Hillary, Norgay and the Summit of Everest

To say that Edmund Hillary was the first man on Everest is wrong and I have 4 reasons to explain why.

1. Edmund Hillary had a climbing partner during his ascent, Tenzing Norgay a Nepalese Shepa who was made an official member of the Expedition Team

2. Hillary and Norgay were not the first in their expedition team who tried reaching the summit, there was Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans. They never made it but they left an oxygen tank that helped Hillary and Norgay during their ascent

3. A year before Hillary's climb a Swiss Team crossed the Khombu Ice Fall for the first time, an obstacle that previous British expeditions failed to solve

4. Hillary's Expedition team is made of 400 people, including 362 porters, 20 Sherpa guides

My point, why do we credit one person from making it to the top of Everest when several people helped him to get there.

Manny Pacquiao did not get his eight titles alone. There was a team who helped get him there. The same is true with Tiger Woods, Tom Cruise, Steve Jobs and even Oprah. They all did not make it there on their own without any help.

Next time you put yourself on a platform thinking how great you are and how you masterfully you achieved what others can't, think again, you are only as good the team that helped you get there.

#everest #team #leadership #success