Mindset of ‘first-of-a-kinders’

Swim that broke Cold War ice curtain.

I was searching for people that were the first to do something extraordinary. I want to learn from their psychology and see how it can be applied in more modest endeavours. I was struck by Lynne Cox’s achievements in 1987, which I found reported in the BBC in 2012.

Lynne was the first person ever to swim a stretch of the Bering Sea between the US and Russia. She did it as an act of peace between two Cold War-ing nations. 

In sea that cold, temperature shock kills 20% of people in a couple of minutes. Incapacitation from cold exhaustion sets in 15 to 30 mins, and death typically comes in 30 or maybe 60 minutes. Lynne had to swim for over two hours, and could survive only if she kept moving. 

Cox didn’t have much budget, spending all she had, and more. She had no radar tech. She had a basic support team with a rusty compass, raising the chance of fatally missing her landing point. What Cox did have was a powerful purpose of aiding peace. 

This event took 10 years in planning and preparation (during which she achieved many other - warmer - swimming firsts too). Even with 24 hours to go, Cox did not have permission to go. Indeed the day before US airforce jets and Russian migs were still ‘sparing’ directly overhead. Facing a wasted decade, and worse missing the act of peace she craved; Cox resolved to go anyway; possibly risking her life in vain. 

She showed huge bravery and leadership in that decision. 

Cox started and soon went off course, and in to danger. Her medic wanted her to stop. But the Russian reception was a further half a mile away than the nearest safe landing point, and against a strong current. Despite the clear risk to life; her purpose for peace, and confidence in her preparation, drove her on to make warm human contact between East and West. 

Soon after Reagan and Gorbachev signed a new nuclear treaty, and at the both raised a glass to Lynne Cox acknowledging her leadership and bravery.

It struck me that something this extraordinary doesn’t ‘just happen’. 

I can envisage the physical preparation taking time to train and condition the body, step by step, for this type of endeavour. I can imagine having a support team and the perseverance needed. However, whilst I have no intention of emulating her level of physical challenge(!) I want to learn how she prepared mentally for a ‘first-of-a-kind’ endeavour.

I can envisage how her purpose, choosing to think of success, rather fearing failure, drove her on throughout. I can envisage how she will have prepared mentally for the inevitable failure points.

However, with so many unknowns and inevitable physical pain involved, I would love to know how Cox overcame the strong ‘internal saboteurs’ that must have been telling her at different times “NO DON’T DO IT” or “STOP”. I know my saboteurs can at times shout more loudly than my championing voices on much easier work challenges!! Does anyone else know how she quietened the voices? If you do, can it be bottled and applied to other challenges like at work, or on the words biggest challenges like the UN Sustainability Goals?

I have concluded that ultimately it was her confidence which she had painstakingly prepared. This allowed her to think clearly under the most intense pressure. It allowed her to stop and assess the situation and decide to push on when all the medical advice told her to stop. 

Therefore, I concluded it is her mental preparation that truly impressed me, and that is what I want to learn more about.