Making the Impossible Into the Possible (BOMA 2026 Preview)

The modern conveniences we take for granted today—from your smartphone to synthetic fabrics—were once thought impossible, mere figments of the imagination. They became reality because inspiration met execution, explains Mick Ebeling, founder and CEO of Not Impossible Labs. Ebeling, who will deliver the Sunday keynote at the 2026 BOMA International Conference & Expo, aims to help property professionals find the drive to do the same thing in their own careers.

“The passion of the person around wanting to change that thing from impossible to possible matters more than the skills they possess or the societal entitlements bestowed on them,” Ebeling explained. “What matters is the mindset and the passion around that conversion from impossible to possible.”

Ebeling knows this firsthand. Not Impossible Labs emerged from a serendipitous encounter with a graffiti artist, the late Tempt One, who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The disease had robbed Tempt One of his ability to draw. Ebeling didn’t have the technical skills, plan, or business case to help—but he committed anyway. That decision eventually birthed the EyeWriter, a communication device built from a pair of sunglasses and a duct-taped webcam that allowed Tempt One to draw again for the first time in seven years.

“We said, what if we were to figure out how to make some of the things this artist needs? We didn’t have the experience, we didn’t have the expertise, but we said, ‘This is a situation where we have to do something,’” Ebeling recalled. “It worked, and it was wildly successful—and then it led to the next project.”

Ebeling’s keynote will dive into the meaning of “impossible,” the psychological effects it can have on an organization, and how to overcome it to create a culture of impact and purpose. Especially since the COVID pandemic started, employees crave a sense of purpose, Ebeling explained.

“People want to feel like they’re not just switchboard operators pulling a plug and putting it in someplace. [They want to feel] that there was a purpose and there was something more about what they were doing,” Ebeling said. “They wanted to feel like what they were doing had a little more of a reason than just executing this one particular task. The beautiful thing about starting to see the world through the Not Impossible lens is that you start to see the ability to solve your business impossibilities.”

Attendees will begin to build the mental muscle required for problem-solving through this lens, Ebeling added.

“You can start to apply that to areas outside of your work as well,” Ebeling said. “These are not complicated theories. This is not the 17 ways you can change the world. It’s stripped down to a minimal amount of repeatable and executable tasks, questions, and steps you go through that year after year lead us to being able to do things we weren’t supposed to be able to do.”

Explore the art of the possible with Mick Ebeling at the 2026 BOMA International Conference & Expo. Register today!