47,683 Steps and 10 1/2 hours later!

  Written by Greg Schmidt on Feb 16, 2010 11:28 pm

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Have you ever walked 47,683 steps in 3 feet of snow while lost in the Colorado Rocky Mountains for 10 1/2 hours and felt really good about

it??  I sure have!  Let's begin:   It was June 8, 2008.   Me and 18 others stepped out in the Colorado wilderness to climb a mountain.  (A lot of metaphors and symbolism coming your way in this blogpost!)  

It was something thatfew of us had ever done.  After one short hour, we found ourselves with no trail but 3 feet of snow between our feet and hips (for some).  We found ourselves climbing a mountain with no trail to follow, risking our lives (so-to-speak) to accomplish something we all wanted to do.  Just like in the online and home business industry, we all have a dream, a desire to accomplish some tall feat.  This day started with 18, how many do you think finished?

Three hours into the hike 6 people decided to turn around, "packed it up" and head back to their cars.  The 3 feet of snow was to physically and emotionally painful for some to endure.  It was really interesting to see who would be next.  I mean, trailblazing through 3 feet of snow was not for everybody.  But the remaining 12 pressed on.

No BS'n here.  We were literally plowing through 3 feet of snow for at least 4 straight hours.  Many people "stumbled and fell".  This ended up becoming too emotionally draining for some.   Sometime later we came to a fork in the road.  Left or Right?  This simple decision was too hard for some to make.  Soon the "what if's" came into the discussion.  "What if we don't make it?",  "What if we get lost?"  Another 4 turned around "fearing"  they wouldn't reach the top or get lost and decided to head back also.  

Then there were 8.  

I decided to go right.  Why?  I don't know.  But what I did know that I made a decision quickly and changed my mind slowly - that's what a true successful leader does.  Now to me it didn't matter if this was the "right" way.  I made this decision and was going to make it right - no matter what!

The fork in the road ended up being the right way - man, I'm a good travel guide!   Soon we found ourselves in this valley, winds picking up and temperatures dropping.  We found it odd that we were all crossing this flat body of land - still plowing through the snow.  3 of us soon found ourselves ankle deep in water!!  We were walking across a SMALL LAKE!! This definitely freaked out 2 more of the group.  Even with the top of the peek in sight, the 2 decided to head back.    

We were almost there and 2 decided to head back now?  Didn't bother me that we were on a small lake.  The remaining could now see our prize!  

We finally got out of the snow and now it was climbing the rocky mountain edge that was our next obstacle.  My wife was one of the remaining 6.  She's is horrified of heights, too!  I don't remember a more proud moment I have had of my wife, "getting out of her comfort zone" and doing something she has never done.  We could have easily been blown off that mountain side or grab on to that rock that had no stability and fallen to a place where getting up may not have been an option.

We kept going - taking risks with every step and ever clasping hand.  Now the peak looked as though you could reach out and touch it!  With winds of about 35-40 mph ( I'm guessing - I'm no Willard Scott!) we finally made it to the top!!   6 survived this journey. 

How good does it feel to climb your mountain in the internet/home business industry and reach  the top?  I found it really interesting to see how many of these 18 would go the distance and who would not.  

I found it interesting to see how many people fell and with every time they "fell", they became a little more defeated.  On the flip side, it was exciting to see the ones who "fell" but knew they were falling "forward"- toward their goal.  

These people also understood that these "little failures or falls" were going to happen but also knew these falls and failures were worth it!  Life is like this.  Business is like this.  This is why most people fail!  

But it takes commitment, a decided heart, and determination to take on challenges and accept failures and "falls" to reach the top!  I walked 47, 683 steps that day. ( I wore a bodybugg)  I figured about 17-18 miles and concluded that 10 1/2 hours on my wet and cold feet never felt so good!

So where are you at in your journey?

Greg Schmidt

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