08: The World’s First Armless Pilot… & How She Obtained her Pilot’s License… with her Feet? // The Story of Jessica Cox
Background:
Jessica Cox is best known for becoming the first armless pilot in aviation history. Her achievement earned her a Guinness World Record medal, invitations from six continents, and featured on tv programs like Ellen, Inside Edition, Fox and Friends, Oprah Winfrey Network, CNN, CBS Evening News, and the BBC.
Jessica graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Psychology and Communication. From the challenges she has overcome, she became an inspiration to many. Jessica realized her words and experience are a natural source of encouragement and optimism for many, which gave rise to her motivational speaking business. Around the same time, she decided to pursue flight lessons to overcome her greatest fear: flying. After an arduous three years, Jessica became a certified pilot, earning the title of the first woman to fly an airplane with her feet.
Jessica continues to travel the globe motivating people to overcome their perceived limitations with her inspirational speeches. With Jessica’s experience speaking to audiences in 23 countries, she codified her message into Possible Thinking and the Achieve Model.
Time-Stamped Show Notes:
- 1:48 Jessica Cox is the first armless pilot in the history of aviation. She is the author of the book entitled Disarm Your Limits.
- 5:06 Having a mindset of “I’m going to find a way no matter what it takes” is the key to making dreams come true.
- 6:07 Since Jessica has no arms, she typed most of her book with her toes.
- 7:55 When she sat for the first time in a small single-engine plane, that’s when she decided she wanted to be a pilot.
- 9:06 Jessica offers some advice on how to block out doubters and negative people.
- 13:03 Americans with Disabilities Act, which was passed when Jessica was a first-grader, has helped support her and made a positive impact throughout her education.
- 18:24 There were moments that she felt very conscious about her condition. Jessica speaks about the low moments in her life when she felt isolated and different from everyone else.
- 21:53 According to Jessica, it is so rewarding to see that her life has touched and inspired so many people.
- 23:13 Having a mentor had a huge positive impact on Jessica’s life.
- 26:01 Jessica talks about what she feels when she proves someone wrong.
- 330:18 She gave a beautiful interpretation of the quote by Eleanor Roosevelt “No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.”
- 31:41 Right Footed Foundation International is Jessica’s non-profit foundation, which can be found on her main website JessicaCox.com.
- 35:32 Jessica shares some of the funny moments she experienced because she had no arms.
- 40:58 Blocking out negative people was almost second nature to Jessica.
- 43:08 At a very early age, she was asked to wear prosthetic arms. Jessica feels that she doesn’t need these prosthetics and resented it.
This Episode Sponsored By:
- 20:22 Support Jessica & her foundation by going over to the website to learn how you can help her cause: jessicacox.com/foundation.
- 41:47 Be sure to Subscribe & Review our podcast over on Apple Podcasts: From Rock Bottom to Rockin’ It…
Key Point from the Interview:
- “I think everyone has a moment when they pity themselves, or they ask the question – why me? But there’s a realization that I had, that dwelling on those things prevent me from moving forward.”
