Mount Everest
I don’t often admit this publicly, but I have a strange fascination…(okay…an obsession)…with Mt. Everest. I’ve read the book “Into Thin Air” by John Krakauer from cover to cover seven times. I know how it begins and how it ends…but it’s the elements of passion and fearlessness that compels me to want to relive the story over and over in my mind. Anytime there is an article, news story or movie about someone who has climbed Mt. Everest…you can’t tear me away. In the back of my mind, I’ve always thought I would climb it one day. It’s on my bucket list…but it’s one of those once-in- a-lifetime adventures that I may have to realize through others. Recently I read an article in one of my Human Resources trade magazines about a successful Wall Street executive, Alison Levine, who climbed Mt. Everest. She compares the lessoned learned in her climb to the highest peak in the world to the business world. Her comparisons resonate for me…in and outside of the office. Whether the task is raising my son, fitness goals, or life in general…here is how Alison used each journey – whether it ended in success or failure – to improve her next attempt at anything.
1. Going backwards is NOT the critical mistake; not moving is. Fear is okay as a normal human emotion; complacency is what will kill you. You can’t afford to stand still when the environment around you is shifting and changing.
2. No matter how prepared or skilled you are, things can go wrong. There are always risks in business and in life. Mitigate risks by studying the success stories and missteps of those who have preceded you.
3. Failure can be a valuable learning experience. Alison’s first attempt to climb Mt. Everest in 2002 failed. She claims that the only reason she made it to the peak in 2010 when others turned around was because she had failed in 2002. By giving yourself and others room to fail, you encourage people to take educated risks, which can lead to epic payoffs.
Alison summed up her feat by saying…”You need to be able to weather the storms if you are ever going to have the opportunity to enjoy this kind of view.”
I agree. I think I’m going to read “Into Thin Air” again this weekend!