The first expedition to the top of Everest was in 1922. The first successful expedition of Everest was in 1953. That means that no one succeeded for 31 years. The first two men who reached the top refused to share who made it first. A permit cost $11,000; with the average cost coming out to $65,000 to $100,000. For every 100 people that reach the top 4 DIE! However, the most deadly mountain is India’s Mt. Kangchenjunga: Twenty five percent of the people who attempt to climb it, never return! Yet, Everest still is the taller of the two at 29,029 feet.
Why would anyone want to put themselves through years of torture in preparation and a physical beating to accomplish the task? Because Mankind is a species that wants to advance, wants to push the limit, and question what is possible. Climbing Mount Everest is about the challenge as much as the victory.
The challenge is to find out how mentally, physically, and intellectually equipped are we. The victory is in the journey from the day you say “I’m doing this” to the day you say “I did it”.
Everest’s shape represents “a filter”.
Many people say they are going to do something, but only a few really do it.
There are 3 types of people
- Those that never start
- Those that start and quit
- Those that start and finish
The base is very wide because it’s the lowest point of effort or challenge. However, but as you move up the mountain, it narrows and so does the people at that level until you reach the peak where the highest percentage of failure is represented.
The few that arrive at the peak have beaten the mountain, the wind chill, the avalanches, the frost bite, the freezing temperatures, fatigue, and all other opposition. They are the people we read about, we admire, and wish we could be.
The difference between those that do versus those that don’t, is not natural ability; it is desire and commitment. They desire to challenge themselves and prove to themselves they have what it takes to be great. Along the way, they think about stopping and quitting, but their identity won’t allow them to. They push past the pain and obstacles because they have a vision of the person they need to be to win.
We all have an Everest. It may be our business, a relationship, a health issue, a financial challenge, or something else, but we have a choice about how we handle it. We decide whether we reach the peak or drop out at base camp. What will your story be?