How to Beat a Guinness World Record

There are people who get excited at the thought of breaking an existing world record. Whether it's for the largest press conference underwater, the longest card playing marathon or the fastest run backwards half-marathon, the Guinness World Records is the place for recognition. Here's how to go about garnering approval for a Guinness World Record.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Visit the Guinness World Record website. Read the section on "How to Become a Guinness World Record Holder."
2. Determine if you've got what it takes and if you are willing to begin the adventure to break a world record. Then register with the Guinness World Record website. Registration is free.
3. Tell the Guinness World Record organization which record you are interested in breaking. To do this, you must complete a proposal form for each world record you are looking to break.
4. Advise if it is a non-existing record. If you are going to set a new record for something that hasn't been broken before, send your request to its research department. It develops the guidelines and sends them to you. If that doesn't work, it can recommend a different record for you.
5. Practice patience. The folks at Guinness World Records get over 65,000 enquiries a year from people wanting to break records. Because of the volume of requests, it may take between four to six weeks, maybe longer, to hear from them. It does offer a fast-track option for a fee that processes your application more quickly.
6. Wait for an email from Guinness World Records. It emails an "Agreement Regarding Record Attempt." Complete it and return it within three days.
7. Plan to break your record. Once you receive the approval for your record-breaking category, go ahead and break the record. Send evidence of the broken record along with all documentation for the Guinness World Record organization to review.

Tips & Warnings

• One of the most frequently broken records is the record for the oldest person in the world.
• Don't let financial gain be your motivation for breaking a world record, as the Guinness World Records company doesn't pay record breakers for their achievements, nor does it cover expenses. The mere recognition of being an official record holder is the reward in itself.
• Don't use the Guinness World Records logo for any event unless you obtain prior written permission. To get permission to use its trademark, you must submit an application.