A few weeks ago, we were sent training instructions by Going Rogue - the group of ex-special forces who are leading the night hike up Snowdon that Kev and I are doing at the end of the month.
We’ve been given a minimal training plan and kit list, and this advice:
“Our expedition is very much a single modality discipline with several variables.
‘To walk steadily and relentlessly uphill for several hours carrying extra weight in mentally and potentially physically challenging conditions’
For those who haven’t hiked at night - it will soon become apparent that this will become as much a mental battle as a physical one. There are no views to inspire you and no sunlight to warm you. Time drags and very quickly you will lose all perception of where you are, how far you’ve walked, how long you have left to walk….disorientation sets in and another false summit passes.
From a physical perspective, strong conditioned shoulders, core and legs are non-negotiable. But a robust mind that was silly enough to start but stubborn enough to finish, is essential!”
Must admit, I feel as if my years running my own business make me feel 100% confident that I have a sufficiently robust mind as described in the last sentence.
Silly enough to start and stubborn enough to finish.
SO true!
Anyone who starts their own business has the odds stacked against them in a big way. Many businesses fail very early on and many a once-hopeful entrepreneur will think they aren’t cut out for working for themselves and go back to employment.
No shame in that.
In fact, recognising what makes you happy and adjusting course accordingly is a wonderful thing to do.
However, some of us are stubborn enough to keep going, and some of us are silly enough to start all over again even when businesses fail, (but hopefully having learned valuable lessons that will improve our odds going forward).
Being part of a group of equally stubborn people can really help, because we all get times when we question our own sanity and wish we had a normal life, without the occasional darkness, disorientation and false summits of running a business.
It’s why I run a group for our own clients, and also belong to groups of like minded people myself.
Do you have the right tribe?