into the record book.
Always remember, there is but one degree of commitment…Total.
Before you go…
Over the years, I’ve learned a few… secrets. The tips, tactics and strategies that have helped people to become superhuman and transform their life. Want to see ‘em? Go here and get my free manifesto.
You’ll find the tip about how to “10X Your Results” fascinating!
Gary Ryan Blair is creator of the 100 Day Challenge…a radical approach to goal achievement that shows people how to achieve 10X size goals by applying the methods and best practices of growth hacking.
