Holy cannoli, Batman! There’s a ton of stuff happening around IMPOSSIBLE and it’s getting a little ridiculous! There’s a lot of stuff to get through. Let’s just dive right in!
Impossible Gear
Table of Contents
By popular request, we’re expanding the apparel line beyond just shirts. In order to do this, we’ve streamlined the impossible gear page and updated the gallery of people doing impossible things. Here’s what’s coming up.
New Women’s Tank Tops
Ladies, I know I’ve been saying for the last few months that we’re coming out with tank tops, but they’re finally here. I’d talk more about them, but, at this point in the game, it’s easier to just show you some photos.
Front
Back
Major props to Juli Bauer of PaleoOMG for putting up with my pestering by modeling this and dominating CrossFit this past weekend.
With some gentle nudging from my friends at {r}evolution apparel, these shirts are printed on Alternative Apparel baby rib tank tops that are eco-friendly and socially conscious (not to mention, they look great and are super soft). I’m sorry to make all you wait so long but they’re [FINALLY] available for order. Pick yours up from the store today for just $20 + free shipping to ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
New Impossible Shirt Design
Don’t worry, we’re not changing much. The front is staying the same (of course), but we’re switching up the back to be a little cleaner and a little bolder. We’ll be changing the back logo to the Impossible HQ logo design and dropping the URL. It’s a little less promotional and a little better designed and if someone asks you what the shirt means, you get to have a fun impromptu conversation. 🙂
You can see the difference between the two shirts below. We’ve dropped the URL and combined IMPOSSIBLE with HQ.
Old Version
New Version
The shirts are on their way to me as we speak and they should start shipping in early June. Keep an eye out for them.
Impossible Cycling Jerseys
Are you a cyclist? A group of cyclists in the league want custom IMPOSSIBLE jerseys. If you’re interested, sign up here. If we get twenty or more people interested in pre-ordering them, we’ll do a one time, limited edition custom jersey and order them up fresh. How about that? Get on the list.
Boom.
I’ve also had a bag of suspicious looking wristbands dropped at HQ. One of them has even been spotted in the wild. We’ll announce exactly what these are for in the days to come. 🙂
And, in case you’re curious, there’s more gear in the works as (we’re looking at you, tech shirts and hoodies).
Impossible League
Speaking of the Impossible League, we’ve got a brand new platform for it! If you don’t know, the Impossible League is the community of readers and doers who follow the blog as they work on telling great stories with their lives and doing their own impossible things.
We decided to change platforms because the last one was getting really slow and difficult to navigate as it grew to over 500+ people, so we started fresh, with better software, cleaner navigation, and more expandability (so we can do some really cool things in the future). We learned a lot from the old platform and we’re going to be bringing those lessons to the new platform. If you’re looking to make some changes and do something impossible, the Impossible League community is absolutely amazing (did I mention that we’ve raised over $6,000 for Kiva.org?). Check out the new Impossible League community and join up here.
I really can’t explain how excited I am for the new platform. While we’re still working out some of the minor kinks, it’s a ton of fun to interact with other people on it and see what incredible things people are up to (like Hailey Manning who’s qualifying for the Kona Ironman Championship!). You should really check it out.
(Note: due to exporting restrictions from our old acccount, if you had an old Impossible League account, it will no longer work. You’ll need to create a new one. I know, it’s a pain, but it’s going to be totally worth it. Promise.)
New Impossible HQ Promo Video
Back in September, I went to Ohio and did an interview with a friend. We ended up creating a longer interview video, but also managed to put together this short promo video which will be living in the sidebar for the near future. It’s a pretty short video that’s really well done. Check it out.
Cold Shower Therapy™: The Challenge Course
Back in early April, I threw out a challenge: thirty days of cold showers. Thirty days of overcoming resistance to do something impossible that you’ve always wanted to do. I dubbed it Cold Shower Therapy™.
A lot of people took on the challenge, did it, and changed major things about their lives. I wanted to get serious about getting back into shape after a crappy winter, so I jumped into a hardcore workout regimen and focused on another impossible thing on my list – getting a six pack (results coming soon).
Not only did it work for me personally, but the post was one of the most visited in recent memory and it made me realize there’s a real need for this type of challenge to happen on a continual basis. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve also been getting lots of requests for personal coaching to help people get unstuck. While I don’t do personal coaching, I decided to meet both needs at the same time and fuse the two pieces into a 28 day email challenge course focused on getting unstuck and making one lasting change in 28 days, by taking Cold Shower Therapy™ for four weeks.
The first challenge will only be available next week for seven days at a ridiculously low price and the challenge will officially start a week later. Full details to come next week, so stay tuned!
Impossible Publishing
Impossible Manifesto
The Impossible Manifesto has a new cover! If that’s not enough for you, we’re also working on making it available in print! The first copy is on its way to me as we speak and it should be available for purchase in the next week. Yup, it’s like a real book now. Neat! If you haven’t downloaded the Kindle version yet, Amazon makes me charge $0.99 for it, but I fought their lawyers and made it free until the end of the week from their site, so pick it up!
Also, I’ve had a few professors ask me about using the manifesto as part of their high school or university curriculum. With a new print edition, that might get a little easier to do. If you’re a teacher or professor and are interested in doing this, get in touch and let me know!
Blogs to Books
Ever since publishing the manifesto on Amazon, I’ve wanted to experiment with Amazon as a distribution source. I decided to go ahead and take some of the most popular blog posts on the site and turn them into short e-books you can take with you anywhere you go. You can see the three posts we turned into books below.
These are all available on Amazon for absolutely free for the next week, so if you’ve got a Kindle, do yourself a favor, go over and pick them up (and if you like them, I’d love for you to rate them while you’re at it). As a plus, as of hitting publish, these books were at one, four, eight, and ten in Amazon’s Entrepreneurship section. Not too bad, huh?
I’d love to give them away forever, but Amazon is making me charge a minimum of $.99 for them once this promo is over (so if you want them, you’d better act sooner rather than later, as they’re only free until Friday!). You can see all the books I have right now on Amazon right here. (Here’s my favorite review so far.)
Meet ups, Adventures, Speaking, and More
I mentioned after speaking at Target earlier this year that I was going to try to do more speaking engagements. Well, we’re making that happen. If you don’t know already, I’ll be hosting a breakout session at the World Domination Summit, so if you’re attending the conference, you should probably come and say “hi.” 🙂
Plummet at The Summit 2012
I’m also taking a group of twenty to thirty people to jump off a bridge with me before WDS (there are only a few spots left, so if you want in, sign up here) for the 2nd annual Plummet at The Summit. Two jumps, special edition impossible gear, the experience of a lifetime, and another thing knocked off your impossible list.
We’re also going to be having one of our first Impossible meet ups in Portland the Monday after WDS and it’ll be absolutely free. If you’re going to the conference and want to stick around for another day or are just in/around Portland and want to meet a bunch of really cool people, put it on your calendar. There’s more information coming soon.
The bungee jump trip is a small part of Impossible Adventures – a new venture where I’ll take people on awesome adventures every three, six, or twelve months. If you’re interested in getting more details about this, visit the site for more information and to be notified of upcoming adventures.
ONE MORE THING: A Giveaway
I’m a little late to the party, but some of you know of this up-and-coming blogger fellow Chris Guillebeau (aka Chris G-ihavenoideahowiactuallyremembertospellhisname). Chris came out with a little book a few weeks ago called The $100 Startup. It’s about building your own business even if you don’t have massive amounts of capital or a trust fund to get you started. As soon as it went on sale, Chris did what he did best and completely dominated the bestseller lists of the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal, so when I finally got back to the States last week, I grabbed my copy and read it in one sitting. It’s that good.
Chris has been a huge inspiration for everything I’ve done here on the blog (right from the second post on this blog) and, since I try to make a habit of passing on books that I enjoy and I have two copies to give away, if you’d like one, answer this question:
What one impossible thing are you doing this summer? What are you doing today to make it happen?
Answer in the comments and a completely biased judge will pick my favorite answer and ship the book out in the next week.
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Believe if or not, that’s not a complete list of the stuff that’s happening around here. Things are growing crazy fast and there are a lot of cool opportunities coming up (including another adventure that I’ll be sharing next week). If you want to get involved, get on the email list and join the League. There’s some big stuff happening around here and this is just the start. 🙂
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Whew! That’s a lot of things. Just to recap in case you lost track.
- Women’s tank tops are here. Order yours today! (+ more cool gear coming soon)
- Get some free books on Amazon (you get extra points from me if you’ll leave a review. 🙂 )
- Join the new Impossible League community
- Cold Shower Therapy™: The Challenge is coming
- Jump off a bridge with me at WDS
- Win a copy of Chris Guillebeau’s new book and tell me what impossible things you’re doing this summer.
Told ya we’re busy :). Stay up-to-date with all the madness on Twitter 🙂.
Photo credit: Thomas Hawk
Taylor M. says
My impossible thing this summer is a sprint triathalon. I’ve always been a swimmer, but the running and biking has never been my forte. Today I’m gonna rock some sprints before and after (and I guess during too) playing ultimate frisbee. It was actually one of your previous posts, on Expert Enough I believe, that convinced me to sign up for one and make it happen. BOOM
Joel Runyon says
Awesome if you need any help w/ it, just let me know.
Dennis says
I’ll run my first 5k in June. First 10k in September. Or earlier. No, I never competed in a race yet, but I’ll be 40 soon, time to take on some impossible things!
Brandon Yeager says
Joel,
Couple thoughts…I LOVE the new gear you are coming out with…I think they’ll be a huge hit. Also…I love how you are repurposing content and publishing it via Amazon, etc. GREAT thinking and way to get the word out.
Keep on Rocking,
Brandon
Ryan says
I’m building my own parkour gym.
Shannon says
Gentle nudging… ; ) Tanks look awesome — can’t wait to get one!
Caleb Wojcik says
Most announcements in a single blog post ever?
Probably.
Joel Runyon says
Haha, I told you we were busy!
Natalia says
My impossible goal this summer is completing the Tough Mudder, the “toughest event on earth,” a gruelling 3-hour obstacle course event created by British Special Forces. The Impossible Manifesto (I did a recap on my blog!) definitely influenced me to embrace the challenge. Today I’m exercising (lower body workout + soccer), nourishing my body (lots of veggies, moderate amounts of fruits, meats) and resting (adequate sleep), in preparation for the event.
Awesome stuff with this latest traction, Joel! P.s. I love cold shower therapy.
William Dulitz says
Tough Mudder is great fun! Just don’t overthink the obstacles too much and you can make it through everything.
Upper body strength is a huge advantage, especially at the walls and the swinging obstacles.
I just did the Tough Mudder in Somerset, WI on May 19th in 3.5 hours, even with a gnarly muscle cramp in my right calf at mile 9.
mars dorian says
nice man. I luv how you are expanding your brand into products.
Your arch rival, Mr. Kamb, will not be pleased.
This will be an interesting fight.
Lore says
As a recent college graduate, my summer plans are wide open. I am leaving the southeast coast, my home and birthplace, to head out west. During a stopover in Texas i am learning how to ride o motorcycle and learning to replace brakes on my car. I am then leaving everything familiar and entering into a new part of the country to make friends, to live well, and to learn how to be as happy as possible.
Alissa A says
My impossible goal is revamping my diet. Doesn’t sound impossible, but for me it’s the largest stumbling block because of how much I have refused to change over the years. The plan is to have my research in order and jump in do it. I’m not expecting pure bliss, but hoping my health is changed at the end.
Jorge O. says
Took me a few minutes on several breaks at the office to complete the whole email! You guys have been busy!.
First, I wanted to say that all you’re doing is great. Just great man.
Second, I already completed the Cold Shower challenge without knowing there was one 😉 I’ve been showering with cold water ever since we spent a whole week without electricity due to a nearby hurricane. That makes around 8 months now.
Third, I just completed another impossible: Went on a family vacation, with only 2 carry-on bags (RedOxx rules!) for a family of 3, for 8 days. No checked baggage.
Also, visited NY and Niagara Falls in the same week.
Then, my impossible goal for this summer is working out for at least 5 days a week, so I can start running 5K ans 10K races in the island. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but I have to balance that with a incredibly demanding 5 year-old daughter, and my wife. And my job. And my 750cc Honda Shadow. And my friends.
I will keep myself accountable with Endomondo on my android, I just love that app.
BOOM! All that. And there’s a lot more! But I will take the time to write it on my blog 😉
Cheers!
Sharon says
Hi Joel: Are your new blogs-to-books downloadable in a form other than kindle? I haven’t jump aboard the kindle cruise yet so just curious. Thanks!
Joel Runyon says
Not yet – I’m working on them.
If you want, you can grab the kindle app for your phone or computer though — http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771
Sharon says
Thanks! And thanks for all of the motivation. In six days I will no longer be employed and this weekend I’m starting rock climbing. boom!
William Dulitz says
What one impossible thing are you doing this summer?
Motivate one person to change their life, to follow a dream through to completion.
What are you doing today to make it happen?
LISTENING! Spent my evening at a wine tasting yesterday listening to an aquaintance who has been a little lost in what to do since she completed her undergrad degree. I think she is going to continue her research into an old dream which returns every couple years. Even though I won’t see her for a long while during training and after assignment, I am encouraging her to go for it…dreams should be followed, challenges met, impossible should be destroyed.
The other thing I’m doing for other people is leading by example, keeping my diet clean, keeping my exercise progress moving forward, answering any questions with enthusiasm. I’m also challenging others directly
Frank says
Long time reader first time commenter.
I really enjoy reading about your thoughts and the way you approach things.
My impossible thing is taking control of my life. I will start a business as a fitness and life coach, thus improving my life and the lives of others.
The thought of the challenge excites me but I am also a little scared.
Feels like a cannonball in the arctic sea.
Best regards from Germany,
Frank