What Climbing a Volcano Can Teach You About Business

 

Recently, I took a group of entrepreneurs on AdventureQuest to climb Mt. Batukaru, the second highest volcano in Bali. It was an epic 10 hour trek to the top, through 4 different types of forests. We got back to our van after dark, using the lights from our phones to guide us. For many it was one of the hardest physical things they had ever done.

We spent time on the hike thinking of analogies for how climbing a volcano (or mountain) is like being an entrepreneur:

* You can't get to the top if you don't start
* You don't see all the steps along the way
* It pays to have friends helping and encouraging you
* You need to take breaks sometimes
* There is no one right way to get to the top
* It is a mental and physical game
* What you say to yourself is important
* You move through different ecosystems
* A guide can be important
* Tools and equipment can support you
* Trust your own abilities
* Notice who you are when things are challenging
* You get to choose if you are having fun
* Set intermediate goals along the way
* Once you have achieved it, you always have that accomplishment
* You are forced to be present