In 1996, Sue Stockdale achieved a remarkable feat: she became the first British woman to set foot on the Magnetic North Pole, a journey she never thought possible.
What followed was a realisation that her success held a profound purpose—to inspire others to venture beyond their comfort zones and unearth their untapped potential.
Sue's captivating memoir, "EXPLORE: A Life of Adventure," chronicles her life's journey, commencing from challenging beginnings and extending into a lifetime of intrepid exploration in some of the world's harshest environments, including the North Pole, Antarctica, and Greenland.
Within these epic adventures lie invaluable life lessons that Sue readily shares, illustrating how the mindset, discipline, and commitment honed in the crucible of extreme exploration are equally applicable in the professional sphere.
"EXPLORE" serves as a wellspring of inspiration, urging all of us to embark on our personal odysseys of self-discovery. Sue firmly believes that no endeavour is too daunting when undertaken with determination, a well-conceived plan, and a readiness to embrace discomfort.
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Show notes:
- Who is Sue
- Describing herself as an adventurer
- Not going on to guides
- Growing up and not doing adventurous things
- Going on a cycling trip at 15
- Not having any role models
- Being inspired by books like Enid Blyton's Famous Five and Secret Seven
- The unexpected death of her mom when she was 14
- Wanting to make the most of her life
- Challenging herself to see what she's capable of
- Sue's memoir, Explore: A Life of Adventure
- Adventure mindset, inner voice, and risk-taking
- Why did she write the book
- Becoming the first UK woman to ski to the Magnetic North Pole
- Deciding to apply despite feeling unqualified
- Being determined and believing in herself
- Overcoming fears and fundraising for an Arctic expedition
- Being part of a team of 10 people
- Her initial lack of experience in cross-country skiing
- Being very optimistic and having an adventurous mindset at heart
- Expedition leader David Hempleman-Adams
- Engaging in an exercise as a team called "what if list" to share their fears and concerns
- Advocates for facing fears by writing them down and talking about them
- Successfully securing sponsorship for her expedition
- Mental and physical challenges during her North Pole expedition in 1996
- Talking about period while she's out on the ice
- Bonding between her and Susanna, the first Swedish woman to reach the extreme
- Learning to tolerate each other's differences and frustrations during the expedition
- How her experience at the North Pole changed her perspective on life
- Deciding to set up a business as a motivational speaker
- Joining Robert Swan on an expedition down to Antarctica
- The process of evolution and building up her business
- Entrepreneurship and finding her unique calling
- Pushing herself too hard and judging herself too negatively
- Talking about her podcast
- Final words of advice
Social Media
Website: suestockdale.com
Podcast: Access to Inspiration
Twitter: @suestockdale
Youtube: @SueStockdale
Tough Girl Podcast