Risk & Business Magazine Reider Insurance Fall 2015 | Page 17

I think that the label could be broader and I think people
can strive to take a step back and make a list of everything
that’s inspiring in their life. True life planning does affect
business planning if you’re an entrepreneur because you
have the means to your own end within your control. I think
that kind of thinking leads to people doing several things
at once that might seem to be mutually exclusive, like being
an entrepreneur and an adventurer at the same time.
How did the Seven Summits goal come about?

with a small mountain. There’s lots of humorous learning
along the way, but then set some records in that area.
How has completing the goal changed the
way you approach your business life?
You’re really humbled by the size of something as
large as Everest. You’re in a tent for three months and
you realize that you’re very fortunate, because many
people die trying it, to come out alive and healthy.

Then, be true to the process. No limits. If you had all the time,
money, and energy in the world with no limits, what would
you want to do? Also, what would you want to become?

Climbing a mountain teaches you to be respectful of
the process of setting really big goals, but also that you
can set large goals and break them down. Some people
say that we, as humans, underestimate what we can
accomplish in ten years by far and overestimate what we
can accomplish in a year. Coming from somebody being
successful in climbing the Seven Summits, the suggestion
is you take that into the rest of your life. Set big goals for
things you think you wouldn’t be able to accomplish.

That Seven Summit goal came out of one of those planning
sessions. I had never climbed a foot on a mountain in my life,
but the challenge was to climb the Seven Summits. Does that
include Everest? It does. If we set that as a goal, maybe start

What I often say is if an ordinary fat guy like me can
make it to the summits of the world, then what big
goals are you potentially not setting for yourself that
would be inspiring for you? Setting big goals requires

The Seven Summits are the highest mountain on each
continent, including Everest. The goal came about
through one of the life planning processes, which is
to make a list of everything that you want to do and
everything you want to become by the end of your life.

RISK & BUSINESS MAGAZINETM FALL 2015

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