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Lessons on Risk from World Famous Mountain Climber, Ed Viesturs
I just finished reading an article about world famous mountain climber, Ed Viesturs. Ed is only the 12th person in history to summit all 14 of the world’s 8000 meter mountains. I was first introduced to Ed in the book Into Thin Air, Which chronicled the 1996 Everest disaster. Ed was part of the rescue operation. I then met Ed at the Outdoor Retailers show in 2002. It was cool to shake the hand of a man who has accomplished so much in his sport.Â
Ed’s new biography No Shortcuts to the Top is sure to be a classic. In the article I read this morning I noticed many similarities between mountain climbing, Ed Viesturs style, and entrepreneurship. Here are some of my observations:
- When involved in something that is already risky, there is no reason to add unnecessary additional risk. The line between calculated risk and gambling is very thin. In order to be successful, you must learn to recognize risk and manage it. Caution keeps you alive.
- Creating clearly defined and written goals is half the battle in war (example: I will summit all fourteen 8000 meter mountains).
- Family support can mean the difference between success and failure.
- Sometime we fail, sometimes we succeed. We are defined by what we do with our failures.
- Helping others will return more in good will and reputation than anything money can buy.
- Planning is everything. When Ed decided to summit all fourteen 8000 meter summits, his friend noted that Ed, “…approached this decision slowly and cautiously, and weighed the consequences.”
- Keep your emotions in check and be professional.
- See the beauty in what you are doing instead of the risk.
- “I manage the risk. I don’t seek danger. I’m not an adrenaline junkie. I figure out the safe way to go in and have fun so I can live with the risk.”
- Pass on what you have learned.
- The title of his book, No Shortcuts to the Top says so much about entrepreneurship in just five simple words.
I highly recommend picking up his book even if you don’t climb mountains. The parallel lessons in entrepreneurship are staggering.
Chris -
I’d be interested in hearing your opinions on this story.
Left by Russell Page on 10/24/2006http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650201196,00.html
Russ:
I think Utah has a tremendous need for biotech education. I’m not sure that should come from the community college level.
Good educational programs are the foundation for building good industry. We see a direct correlation in the expansion of startups in the state as educational institutions have made a real effort to promote and properly educate future entrepreneurs. The biotech sector will need this same event as well.
Left by ctknud on 10/25/2006