8/7/2024-On this day, Philippe Petit

Petit’s life-long goal was to do something so unique and daring it borders on lunacy. But he had a lifelong goal and passion. Maybe it’s time for you to get a lifelong goal.

On this day in 1974, French-born Philippe Petit walked on a high wire between the newly built twin towers of the World Trade Center in NYC.

Petit was 1,350 feet above the ground.

So what does this have to do with you, high-wire-walkin’ sales pro?

You and Philippe have a ton in common:

You’re both fearless.

You both possess the courage to balance yourself during extreme challenges.

And…you both know how to look straight ahead with eyes on the prize.

Let Philippe’s whimsical, curious, and daring nature inspire you to do something uncomfortable today.

What scares you in your sales life?

Meeting with CXOs?

Role-playing in front of your peers?

Creating strategic plans? ("What if they find out I’m not really strategic at all??")

When prepping for your hire-wire acts, you could follow Nike’s advice and Just Do It. Or, you could double down on self-driven education and practice.

Either one or anything in between will work!

On June 26, 1971, Petit executed his first big walk when he strolled between the towers of the Notre Dame cathedral. If you’re keeping score, he was 223 feet (68 meters) above earth.

But Petit’s life-long goal was to walk between the Twin Towers.

Petit planned his World Trade Center walk for months, pulling together a small group of confidantes, including an “inside man” who had an office in one of the buildings.

On the night before the performance, an arrow was shot from one roof to the other so that fishing line, fastened to the arrow, could pull the rope across. Eventually, the rope was substituted with heavy wire.

Rigging took up most of the night, but Petit started his walk – err, WALKS – just after 7am. He claimed to have made eight crossings between the towers over 45 minutes, embellishing the performance by sitting and lying down upon the wire as a crowd gathered below.

Of course, the friendly NYC police were waiting for him after he finished his stroll, but instead of taking him to a holding cell, they took him to a mental hospital to check on his sanity. (Charges were later dropped.)

Petit emerged as a famous man but rejected many opportunities to capitalize on his celebrity.

"In the art of living, you have to have a sense of focus so you can concentrate and do the best job in whatever you are doing."

Hey, great approach, Philippe.

Walking on a thin wire high above the ground is not a simple athletic stunt. It’s an exercise that proves fear can be minimized to accomplish something great…and unique.

Learn more about Pilippe the Stud and his jaw-dropping stunt from August ’74.