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.

Apex, North Carolina- July 1, 2009-  Ascent Adventure Consultants, in conjunction with Dancing Elephants Achievement Group is offering the Win! Win! Negotiation Seminar as part of their combined Ultimate Sales Training series. The seminar will take place on July 17, 8:30am-12:30pm, at the Business and Networking Center of Cary NC. Through sales training and experiential activity reinforcement, each participant will have the opportunity to put their learned skill sets into practice immediately. The result is a deeper understanding and the reinforcement necessary for both immediate and long-term retention. The session includes training, a workbook, coffee, and snacks. Details can be found on the Dancing Elephants Achievement Group Ultimate Sales Training Website.

“I greatly enjoy designing team building activities and programs built upon the principles that Dancing Elephants teaches,” quotes Brandon Hensinger, owner of Ascent Adventure Consultants. “Knowing that the participants will be able to reinforce Dancing Elephants training  with my activities is exciting because I know they will not forget the valuable lessons they learn.”

The focus will be on how to read situations and people quickly, how to answer price objections, how to use added value as a bargaining tool, how to develop long term customers during negotiations, and the 3 phases and 6 steps necessary in every negotiation.

Ascent Adventure Consultants is a professional North Carolina corporate team building and leadership development company, as well as a rock climbing and adventure guiding company, headquartered in Apex NC.

Dancing Elephants is dedicated to helping corporations to create vibrant, successful sales cultures by applying the principles of ethical selling. Customized training is offered through on-site group programs, monthly sales meetings, workshops, and speaking engagements. Please visit their website at http://www.deagsales.com.

For more information, please contact Brandon Hensinger, at bhensinger@ascentadventure.com, or 877-254-4617. More information can be learned about Ascent Adventure Consultants by visiting their North Carolina Rock Climbing and Team Building website at www.ascentadventure.com.

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In it, Rick discusses how through involvement with the University that houses his program, he and his student leadership team spent months making their business and their operations more sustainable. The things they did included establishing better re-use habits when on the trail, establishing better recycling programs in their day to day use of resources, and analyzing what type of equipment they purchase, where it comes from, what it is made of and the manufacturing process, just to name a few. All in all, they developed a more sustainable program, which ultimately will contribute to the health of the environment and the effectiveness of their program. 

As I reflected on this, I began to think about how Ascent Adventure Consultants could become a more sustainable program, as well as how Ascent Adventure Consultants could be more involved in the community to help the community as a whole become more sustainable. What an honor it would be to be involved in making our community a better place to live. I would love to hear your opinions and thoughts on ways we can do this together as a community.

To give you some ideas of what we will be doing as a company, you can refer to the Princeton University Sustainability Manual.