How would you handle it?

Sam Leader This time last year I took a trip to Borneo, where I climbed south east Asia's largest mountain, Mount Kinabalu. I learned a great deal from the experience, including why climbing a mountain is so often used as an analogy in the world of planning and goals.

Here's what I learnt.

You can't plan for everything

Climbing the mountain was John-Paul's idea. Initially I was reluctant to go and even after I was persuaded, I was scared by the prospect.

But like all good planners, I believed good preparation would mitigate this fear, so I worked hard to get in physical shape for the climb.

This turned out to be helpful, but only to an extent. In my preparations, I was so focused on how to reach the top that I gave no thought to what turned out to be the toughest part – coming down.

Super fit as I was, my knees gave out half way down the mountain. I hadn't expected that. Having been relieved to make it to the top, I had to abruptly and reluctantly focus on a new goal: getting down in one piece.

Preparation can only get you so far; pragmatism and perseverance is what will get you over the line.

Slow and steady wins the day

On the ascent we took frequent breaks to recover and adjust to the altitude. Fortunately we suffered no ill effects. We did, however, pass plenty of people who weren't so lucky, many of whom had zoomed past us earlier, while we were resting. Aesop would have been proud.

Respect the mind/body relationship

I could see the summit! It was just up there! And then I went into meltdown. Tears spilled from my eyes. I was psychologically incapable of taking another step.

Having focused on preparing my body, I hadn't appreciated that my mental state might be my undoing.

Have a decent support team

John-Paul did a fantastic job to get me moving again. He listened to me whine, fed me chocolate (always effective) and persuaded me to keep at it. He gave what may possibly be the best bit of advice any goal seeker could heed, namely:

Keep putting one foot in front of the other

It had seemed All Too Hard, but this was the best course of action. I had become upset and overwhelmed by the sight of the summit. How on earth was I going to get up there? He made me realise the answer was simple: by taking it one step at a time.

I was delighted, and quite surprised, to have got so much from those two days. Next stop Everest. Not.

What have you learnt on the journey towards your major goals? Let us know.

Until next week.

Love your work,

Sam Leader is a director of Flying Solo and its editor. She is the co-author of Flying Solo - How to go it alone in business.

12 comments | Add your own 1 2 | Next» View all»

Hi,
What an amazing story!!! Our experience feels pretty similar, four of us finished the Oxfam 100km run in Melbourne through the Dandenongs it was tough....The lesson I have learn't from the past two events is to take your main Goal and Chunk it....How easier is it to power through smaller goals to ultimately achieve your BIG one...Thanks keep up the great work...Aaron BRICE Aaron Brice from Perth, W.A
My life changing moment was when I had to let my husband go .. he died in my arms after a long struggle with chronic illness. I was 40 yo. I was given a chance to create the life of my dreams. Now for the scary bit. What have I learnt on my own journey? Life is what I, and I alone make of it. I have nothing to lose to by 'going for it' but I have to keep the momentum happening to make any significant changes. Last year I stood on stage at a major Sydney Physique competition displaying a body that I had spent 2 years creating having lost 26kgs to get to that point. My accomplishment ... the reward for the persistence. A great network of contacts and supporters, a new sense of self and my abilities, a trophy to acknowledge my dedication, and a title "2006 sydney women's overall bodybuilding champion". Nice word - Champion isn't it? Lessons learnt? Get clear on your focus, stay true to your goals & focus, surround yourself with a team of supporters, work hard, stay focused, and keep measuring your performance against your goal - not anyone else. What has life taught me? Dare to be remarkable. I can be, if I dare to be! And so I will be. Laynie Kelly from Business & Office Solutions Centre
re: Keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Very good advice when you feel 'you're struggling under it'. Well do I recall hikes in my youth in the Blue Mountains, just west of Sydney. They often would be down into one of the valleys and the return would be back up to the ridge somewhere, so we could catch the train home.
That last stage hiking up from the valley was always the hardest as you were tired even before you started the climb. I used to think exactly that (Keep putting one foot in front of the other) to enable me to keep going. Each step got me closer to the top - and the goal (a cool drink and the railway station).
Worked every time ! David Berghouse from Museum-Tracker (Australia)
I am reminded of a saying ... please excuse if I have misquoted same ... "Every great journey begins with one step".
Jo-Ann Robinson from Altona, Vic.
IT COULD ALWAY BE WORSE: I like to remind myself that no matter what my scenario is – that it could always be worst! I think this helps to appreciate some positives. For example after selling all my assets and investing it all into my business, spending it all and basically being broke. I had to go on the dole for six month so that I could access my super to keep business going. Got the super and it just kept me going long enough til we got investment. It could have been worse – especially if I had no super to cash in! So being able to cash it in turned out to be a real positive. Steve Sherlock from Oodles.com Melbourne
It is one thing to focus on DOING the actions required in order to ACHIEVE your goal(s). BUT often it requires who you are BEING to actually have the wherewithal to undertake the DOING. So, I ask myself 'Who must I BE in order to DO the actions required to ACHIEVE the goal ? ' . Depending on the goal, I might have to be a leader, a student, courageous or an innovator etc Martin Wilson from Wellington New Zealand

12 comments | Add your own 1 2 | Next» View all»

Add Your comments

Preview comment

Name

Website *

Town / city and country

Email (never sold, displayed or given away)

* This will link your name to your site. So please avoid self promotion elsewhere! We delete spam, disrespectful or off-topic comments.