Success Tip From Yachting - Try To Fix The Problem Yourself

At 28, Ellen MacArthur is a world record holder. In 2005, she broke the speed record for sailing solo non stop around the world.

As a reward and to recognize her great achievement, she was made a Dame, the equivalent of receiving a Knighthood. Like a true 'knight', she is already looking round for her next challenge.

Recently, I saw some of the video diary that Ellen MacArthur had kept during her record breaking solo voyage round the world.

The videos showed clearly how she had overcome fear and fatigue to achieve her dreams. They showed her sheer determination in the face of adversity.

Her honest and emotional reaction to adversity and her courage in overcoming it unites people behind her. She was constantly supported on the voyage by emails and phone calls and then had an overwhelming reception when she arrived home.

Years of preparation had gone into the trip before she even reached the start line.

She made good progress at first but there were bad omens on day six. Her main generator was using too much oil. She spent days trying to make it work properly.

In the process, she burned herself and electrocuted herself in the over heated generator room. This was the closest she got to calling off her trip.

Eventually she sat down and thought: Is there anything else I can do? There was no engineer available.

Eventually,the thought came to her that the generator is air cooled. It needed cold air to keep going. She found a way to use a hose to get cold air to the generator and it worked.

She had solved her problem on her own because she had to and no one else was available except Neptune himself and he is not always helpful.

There was no let up. One problem after another showed up. As soon as she had fixed the generator the weather turned bad.

She then reached the southern ocean. This was already a great achievement but this is the most perilous ocean on the planet. Ellen was again pushed to breaking point.

The wind was unstable. Large hailstones and snow rained down on her and the yacht. She commented: "These are the worst conditions I have ever sailed in. The last three days have been hell."

She reached the end of her tether many times. She described how she felt:

"You can't deal with anything else. You can't. But you have to. No one can help you. There is no one there. You are on your own. No one can help you. Being scared at sea is pointless. Panicking does not help. No one will answer your calls. There is no one there."

Christmas day came when she was 11,000 miles from home in very rough seas. Her best Christmas present was getting out the other side of the bad weather. She rang her family but was unable to talk for very long.

By day 49, she felt she had gone beyond endurance. However she was now past the half way mark. At one point she gashed her head. She told her video diary: "I am so, so tired. I am absolutely exhausted. Sleep deprivation is torture".

Every day, it seemed like there was no light at the end of the tunnel. One problem followed another. The track on the main mast was damaged. Guess who had to fix that.

"Everytime I try to sleep, I wake up sweating and like I've been in a fight."

She then headed north for the equator. She gave Neptune a gift (her necklace) as tradition demanded. But Neptune did not appear to appreciate the gift. The wind dropped slowing her down.

Eventually, however, she crossed the finish line after 71 days at sea. She had broken the record by about a day and a half. A flotilla of small boats welcomed her and escorted her into port. She was overwhelmed and elated:

"The support really did make a difference. Nothing can prepare you for that sort of reception."

What impressed me most in her account was her realization that she had to solve her own problems. This made her dig deep and solve them.

Maybe we all need to try harder to solve our own problems before we get on the phone for help. We could surprise ourselves.

Even if we can easily get help, it is worth having a go first ourselves. We may well succeed on our own and this will build our confidence in our own powers. Even if we don't succeed we will learn more when help arrives.

We will understand the problem more clearly and, therefore, understand and appreciate the solution far more.

If Ellen MacArthur managed to get round the world on her own in a state of exhaustion and fear, we can probably manage to fix one or two of our own problems without immediately calling for help.

About the author

John Watson is an award winning teacher and martial arts instructor. He has recently written two books about achieving your goals and dreams.

They can both be found on his website http://www.motivationtoday.com along with a daily motivational message.

The title of the first book is "36 Laws To Ignite Your Inner Power And Realize Your Dreams Now! - Acronyms, Stories, And Pictures...Easy To Remember And Use Everyday To Grab Your Life And Soar With The Eagles"

The book can be found at this URL: http://www.motivationtoday.com/36_laws.php

The book uses acronyms, stories and pictures to help readers remember 36 laws that can gradually transform your life if you apply them.

You are welcome to publish the article above in your ezine or on your website so long as you do not alter it and keep in the words about the author and the 36 Laws.

---

Innovation Management ? moving past the wall

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Why It?s Important to Make Your Idea Real

Say you have an idea for something new and exciting... Read More

Business Innovation ? the Value of Frameworks

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management - Good Ideas Part 1

The constant search for Good Ideas has resulted in many... Read More

Managing Creativity and Innovation, Part 2 of 2

Leaders, consultants and managers must be competent in at least... Read More

Make Ideas Your (& Their) Own: Persuade Yourself and Others

Have you ever watched a TV program where the supporting... Read More

Discontinuous Innovation

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Opportunity: Could You Be Colour-blind?

Do you consider your vision perfect? You may never have... Read More

Howd They Do That?

"How'd they do that?" I asked myself time and time... Read More

Creating Opportunity

An enterprising person is one who comes across a pile... Read More

Improve Your Small Talk - Gain Big Dividends!

Do you hate to make small talk? If so, you... Read More

Change Is a Skill Development Learning Process

Change, like almost every other life experience, is a learning... Read More

Can A Simple Idea Change Your Life?

Ideas happen all the time. And when I say an... Read More

Putting Your Ideas Into Action

Ideas are everywhere. Some are small and seemingly insignificant. Others... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management - Teach, Coach, Learn

Coaching, training or learning about creativity and innovation involves mastery... Read More

Can We Change People?

There was a class of "challenged" children and many teachers... Read More

Innovation Management ? 5 Ideas An Hour

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

What Dreams Will Come!

As the pioneers of aviation took to the air (not... Read More

Great Ideas and Radical or Disruptive Innovation

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Business Innovation ? Good Thinking NOT Leadership

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Innovation and Competitive Advantage

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

6 Steps to Super Mindpower

Ever hear "You can't teach an old dog a new... Read More

Innovation Makes Leaders

Basically what innovation does is making your business unique and... Read More

Innovation Management ? Ideas From The Most Embarrassing Experiences Of Life

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Business Innovation ? the Best Ideas

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Success Tip From Yachting - Try To Fix The Problem Yourself

At 28, Ellen MacArthur is a world record holder. In... Read More

Creativity Management and Good Ideas

Some ideas occur in the office and others occur away... Read More

Business Ideas ? Need a New Idea? Try Changing Your Perspective

One definition of creativity states that creative people look at... Read More

Improve Your Business Dealings with Improvisation

"Nothing is accidental ... use everything." -- Keith JohnstoneEven the... Read More

All Fortunes Begin With an Idea!

A new idea is merely the combination of two or... Read More

Enhancing Vulnerability To Master Perfectionism

One of the ways a person must advance past perfectionism... Read More

A Time for Rebellion!

When is it right for you to rebel against the... Read More

Mother Of Invention Or Dummy? You Decide!

What would you say to yourself if when faced with... Read More