Pushing the Extremes

Last month I had the pleasure to spend time with Adrian Hayes and Richard Parks.

Adrian is best known for completing the Three Poles challenge; which involves walking all the way to the North and South Poles and summiting Mt. Everest; all in the shortest period of time. He holds two Guinness worlds record, two books and three documentaries to his name.

Richard was a professional Rugby player, who through a career ending injury channelized his energy to become an extreme endurance athlete. He has summited the highest mountain on each of the world's Seven continents and complete the Three Poles Challenge within Seven months. He is also the fastest Brit in history to ski solo to the South Pole and is also the author of ‘Beyond the Horizon’.

These legendry mountaineers are prime examples of the indomitable human spirit, having conquered extreme physiological and psychological states. And the learnings from them are endless. Their journeys started with challenges that made them realize something about themselves that they never could have otherwise. The bottom line is, never shrink from challenges. More often than not, they may lead you to re-discover your strengths and help you achieve things you never thought you could.

Richard and Adrian’s journeys throw every obstacle under the sun at them. They have scaled some of the most brutal terrain on earth, from the hot and dusty lowland foothills to the snow covered, oxygen thin mountain passes- and come out stronger. They have used the extreme environments to turn their incredible performance challenge into hugely valuable and enlightening experiences. For us, what is important to understand is that whatever the challenge, you must always believe in yourself. When the going gets tough, you can give up- or you can give it your best.

Throughout our personal and professional life, we desperately try to elude failure, fearing it every moment we take on a new challenge or try something we never have before.  However, it is only human to be afraid, and failure always brings with it a key lesson. And when you face your worst fears, you should always remember that courage is not the absence of fear- It is just the willingness to face it.