Ambitions, resilience, superpowers and anti-jellyfish beard protection were all topics of conversation this afternoon on the Training ground as our keynote speaker educated, encouraged and entertained with his stories and experiences.
Sean Conway, Scout Ambassador, Adventurer, Squirrel Leader and today, Gilwell Reunion’s Keynote speaker left the audience in awe and laughing at his antics as he shared his experience of setting personal goals and being the first Briton to achieve the endurance Grand Slams.
Sean made it very clear that he has a very unique approach to setting goals and that we all should rethink those occasions when we fail, “I’ve stopped calling them failures, they’re hiccoughs”. A sentiment that many of us could take forward into general life. “Most people overestimate what they can achieve in a week and underestimate what can be achieved in a decade. When you do hard things, the other stuff becomes easy”.
Sean explained that he was approaching his 30th birthday and realised he should set himself some goals. So with limited training and no experience he set out to set new records including lands end to John O’Groats. Needless to say these initial plans didn’t go as he’d wanted. “Old me would have lowered the ambition, never do that, to actively enhance my chances of success. Don’t do that, it’s a terrible idea.” Instead, Sean set himself the challenge of achieving the Grand Slams of endurance. This means a world first, longest, fastest and most.
Sean holds the records for:
- First: First person to swim the length of Britain.
- Longest: World’s longest triathlon, a 4,200-mile journey around the coast of Britain.
- Fastest: Fastest person to cycle across Europe unsupported.
- Most: World record for the most consecutive Ironman distance triathlons, completing 105 in 105 consecutive days.
Speaking to Sean before he admitted that none of these were enjoyable. “There’s no sucssess in enjoyment”.
Sean shared stories of being stung by jellyfish, sleeping in Ukrainian road drainage pipes and the monotony of doing a triathlon every day for more than three months. Whilst all of these sound horrible experiences, Sean shared them with only the humour that comes from first lived then reflected upon experiences. Something many of us can understand from our experience in Scouting. From the camps we never want to do again to the amazing opportunities we’ve experienced by chance, these all come from challenging ourselves in new ways.
“I think Scout Leaders are the most important people in society. Young people are members for more than a decade, and you offer them so many opportunities. So, Thank you for all that you do! It has been an honour to be invited and speak to you today”
So what’s next, well that’s top secret but Sean’s excited about it!