the real conquest is the interior one
February 2008
I just received an email from Kelly Tyler-Lewis (author of 'The
Lost Men') to let me know that her article on
the Alpine Club's 150th anniversary has been
published in Men’s Vogue. It’s a quick read, and
a hugely enjoyable one.
The comment that stood out for me came from Walter Bonatti, the legendary Italian alpinist, who told Kelly during the celebrations in Zermatt that “In the end, the real conquest is the interior one".
I think Bonatti is spot on, and I've expressed similar sentiments during some of my Everest presentations. Climbing a mountain is about challenging oneself to go beyond what one thinks can definitely be accomplished. After all, what would be the point of climbing Everest if you knew with absolute certainty that you could reach the summit?
I wonder if it is the same for everyone moving out of their comfort zone: the DIY enthusiast intent on building her own house; the smoker planning to quit and run a marathon; the father-of-three deciding whether to set up his own business. If success was guaranteed, would they really bother starting out?
Surely one of the reasons that people ultimately become successful is because of their willingness to confront their limitations, weaknesses and frailties. To well-meaning friends and family these personal flaws often appear as cast-iron reasons to caution the relative or pal against attempting anything new or out of the ordinary.
Even though the physical trials might vary enormously, the psychological challenges for individuals intent on painting their own canvases in life are vertical.
The comment that stood out for me came from Walter Bonatti, the legendary Italian alpinist, who told Kelly during the celebrations in Zermatt that “In the end, the real conquest is the interior one".
I think Bonatti is spot on, and I've expressed similar sentiments during some of my Everest presentations. Climbing a mountain is about challenging oneself to go beyond what one thinks can definitely be accomplished. After all, what would be the point of climbing Everest if you knew with absolute certainty that you could reach the summit?
I wonder if it is the same for everyone moving out of their comfort zone: the DIY enthusiast intent on building her own house; the smoker planning to quit and run a marathon; the father-of-three deciding whether to set up his own business. If success was guaranteed, would they really bother starting out?
Surely one of the reasons that people ultimately become successful is because of their willingness to confront their limitations, weaknesses and frailties. To well-meaning friends and family these personal flaws often appear as cast-iron reasons to caution the relative or pal against attempting anything new or out of the ordinary.
Even though the physical trials might vary enormously, the psychological challenges for individuals intent on painting their own canvases in life are vertical.