The Bear Dune

There is a sign posted at the edge of Sleeping Bear Dunes that reads, “Warning: Steep Bluff. 450 Foot Drop To Lake Michigan. Return climb is extremely exhausting. DO NOT RUN. DO NOT THROW ROCKS.” Being the obedient and respectful high schoolers that we were, my cousin, Trevor and I immediately took off running and screaming down the dune to see who could reach the bottom first.?

It truly is an incredible experience racing down at such a steep incline. You could stand straight up and jump a foot in front of you and land 10 feet down due to the incline and sand. We were moving so fast that we had to balance our top halves as our legs were no longer under our control. And just like that, in a matter of seconds, we were at the bottom of the dune approaching water.?

It was all fun and games until we turned around and looked up to see where we had come from and where we needed to return. Our family looked so small at the top of the dune. After catching our breath, we decided to race back up the hill. Loser had to take a punch in the abs or walk back to the car with no pants on I’m sure. Trev was older than me and I blame him for the lack of maturity in most of our situations.?

As we started up the sandy hill, a memory popped into my head. While we were running down the dune, I vividly remembered seeing people climbing up on the side. I could almost see it in slow motion while I was running and they all looked like they were in pain and having very little fun. Sand was blowing in their faces and every time they would scrape up the hill, they would drop almost as if they were in quick sand. At the time, I thought nothing of it. I chalked it up to out of shape fuddy duddies that don’t know how to make things fun. But as soon as Trev and I started to make our ascent, I understood.?

Around 15 minutes later, we had reached our destination. There is a dispute about who finished first. He remembers it one way and I remember it another. But since this is my column, it was clearly me that won. However, that 15 minute climb was one I will never forget. It was grueling, painful, frustrating I wanted to quit several times. But reaching the top was truly exhilarating and we both felt such a sense of pride and accomplishment. Not to mention, the cardio was so intense that when we calmed down, we both felt like we could go out and run a marathon. We were torching people during family whiffle ball.?

In business, this is the time of year we start to evaluate our goals. We dream big and set big goals at the beginning of the year and without thinking we run down the dune as fast as we can. We know the climb up will be daunting but also rewarding so we run as fast as we can. Doubt creeps in as early as the first couple steps as you get closer and closer to the halfway point. You look around you and see people frustrated and struggling and you wonder why you even got yourself into this mess.

Then you reach halfway and you look up the dune and the total weight of your choices has now hit you. Why did you set such a big goal? Was it worth it? What is the point? And you have a decision to make. Do you let fear and doubt keep you from finishing the goal? Or do you look at your accountability partner and say “race you to the top!”??