A tale of connection from the high seas

Has anyone else been following The Global Solo Challenge (2023)? It’s the largest world sailing event that follows a 26,000 Nautical Miles long course, not for the faint of heart that’s for sure. As I watched Italy’s Andrea Mura sail his boat towards the finish line at Marina Coruña (A Coruña, Spain), I reflected on what such a sailing event means for humanity.

First and foremost, people enter this race because they’re absolutely committed to the sport and personal pursuit of achievement (hats off). It takes dedication, self-belief, endurance, sacrifice, and a love and respect for life and craft to be able to do that. The isolation alone amongst the natural raw elements terrifies me – but sail on these people have been doing.

Andrea Mura and Cole Brauer - copyright, Global Solo Challenge 2024

Second, we can all stand to be inspired by the grace, understanding, curiosity, and respect that the race participants show each other. It was remarkable to watch fellow skipper Cole Brauer cheer Andrea on as she did – upon crossing the finish line, skippers are allowed to welcome others on board to help them bring the boat home. Cole joined Andrea’s spouse and friend and watching the two skippers speak, it was apparent that a love for a cause (a dream!) – and understanding of perspective - has the power to connect people like no other way.

Commentators observed that Andrea spoke with Cole at length not because he was purposefully ignoring his family, but because someone who endured what he did made themselves present to listen and their shared experience opens up a whole new world of empathy and connection.

It was certainly Andrea’s moment on Sunday, March 17 and Cole’s evidently authentic sense of joy and pride for him blew me away. Event organizers pointed out that Andrea and Cole had never previously met. Yet watching them talk for the first time, they looked like old friends who've known each other longer than we could imagine (Global Solo Challenge).

I can’t help but think about this broader concept of mutual understanding and shared experiences (and the trust and respect that follows) within the workplace.

 Takeaway question here for me: What happens if we approach connecting with each other like it’s the first time we’re ever meeting?

Every day, so many us are joined together because of the various experiences we share through our work. Working together means more than just delivering projects; it’s about being joined with people who want the best for us as we want for them. No undercutting, no ego, no vagueness – only curiosity, genuine appreciation, and willingness to be present.

Working (and living) with this type of mindset only fortifies the shared human experience – researchers say we’ll be more engaged, have compassion, and listen more effectively (Harvard Study of Adult Development). Working with each other like it’s the first time we’re doing so opens up the potential and possibility to see and ask more of ourselves and each other too.

Race organizer Marco Nannini told USA TODAY he started the Global Solo Challenge to "create a platform for sailors to showcase their skills and move on to top sailor careers.”

Thank you, Marco because without this race, and the moment between Andrea and Cole, such learnings of sportsmanship, grace, and human connection would have been lost on us.  

Marco’s Global Solo Challenge stands out so apparently for me because participants really are showing us the best of who we can really be regardless of the pursuits, objectives, or interests that call on us each day. What stacks up ultimately is how we relate with each other and whether we’ve known our colleagues for years, or only for a short while, the point is to stay openly curious to forming strong points of connection as doing so brings so much hope for more, for all of us.