Business Coaching – Climb A Mountain!

Climbers ascending Croagh Patrick's steep rocky path under a partly cloudy sky.

Last weekend, I experienced the incredible journey of climbing Croagh Patrick lessons in resilience and perseverance. I was joined by two of my brothers and one of our nephews. Standing 2,500 feet high, just outside Westport in Co Mayo, the mountain offered both challenges and rewards. After this climb, I have immense admiration for anyone who has conquered even greater peaks like Kilimanjaro!

Croagh Patrick is no easy climb. It’s steep and a mix of stones and gravel. Last month during the annual pilgrimage, rescuers airlifted three people off the mountain. But I have to say it gives you a great sense of achievement, more so reaching the bottom safely than it does when you reach the summit.

When it comes to business coaching, what lessons can we learn along the way, and how do they relate to business? First, understand why you’re doing it. Just like in business, you need a reason and a purpose. Is your why strong enough to push you to go the extra mile when things get tough? When we reached halfway up the mountain, the cloud cleared and revealed how much further we still had to climb. Without a strong reason for climbing, we could have easily given up.

During the climb, take small steps, and let each step bring you closer to the summit. Just like in business, maintain a slow and steady pace, and let each step bring you closer.

It’s important to enjoy the journey as much as it is to enjoy the destination. To stop now and again (and very often in my case!) and take in the views. To look back and see what you have achieved, and to acknowledge what you have achieved.

Having the right tools and gear makes a big difference because lacking them only adds difficulty. I most enjoyed supporting others I met along the way. I loved engaging in banter and chatting during the climb. Meeting people on the way back felt just as rewarding. Support and a few words of encouragement truly help, especially when those around you share your goal.

Every climb becomes easier with the right tools and the right people. Encouragement, laughter, and shared goals turn challenges into rewarding journeys.

And finally, we put a date in the diary and ensured we completed the climb, no matter what the weather threw at us. If we hadn’t set the date and committed to making the climb, it likely wouldn’t have happened. Whether you are 8 or 80, a novice or a professional, you can still do it!

The best part, however, was when we celebrated it all with a trad session and a few pints of Guinness in Matt Molloy’s later that night.

Do what you love, and celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may be!

Never miss an insight from Paul

Enter your details and get notified when a new blog appears.

You have Successfully Subscribed!