Perhaps the first three words of this article’s headline have made you think of Adidas’ ” Impossible is Nothing ” campaign, but no, I don’t intend to write about it (although I’ll gladly add one of its iconic commercials to the end of the article). Nor do I intend to write about the impact that this same slogan had on the culture of Maurice Saatchi’s agency , the one that bears his name and became the largest advertising group in the world in the 1970s.

I could refer to Lionel Messi, Novak Djokovic or Michael Jordan, arguably “goats” —an acronym for “Greatest Of All Time”— in their respective sports specialties, because their lives have been governed by these same three words and they really exemplify a true combination of talent, sacrifice and discipline . But that is not my intention, at least for today.

I’ve chosen not to follow the path one might instinctively deduce from the title. Instead, I’m opting to stray from the obvious, sharing a joyful story and expressing my deep admiration for my favorite of the four Beatles: Sir Paul McCartney, or ‘Macca,’ as he has been fondly known for decades.

It hardly seems necessary to introduce the man behind timeless Beatles classics like ‘Yesterday’ (1965), ‘Hey Jude’ (1968), and ‘Let It Be’ (1970), as well as his many solo hits, including ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ (1970), dedicated to his wife Linda, and ‘Live and Let Die’ (1973). Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997 for his contributions to music, his fortune, according to the latest public reports from the Sunday Times, exceeds $1.2 billion—surpassing even that of Taylor Swift, which is impressive given her extraordinary success today.

I am a Macca fan , I admit it openly and proudly. He has created timeless anthems that resonate with different generations and he has left an undeniable mark on the music industry. The lyrics of his songs capture the essence of the human experience , mixing simplicity and depth, and reaching deep into the soul.

I must admit, one of my dreams is to meet him in person. However, I would have so much to celebrate that a simple handshake and a quick selfie wouldn’t suffice.  I would love the opportunity to exchange a few words with him, hoping to spark his desire to share an anecdote—perhaps even something no one else knows.

Someday in the distant future. Who knows, maybe soon. Nothing is impossible.

In any case, I don’t want to highlight Paul McCartney’s figure here today in relation to his fortune or his musical triumphs, issues that we could talk about at length. What I want to share with you is, from my perspective, his most recent story .

The strength of believing that nothing is impossible

A brief aside. 

To deny that the impossible exists is more akin to fantasy , a chimera. It is ridiculous to think otherwise. However, nothing prevents us from facing life and all its challenges with the attitude of “nothing is impossible”. Herein lies the key. Attitude .

There are those who take this statement in the wrong way, preaching that anyone can achieve what they set out to do. But who can defend such nonsense ? Limitations exist. I have experienced them before, I experience them currently, and I will continue to experience them as I navigate through life.

“Nothing is impossible” can be an attitude, a disposition in the face of adversity. I always encourage people to adopt this motto as a way of life. 

When faced with any problem or difficulty, any opportunity or moment, it is best to tackle it with a positive attitude, and with the mentality that it is possible to overcome a setback no matter how complex it may be. That is how New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Everest in 1953. And that same attitude was used in 1961 by John F. Kennedy in his quest to put a man on the Moon and get him safely back to Earth before the end of the decade.

With the slogan “ nothing is impossible ” as their banner, giants such as Reed Hastings (Netflix), Jack Ma (Ali Baba) or Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX, X) are the poster children for these kinds of successes. Individuals who look at problems as opportunities to seize and use them to grow. 

The little-known story of Macca’s eighteenth album, “McCartney III”

Like everyone else around the world, the mandatory lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic forced Paul McCartney to seclude himself at home in Sussex. However, instead of perceiving confinement as a setback in life, he decided to dedicate his time to what he does best: creating, composing and producing music . 

There were many artists who, like the brilliant British composer, found themselves in unexpected circumstances.

Guided by the “ Nothing is Impossible ” mantra that has characterized him throughout his life, Macca faced confinement, with no way out, and saw it as an opportunity to return to his roots and create something intimate and raw . The result was “ McCartney III ”, an album recorded almost entirely in his home studio between March and July 2020.

He played the instruments and did most of the backing vocals himself , in the same tradition as the albums McCartney I and McCartney II. He composed pieces based on unfinished creations and notes from the past, underpinned by a completely honest, natural and spontaneous process. And his voice is that of a singer about to turn 80, without any enhancements or special effects . It is McCartney III, his own work and another one to add to an already impressive catalogue.

In the lyrics, you can feel the loneliness and uncertainty that characterized the pandemic whilst also appreciating the musical skill that has evolved over the decades. Catchy, uncomplicated melodies, that sound natural. The music is sensitive and upbeat – just like Paul himself.

My favourite songs are the intense Deep Deep Feeling and then the cheerful Find My Way . I also really enjoy Long Tailed Winter Bird , which in my opinion confirms McCartney’s brilliant creativity in its purest simplicity .

Below are the trailers that launched before the release of the album. I’d encourage you to give them a watch!

Reaching the Unreachable: Album of the Year in Britain 31 Years Later

“McCartney III ” was released in the midst of the pandemic, which immediately made it a message of resilience and creativity in the face of current adversity.

The album reinforced Macca’s reputation as an artist who continued to innovate and evolve , even after six decades in the industry. It confirmed his talent and artistry , and allowed him to reiterate his love of music, willingness to experiment, and commitment to staying true to his creative impulses no matter the situation .

It was an instant hit. It debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart in December 2020, becoming Paul McCartney’s first solo album to reach that position since 1989’s Flowers in the Dirt. There were 31 years between those two achievements .

Amazing. A real marvel . 

Transforming the impossible into the possible

Paul McCartney’s career and life perfectly embody the spirit of “nothing is impossible .” And he confirmed it once again when he gifted us with this magical creation during the pandemic lockdown. The philosophy is is clear in his work and in his ability to continue creating relevant and captivating music.

“McCartney III ” is a celebration of the life, music and immense talent of a man who continues to prove, against all odds, that extraordinary things can be achieved when you live with the mindset that “nothing is impossible , ” a key factor in achieving success in all areas .

I was thrilled to learn that very soon, at the beginning of November, Macca will be playing a concert in Costa Rica . Could it be that my dream of meeting him will come true? It won’t be on his next visit, as I will be crossing the Atlantic for 12 days on an adventure that I will write about later.

Pura vida!

The “nothing is impossible” mantra and what it means at Tribu

Those who had the opportunity to visit our spaces found the three words everywhere they looked. On the floor, on the windows, on the tablecloths in the dining room… We wanted it to be a permanent part of our culture .

We tried to make it into our very own mantra , citing it when preparing for new business pitches and also when seeking final approval on something. We wanted to embody that attitude at all times.

There have been many occasions when a client would call us and say  “I have a problem ,” only to be immediately interrupted with a “You had a problem. Now it’s ours .” We would then ask them to tell us what was going on, which would lift the mood.

Culture is more important than strategy . And ours was imbued with the “nothing is impossible” principle that I have repeated a lot today.

The attitude to overcoming any obstacle

When we finished building the “Tribute” building , in the then called “Tribe Campus ”, we encountered a very uncomfortable unforeseen event: our engineers had made a huge mistake in the estimates of the parking spaces needed for all the staff of the then called Bosz Digital —today Prodigious—.

Unwillingly, we found ourselves forced to invade the vacant lot in front of the facility with dozens of cars, while we tried to find a solution. We had no choice. It was an unused property which I had equal shares in, along with two other prestigious businessmen from the country, but this led to conflicts and difficult conversations . I ended up feeling like I was stuck in a very narrow and dark dead end.

The only solution we had was to build another building on a plot of land behind a ravine, but that would take months and was not economically viable in principle.

These were difficult and distressing times . However, after arduous negotiations and great sacrifices, we managed to create a building capable of housing more than two hundred vehicles.

What seemed impossible became possible thanks to the right attitude and an optimistic perspective.

As a way of unburdening the world around us , I decided in an intentional yet subtle way, to leave a message in Morse code four stories high.

-. .- -.. .-   . …   .. — .–. — … .. -… .-.. . 

 

Nothing is impossible