How to Climb Success Mountain

Devlyn Steele

There are only three real sports: bull-fighting, car racing and mountain climbing. All the others are mere games. -Hemingway

     Imagine success as a mountain. Wouldn't you want to get to the top?  Naturally.  In fact, we spend endless hours and countless dollars in pursuit of success. Whether, it is the desire for more money, advance in career, achieving fame, losing weight, finding romance or endless other wants, we are eager to find our way there.  So how do we get there?

     There must be a specific way that we just don't know. So we buy books, audios, videos, attend lectures, workshops and more.  Last years Secret gives way to the new trend that everyone is talking about today. Yet trend after trend we still don't seem to get to the top of Success Mountain. Yet something must work because we see others arrive.

     If you imagine success as a mountain, the only way to get to the top is to climb.  All the trends out there offer solutions that tell us to avoid the climb. The truth is there are no elevators, escalators or even stairs. Lecture after lecture I feel awful when I tell the audience there is no short cut. When I look at the faces of the audience I feel like they are children and I just told there is no Santa Claus or Easter Bunny.  

     It's not all bad, just because there is no Santa, doesn't mean there are no presents!  Just because there are no short cuts, doesn't mean that there are not things you can learn about climbing. So, instead of trying to learn how to avoid the climb, take climbing lessons. That is exactly what we need to focus on--the basics of climbing. Then we have to be willing to get into action and climb.

     Attitude: Climbing Success Mountain starts with your attitude. Start by giving up your instant gratification needs and dedicate yourself to working towards the results you want.

     Be Present: Stop focusing on the top of the mountain. Sure we all want to be there, but when climbing you have to pay attention to where you are and understand what your immediate next steps are going to be. A climber not focused can misstep and fall or climb their way into a dead end with nowhere to go.

     Can Do: Believe and have confidence in yourself.  Develop a "Can Do" frame of mind.

     Deal: When climbing you will slip back at times, you will encounter obstacles and it will not always be easy. Deal with it and keep finding solutions and ways to get back on track.

     Effort: Climbing takes effort. Climbing to the top demands strength, whether it is to the top of Mount Everest or to the top of your career. -Abdul Kalam

     Fun: Have fun while you are climbing. I've learned that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it. -B. Bancard

     I could go through the entire alphabet with different parts of the climbing lesson: enough to fill a book. Instead today let me make it simple.  When it comes down to it, success is about your will to be successful.  It takes patience, time, consistency, pain, setbacks, you will encounter many obstacles and in the end, do you have the will to keep at it? Do you really want success?

In the end it will always come down to you. It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.

- Sir Edmund Hillary 

     Even when you do everything right and you have made it up 90% of the mountain, it doesn't get easier, it gets harder. When attempting to climb Mount Everest it is the last 10% that is the most dangerous. Why? After climbing 90% you have used all your energy, the peak is the steepest and the air the thinnest. When you are there you will have to dig into yourself and pull out your will for success.

     Success does not come quick or easy, however we all have the ability to climb Success Mountain if we learn how to climb and we have the will to succeed. Get ready to start climbing and climb step by step. Right now, follow the first six steps ABCDEF and you will be on your way!  We'll cover the rest of the alphabet, and get to the top of Success Mountain together.