Kobe and Jordan's Secret Method Saved a Life Recently

I recently saved a toddler from drowning at a pool.

The little guy snuck away from his parents who were watching him pretty well, and was like lightning to the deep end. It was simply a series of escalations that no one thought would happen, and everything happened in an instant.

No one thought he'd go to the deep end, and he did. Nobody thought he'd reach into the pool for something, but he did. Nobody thought he'd let go of the side, but he did and couldn't get back. Within 1 - 2 seconds, he was already under water and sinking. Those tiny lungs would fill up fast.

By the time he fell into the pool and I saw him let go of the wall, I didn't even think and I was somewhere half way up the pool. I don't remember much, but apparently I sprinted, lept into the deep end, diving headfirst within 1 foot of the wall and at a target of where I though the kid would be in another 1 - 2 seconds under the water. I pushed him up above the water to the edge, and someone was there pretty quickly to grab him and pulled him to safety.

Despite the shock of losing control, and the water in his lungs, he recovered just fine and would go back into the pool in no time, fearless, like a champ.

It made me remember why practicing with purpose is so important.

When it's your time to act in a physical moment, there can be no indecision. No thoughts. No long analysis. Everything must get turned over to habits and an absence of the ego, what the Buddhists call "no mind" (無心).

This is the secret of Kobe and Jordan, of Special Forces wash out week, of hitting the ranges, of perfect games or making Jiro's greatest sushi.

Relentless practice, over and over again until your body and mind become one.

When there is no mind, no persona to control your social skin, only then can everything operate without fear. Like they say in Dune, "Fear is the mind-killer." The funny thing is that you can't force fear out of you, you simply let it wash over you as purpose takes over.

I practice swimming, but more importantly I practice being better then who I was yesterday by 1% every day, so when the situation comes on from time to time, I play to win.

Every day.

So remember, practice like it's game time, because some day it will be, and you'll be on the clock.

For more talk like this, be sure to check out my book Light Up the Grind on Amazon.