It was dawn when we set out for our hike.
Water, check. Snacks, check. Emergency gear, check.
Unable to secure one of the few daily bus passes to the Lake O’Hara area, our only option was to hike in to get to the Obapin Plateau Circuit and Lake Oesa trailheads that we were interested in. That meant 7 miles of hiking in, hiking the trails themselves, and then hiking 7 miles back to our car. All in all, our day consisted of 23 miles of hiking. To this day, that adventure was one of the most challenging hikes I’ve ever completed in a day – and it was absolutely worth it. Not only were the views spectacular, but the experience of completing something of that magnitude changed me.
As it turns out, hiking and running a business share a lot of similarities. Here are some of the lessons that hiking has taught me and how they relate to running a business.
There Are No Shortcuts
When you’re on a mountain, the only way to your final destination is to continue to put one foot in front of the other. When undertaking a long and challenging trail, at some point, fatigue and sore feet will become a factor. But, when you’re many miles out from the trailhead, there’s simply no way to bail out. It’s in those moments that you need to quickly readjust your thinking, since there are no shortcuts to get you up (or down) that mountain faster. The sooner you embrace the journey, the better. And I’ve found it’s amazing what you can achieve when you don’t allow failure to be an option.
The same is true in business. At some point along the way, fatigue and discouragement will enter the picture. It’s important to keep your end goal in mind and realize that such feelings are normal. There is a way to reach your goal, you just need to find it. Success doesn’t happen overnight, and there are typically no shortcuts. It’s about consistently showing up, exploring options, learning from mistakes, and being willing to put in the hard work, even when you can’t see the fruit of your labors…yet.
You’re Capable of More Than You Think
One of the things I love about hiking is the way it challenges me. Hiking isn’t just a physical challenge – there are emotional and mental components to it as well. Attitude is everything.
There’s nothing more rewarding than getting to the end of a hard hike and realizing you accomplished something you weren’t sure you could do. The truth is, we’re capable of more than we think we are. So many times, we stop before we really get started. It might be because of a challenge, a setback, or because we let the doubt in our minds run unchecked. As humans, we naturally look for the path of least resistance and try to avoid pain at all costs. While those may be safe options, they rarely get us to the spectacular views. Regardless of the reason, many times, we give up far too early and never see what we could have achieved.
The same is true in business. It’s easy to throw in the towel when our product isn’t selling or growth is taking longer than we’d like. We often need to pivot and reevaluate our path, but too often, we simply settle for less. If we just persevere toward our original goal, we may find amazing opportunities waiting just on the other side of the challenge. Each trial and hardship sharpens us and helps us develop the character we’ll need to be truly successful as we navigate uncharted waters.
Expect the Unexpected
Regardless of how well you plan, things will inevitably occur that you weren’t expecting. I’ve been hiking for over 15 years, and over the course of that time, I’ve encountered the unexpected multiple times – severe thunderstorms (complete with hail), extreme heat, injuries, illness, ice, etc. But I’ve also witnessed unexpected wonderful things as well – amazing views, unexpected waterfalls, beautiful wildlife, friendly hikers, peaceful snowfall, etc.
Even with perfect planning, you can never anticipate all of the unexpected things that may arise. The key is to be ready for the unexpected and to be willing to adapt if the situation calls for it.
The same is true in business. Your journey will undoubtedly lead to unexpected things (both good and bad). It happens to everyone. Those who handle the unexpected well are those who remain flexible and willing to adjust, no matter what life throws their way
It’s a Journey, Not a Sprint
Hiking isn’t a sprint. If you treat it as such, you’ll burn yourself out and won’t get very far. Hiking truly is a journey, and like any good journey, it takes time. Slow and steady progress is far better than taking it out too fast and then fizzling out.
Besides, when you move too quickly, you miss out on the beauty around you. The waterfall tucked over to the side, the colorful wildflowers springing up in the meadow, the marmot dashing behind a rock – all of those things are easily missed when we rush and don’t take time to look around us.
Apply this to business. You’ll burn yourself out quickly and get nowhere if you try to rush the process, continually pull late nights, or hustle daily without sufficient downtime. A healthy work life balance is an important part of any successful business.
Similarly, you may miss out on opportunities or critical lessons that can be gleaned if you scramble to your end goal without noticing what’s happening around you. What important connections could you be making with others? What classes could you take to strengthen your skillset or your business? What customer feedback could you incorporate in your business?
The goal is not just growth in business. The goal is sustainable growth.
Wrap Up
Though I completed the Lake O’Hara trails a number of years ago, that experience has stayed with me. They are part of the moments that have shaped and defined me. There are similar moments in the life of our businesses too.
Whether you’re just starting out or have been running your business for quite some time, each of these important lessons still apply. Our work should be a labor of love, filled with experiences that leave a lasting impression on us (and others).
It’s good for us to challenge ourselves and do hard things. Not only does it help us grow, but it also makes the end result that much sweeter. I’ve enjoyed the view far more when I’ve had to work hard and long for it than when I simply drove to an overlook and observed the scenery from my car.
Be willing to show up and do the hard work. The reward will be that much sweeter.