Lessons From the Mountain #1 : Problems Can Make You Sore or Make You Soar
Over the next several weeks, I will be drawing from my mountaineering experience to share lessons that I've found to transcend altitude and environment, offering wisdom we can apply to any endeavor. It is my hope that these simple truths will speak to you and encourage you as clearly in your professional context as they did to me on that snowy mountain trail.
Let me start by stating the obvious: problems, issues, and struggles are a way of corporate life. In fact, the more success you achieve, the more problems you are sure to encounter. And not only does the volume of these problems increase with success, the magnitude of each problem swells with every step up the ladder as well.
As I have developed and grown in my career over the years, I have learned that problems come and go, but a positive perspective can always stay consistent. Whether you are developing and building a new team to capitalize on a wave of success, leading a team through seasons of decreased spending, managing a team during a downsizing, working through a complex project plan or working to turn around a team with new processes and initiatives, the struggles change; but the thought processes and perspective you can leverage to work through any issue stay the same.
As many of you know, I recently summited Mt Rainier in Washington with a team of amazing men, and through that experience, I have come up with suggestions to overcoming problems in the corporate world through a positive perspective. This week I share lesson number one.
Lesson number 1: You have to truly believe that the solution is never too far away. On Rainier, we climbed for almost 36 hours straight. Uphill. With very little rest and even less sleep. However, with each step, we could see that our goal of the summit was just up ahead. For most of the climb, we could physically see it. At times it even seemed like it was just out of reach. This visual motivator was very helpful in pushing us forward to our goal of the top.
Sometimes all you need is just a perspective on the goal that allows you to see it just beyond your reach. In the corporate world, this illustration can serve you well. You will have struggles and sometimes the path towards success can seem overwhelming; too far away to believe that you will ever get to the goal. However, if you can visualize the summit, plot your milestones, and trust that the solution is just around the next bend, you can find the motivation you need to stay on track.
Also, as on the mountain, don't forget to stop and look around from time to time. Sometimes we get so caught up on the goal that we forget that our current view is pretty amazing as well.
Keep climbing and check in again next week!
John Constantine
To learn more about John and his professional career, click here.
Enjoying the view above the clouds on our way up to the summit. Take a moment, and enjoy the little milestones you have accomplished with your team on the way towards your ultimate goal.