Embracing the Journey and the Summit

My reflection on climbing Mount Everest

#1 Embracing the Journey and the Summit

?During my 8-week climb of Mount Everest, I reflected on the balance between valuing the journey versus striving for the summit. Friends and family reminded me continuously to enjoy the Everest expedition's experience and not get overly focused on reaching the summit. And it is hard to disagree with that point of view. The trek to Everest Basecamp through the Khumbu Valley is an amazing experience, surrounded by the world's most impressive mountains, while learning and immersing in Nepal's rich culture and people. ?

?However, I felt there were other factors in play beyond the just beauty of the journey. There is emotional security in enjoying the journey as it takes pressure away from the challenge of summiting. When you make the decision to climb Mt Everest, willingly or not, you are putting a spotlight on yourself. A lot of people started to follow my journey, which is super motivating and amazing, but it also creates self-imposed pressure. I felt the weight of expectations, and on bad days the fear of failure was creeping up. ????

?And yet there is the factor of physical safety. I was not na?ve about climbing Mount Everest and the potential risks. During my months of preparation, I had multiple conversations with my wife Sarah and kids about limiting risks and I reassured them that I would prioritize returning home safely with all my fingers and toes intact.

?But here is the dilemma. To motivate yourself for 9 months of intense training and getting through the adversity during the climb you need a big goal and be super passionate about it. Especially the weeks at high altitude are hard and draining. I arrived at Everest Basecamp (5400m, 17,000ft) on April 14th and for the next 6 weeks stayed at that altitude or higher. Humans are not built to live at 17,000ft and every day your body is slowly deteriorating. In addition, the rotations through the Khumbu Icefall are brutal with long hard days taking their toll on your body. To sustain mental and physical resilience, you have to be very passionate and determined about the goal, otherwise it becomes just to easy to quit. ?

?Although I believe, maybe naively, that I would be smart and limit my risks to reach the summit, I can now understand how climbers fall in this trap. It just takes such a significant energy, time and adversity to get yourself in a position to have a shot at the summit, that there is the risk of losing perspectives. Also the lack of oxygen at high altitude impacts your clarity of mind, combined with the pressure to succeed imposed by yourself and arguably perceived by the people around you doesn’t set someone up for great decision making. Reflecting on my Everest experience, the goal of summiting started to weigh heavier while the weeks were passing, probably an important underlying factor for many tragedies.

?This balance between the journey and the goal seems also very applicable for other facets of life. The Greek Philosopher Plato introduced the principle of the Golden Mean, suggesting that excellence lies in finding the middle path between two extreme states. I firmly believe in the importance of setting goals, as they provide direction, drive, focus, and create these moments of dopamine when you reach a milestone. Not a lot was ever achieved without people setting goals. Yet, I also believe in the importance of enjoying each day, finding gratitude in life's little things, being kind to others, and taking pleasure in nature as well as human connections. My father died when I was 21-year-old and his death was probably the most impactful moment of my life, giving me the motivation to take advantage of every day and try to live with meaning for the people around me. The hard truth is that nobody is for 100% certain that you will live tomorrow.

?Striking this personal "Golden Mean" may be one of life's greatest challenges, balancing career, family, personal and financial goals, and at the same time, find the ability to appreciate and enjoy every single day. In my ideal future world I would love to own a beach house, but also be able to simply enjoy the sound of the waves.

?I’m far from perfect, but the experience of Everest gave me new personal insights to cherish both the journey and the goal. The experience and adventure has broadened my perspective and understanding of myself and the world around, while reaching the summit taught me a great lesson in growth mindset that nothing is impossible with the right determination and hard work. Finding the balance between ambitious goals while plucking the day (Carpe Diem) will continue to be a lifelong pursuit.?