Once upon a time there lived a man whose nickname was Mr. Will Power. As you might expect, Mr. Will Power had an iron will. He could do anything he set his mind to. He was the champion of mind over matter. People loved to challenge his powers of will. One of the ways he first caught people’s attention was his ability to withstand hot and cold. They dared him to walk through a bed of fiery coals. They dared him to expose himself to the bitter cold for a full day. They dared him and he did it. "Just a case of simple willpower," he would say. "You can do anything you want if you just put your mind to it."

On another occasion they tested his ability to stay awake. They challenged him to sit upright in a chair staring straight ahead for 48 hours without sleeping. They dared him and he did it. …