I had no business doing this

It was the worst experience of my life. 

Years ago, I was invited to join a group of friends to hike Mount Washington (the highest peak in the Northeastern US). This isn’t an easy hike by any stretch - this peak holds the world record for the highest recorded wind speed not caused by a tornado. We went in August and it snowed for two solid days. 

Wanna know how I trained for this effort? I spent two weeks eating and drinking my way through Italy. Then I borrowed a backpack, crammed too much stuff into it and joined the group. It was nearly a disaster - I had no business going on this hike given how seriously I didn’t take it.

I was the poky little puppy at the back of the pack, huffing & puffing while sweating like crazy. Everyone passed me: small children, much-older adults and one woman who (easily) carried the extra weight of a bottle of wine, which I gratefully shared that first night. 

This was probably the most miserable experience of my entire life. And I’ve had cancer. 

Looking back, I realize my big mistake was not giving any thought to who I needed to be in order to do this. Instead, I showed up with zero respect for the mountain, my group and myself. I wasn’t a hiker, I wasn’t even a good walker. I couldn’t carry my own gear and slowed our descent so much that the estimated three hours down turned into seven long, painful hours in a lightning storm. It’s a wonder no one pushed me into the ravine. 

The following year, the same group planned a hike into the Grand Canyon and made a point of telling me I wasn’t allowed to join them. “This trip is for hikers,” they told me, “and you’re not a hiker.”

This flipped a switch in me. I pleaded my way into the group and promised to show up differently. 

And I did. I bought my own pack and new hiking boots. I actually hiked regularly this time, getting stronger and fitter each week. The me who stood at the top of the Canyon could truly say she was a hiker. Not only did I not hold the group back, I led the way up to the top on our last day. 🌟

Yes, I showed up in much better physical shape, but the biggest difference was understanding who I needed to be in order to succeed. I had to be someone who took the challenge seriously. Who could take care of herself and not endanger everyone else. And who could have fun while doing this. Hiking is physical, but I’d say it’s actually more mental. Showing up with my head in the game allows me to do all kinds of fun & challenging hikes. 

It’s the same for running your business. The only way to have lasting success is to know who you have to be in order to be successful. It means taking a hard look at the gap between who you are now and who that future person is, and understanding how you’re going to bridge that gap. 

Flash forward to present day: Now I actually lead groups of women on amazing hikes like to Machu Picchu and along the Camino de Santiago. The old version of me would not have believed this for a second. The new me thinks “This is how it is, baby!”

What do you want to be able to say you do? Once you’re clear on that, determine who is the version of you that actually does that and step right into it.

Do you want to be able to say you’ve walked the Camino or hiked to Machu Picchu? Let’s go together. Click here to book a chat.