ZE: Are there any climbing lessons that can apply to your business?
RD: There are many parallels between the mountain and the board room: planning, preparation, organizing, establishing goals and objectives, assessing performance, responding to changing conditions, and celebrating wins. You don’t just show up to the mountain and climb. Every detail has to be planned, carefully reviewed and flawlessly executed. Training, packing and logistics are all a part of preparation process.
Climbing is a team sport. As you begin the ascent, you establish short-term objectives tied to the next rest stop and long-term objectives, being the safe and successful summit and descent of the mountain for the entire team. Like the market, weather on the mountain changes fast. You have to be prepared and move quickly to survive and succeed. Assess and respond, but do it quickly and accurately.
Your rope team is your life. An under-performer can jeopardize the safety of the team and ultimately will keep the entire team from reaching the summit. You must constantly assess each team member as you ascend the mountain and, when necessary, have that fierce conversation if needed with a team member that their time on the summit may have to wait for another day. This is the ultimate individual sacrifice for the good of the entire team.
These are all lessons we learn in business and on the mountain that will ultimately prove to be the difference between success and failure.
ZE: What is the most enjoyable part of endurance climbing?
RD: Reaching the summit! Pushing yourself to break through the mental and physical barriers as you ascend a high altitude peak can be very trying. I have seen a lot of team members give in over the years and many deciding to turn back before the miracle happens: that being the experience of reaching the summit. Like anything you work hard for, when you find success it can be incredibly rewarding. Climbing is no different and in fact, it can provide the ultimate opportunity to push your limits and find breakthrough moments.
ZE: How long do you typically train before one of these adventures?
RD: I maintain a base of fitness because as I mentioned earlier, I never want to be limited in what I can do as a result of my physical conditioning. For a climb I usually start specific training 12 weeks in advance. My focus is on cardio, legs, back and core…..all important in the ascent of high altitude mountains, and without proper training will be the difference between a safe and successful climb or the alternative.
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