Climbing has taught me:

1. When I encounter an obstacle, instead of just continuing to press forward haphazardly, I take time to look at my guidebook and resources, plan out the appropriate route, and make sure I have the necessary tools.
2. When I set out to accomplish something, I’m not afraid of giving it full commitment, since I know that I have prepared adequately.
3. I learn to trust the process. I go through the thoughts in my mind to help myself realize that the preparation I have done ahead of time helps me to take the risks now, and that many people have faced similar challenges in the past and have overcome using the same steps.

Just thought I’d share a quick thought on that!

Of course, the reason our county is so progressive, and the reason that we have wealth etc. is because we have mastered the art of multi tasking, working non stop etc. I’m not advocating that we stop working hard by any means. That’s what makes our lives comfortable here. And it is also simply a cultural difference. But I am advocating that we all take time to see how much we miss out on life if we are not slowing down and stopping to enjoy life, family, friends, and leisure time as well.

So a person who climbs 4 days a week and trains 3 days a week, will not become as strong as a person who maybe climbs 3 days a week, trains 2, and takes 2 days off. In the same way, it is important that climbers train antagonist muscles; muscles that aren’t used for climbing. This creates muscular balance and prevents injury. For example, climbing involves a lot of pull-muscle use. Doing shoulder presses as antagonist training is important to create that balance. So the principle stands that in climbing and training for climbing, it is imperative that one rests and takes recovery days, or else they will hit a plateau, lose interest, and/or be injured.

It’s amazing how this translates into real life. I’ve been reflecting on how I work non stop. I’m always on top of my emails since I get my emails on my phone, every free moment I have I get out my computer to start working on some project….the list just goes on and on. I realize that if I don’t take time to rest and if I don’t take time to train my mental antagonist muscles, I will hit a plateau and lose interest, just like I would by not resting from climbing training! So I’ve made a commitment that one day a week, Sundays, I’m not going to work. I’ll do things I enjoy, I’ll sleep a few extra hours, I’ll spend time with my family, etc. This will ultimately benefit me and I look forward to seeing the changes it brings about.

Study the path you will take

When climbing, whether doing a first ascent of a route, or attempting a route that has been climbed before, the climber(s) always takes time to study the route that lies ahead. Often this involves talking with other people who are familiar with the route, reading accounts of the climb, pouring over guidebooks and topographic maps, and more. That all takes place before even approaching the cliff. Once the climber arrives at the base of the cliff, there are more opportunities to study the cliff face in front of them, making sure they can see the line that will be taken, and any dangers or obstacles that may lie ahead.

When a climber is disciplined to plan in this way, it greatly increases their chance of success. In the same way, in regular life, whether in your personal or business life, being disciplined to plan ahead increases your chance of success. For example, take time make sure you talk with others who have worked on similar projects or tasks, read up on the internet to learn some best practices, and begin to develop a game-plan so that you aren’t just flying blindly into a project. Then when the project starts, make sure that you take time to step back and analyze as you progress, to make sure you are staying on-track.

Makes sure you have what you need and that all resources are easily accessible.

Not packing well can lead to great difficulty on a climb. Preparation ahead of time to make sure that a climber has the right clothes, food, and equipment by making checklists and methodically checking off items as they are packed is key to making sure nothing is missed. Then the next most important thing is packing items in a way that makes them easily accessible. For example, packing food and water in a place that can be quickly accessed while climbing is imperative, so that the climber doesn’t have to unpack the bag every time they need food or water, which is usually very often while climbing. The same thing applies to climbing gear, and even warm clothes that may be quickly needed.

Again, this applies to real life. When tackling a project or task, preparing ahead of time by making checklists that help you know that you have all you need and have arranged all necessary details for a project will tremendously help your efficiency in completing that project or task.

Be willing to accept and face the unknown, confident that you have planned and prepared to the best of your ability.

When climbing, no matter how much planning goes into it, there is always an element of surprise. Situations arise which call for quick decisions and good judgment. When a climber has prepared well ahead of time, and as long as they have not been unwise and gotten in over their head, they will be able to quickly make a decision and succeed.

This applies to real life as well. By planning ahead of time, and arming yourself with the right resources and people, you will be able to make those quick decisions when surprises arise. Taking time to learn ahead of time and surrounding yourself with the right people to help increase your wisdom and judgment will help you to face the unknown. Rather than being afraid and retreating, you will be able to push on, knowing that you have planned, organized, and taken the time to learn what you need to succeed.

When I remembered that I done other scary traverses on harder routes, I realized that I would be able to do this one. I remembered, “I was afraid before, but it turned out to be ok. It will be ok this time.”

This experience can apply to all of life! When we face challenging and even scary situations in life, we must take a moment to think logically, instead of acting out of fear. Ask yourself these questions:

1. Have I had similar experiences before?
2. How did I respond?
3. What can my past response teach me now?
4. What will be my next action

Some simple things…but it can go a long way.

I wanted to share, over the next few days, what some of the lessons I learned from climbing are.

There is nothing that is truly impossible.With determination, the right tools, the right training, and the right people, you can accomplish anything.

When I began climbing, I remember standing at the base of Route 2 (5.3) at Ralph Stover State Park’s High Rocks climbing area. I had big clunky hiking boots on, and was a bit overweight and probably hadn’t done ANY kind of exercise for a while… and was sure that I’d make it to the top. But much to my dismay, I did not make it more than 5 feet off the ground.

Now, many people may have given up at that point. But I, by nature am a very determined person and did not give up. Yes, on that day, I realized that it was impossible for me to make it to the top. But instead of throwing in the towel and thinking “This is for everyone else…even though I want to do it. I guess it’s not for me,” I went home and gathered up whatever money I had from my job as a waiter, and bought a pair of climbing shoes, a rope, a harness, 7 carabiners, and 100 feet of webbing. Then I bought a book that would teach me how to climb. I poured over whatever material I could find to learn how to do it, and I made sure to ask as much advice as possible from the people who took me out climbing for that first time.

I began to run, do pullups, and lift weights. I began to surround myself with climbers who could teach me, and within 3 months, I easily climbed Route 2 at High Rocks State Park. As soon as I stood on top of that cliff, something clicked. I realized “WOW! It wasn’t impossible,” and from that moment on, I vigorously pursued climbing.

Now I am getting nostalgic and feel like writing more and more. But I won’t say too much more, except that as soon as I got to college, I got involved with Quest, the climbing guiding service at the University and continued to train hard and push myself. I remember saying “Climbing is great! But I’ll never do that Trad Climbing thing. That is just WAY too scary.” Well, within 3 months of being at college, I learned enough about trad climbing that I set out and bought my own rack, and led Route 2 at High Rocks State Park as my first trad lead. One thing continued to lead to another, and I eventually become a climbing guide and coordinator for Quest.

Through the experience I gained in climbing, I also became involved with conducting team building and leadership development programs through Quest and Corporate Institute, and even changed my major to Organizational Communication, with a concentration in Outdoor Leadership.

And here I am today, having started my own climbing guiding and team building company, founded upon the principles and life lessons I have learned through climbing.

So how did all this apply to me starting my own company?

Even though many people seemed to be in my way, and there were SO many obstacles to overcome, never once did I think that I wouldn’t be able to do it. I wanted to make it happen, so I was confident it would.

I made sure to surround myself with people who could help me. Building relationships not only benefited my business, but it also improved my life as I have been able to meet so many people.

I was not afraid and am not afraid to invest in my company. By making my initial investment into climbing, it opened the doors to a whole new world, and the same is true in business.

What might look difficult on the road ahead, only looks exciting to me now. Difficulties and trials only excite me more!

NEVER stop learning. NEVER think you know it all.

]]> http://www.ascentadventure.com/2009/06/reflections-on-how-climbing-helped-me-start-my-business/feed/ 0 http://www.ascentadventure.com/2009/06/news-and-observer-rock-climbing-and-business-article/ http://www.ascentadventure.com/2009/06/news-and-observer-rock-climbing-and-business-article/#comments Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:01:45 +0000 brandon http://www.ascentadventure.com/?p=1363 One of my biggest goals is to help people see how rock climbing not only is a fun activity, but that it also applies to all areas of life. You can imagine how delighted I was this morning to wake up and see this article on NewsObserver.com, the website of Raleigh NC’s leading newspaper:

If There’s a Mountain, Climb It

I strive to blend these two worlds together in everything I do and with all the businesses I work with. I have really grown to have a great passion for connecting climbing and outdoor experiences with business success and growth. Some of the concepts that I have been able to help others apply are those mentioned above, as well as trusting the tools you have for the job, learning how to manage stress, learning how to conquer unhealthy fears, and talking to oneself instead of listening to oneself.

It’s great to see others, especially in the Raleigh NC area, who share the same outlook that I do. Hopefully others read this article too and see the powerful impact that rock climbing can have on business.

She had climbing shoes, with “sticky-rubber” on her feet, which enabled her to stand on and obtain friction on rock and rock features that she wouldn’t have been able to use otherwise. But because she had specialized shoes for the task, she was able to accomplish her goals. I think we all have simliar experiences in life, but instead of convincing ourselves to move ahead, we give up, thinking that failure is imminent, due to fear of the unknown, and due to us doubting our abilities. Often, we have the tools we need to accomplish a task, but fear taking that next step.

Here’s an example:

It is your first month on the job, and you are given a new assignment at work to design a new product that would appeal to a key market in your location. You are given all the information you need….very detailed market research, an unlimited budget for developing the product, a team of people to help put your ideas into place, and books on what NOT to do when developing this product. Even though you have all the resources you need, you continue to have the thought of “But I can’t do this….I’m brand new. I have no idea how to develop a product. People won’t like it,” or whatever else your thoughts might be that cause you to doubt. So ultimately, the project is delayed.

So how does the trust your feet concept apply here? Well, in climbing, even though my client looked down on the cliff and saw the tiny holds, or featureless rock faces, she did not say “these holds are too small, I can’t move on,” but rather she said “Trust your feet.” She knew that even though it LOOKED impossible, it was NOT impossible because she had the right tools designed for that very purpose…to stand on small holds and featureless faces. She trusted her feet! AND she climbed to the top of the climb.

So here’s some key application points for you:

1. Ask yourself, “What areas in my life do I feel like I’ve hit a brick wall? Are there resources I have that I’m not taking advantage of? Are there people I should be trusting that I’m not trusting in right now?
2. Pick a project that you are working on right now. What is the main thing you dislike about it? Is it because it seems impossible? Do you see the Trust Your Feet concept coming into play here at all?
3. What are some of the things you fear in life? Are you simply not taking advantage of the proven tools around you to help you overcome that fear?

When people do then decide to give climbing a try, they are always overwhelmed with excitement when they get to the top of their first climb. The feeling of accomplishing something that had previously seemed out of reach or unattainable is unmatched by anything they had experienced before.

This is such an important lesson to learn in all areas of life. Here are a few bullet points that show how the experience translates into life:

• Never think that something is impossible. Left to ourselves, a task may be impossible, but by seeking help from others more knowledgeable and/or wise than us, we can learn what we need and gain the tools necessary to accomplish the task.
• Taking risk is necessary. Without taking risk, we will never grow and never move past the obstacles that seem to get in our way.
• Take on step at a time. Only careful, controlled movement gets a climber to the top of a cliff. In life, we need to learn to take things one step at a time, so that we can accomplish the tasks that are before us.

Applying these principles will help us to accomplish things that previously seemed impossible.

Over the next several days/weeks, I’m going to post short (one paragraph, or even less) blurbs on how climbing translates into all of life.