How to Learn to Lead While Sliding Down a Mountain

A few weeks ago I embarked on my first LA county hike. It was a spectacular 12 miles of physical and mental strengthening.
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What I didn’t quite expect was all the leadership building lessons I learned along the way.

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Today I’ll share some fun stories from the hike, a few beautiful photos, and the lessons I brought back that will help us to be better leaders.
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Grab your mental hiking poles and join me for a little trek up
and a slide down the mountain.

I received 4 lessons. Here’s the first.

 

 

1) Your recent accomplishment is really just a step

 

So I started off on my hike with my handy maps expecting to work my way around the loop in order to reach the summit early on and then enjoy the remainder of the hike. Well the tricky part is that the left turn onto the loop was a “little” hidden.

Yep!  See that little unmarked turn up the mountain to the left?

That’s the trail I missed.

But hey – we leaders don’t blame. We take responsibility. Next time I’ll know.

 

Anyway… I didn’t know I had missed that little left turn.

Every time I saw a mountain peak – I thought I was at the summit since I was supposed to summit early.
Here are four examples of misleading summit hopes.

 

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It occurred to me while I kept seeing each summit that was not actually THE summit that this relates very much to life in general and our leadership.

Every major accomplishment in our lives is really just a step.

The acceptance of a new job
The successful completion of a project
The final push before we hear our baby’s cry
Watching our kids walk across the graduation stage
Retiring
Exiting this world

No matter what it is, big or small, everything is simply a step towards our next stage.

As I learned on the mountain:

Every accomplishment is really just a step.
Keep looking and moving forward. You’re not done yet!!

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I’m grateful to say I did eventually reach the correct ascent to the summit and took a long awaited break while enjoying some incredible views.

 

 

 

 

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2) Sometimes our path looks a little different than the ones others take

Ok – this is a very interesting story.
There’s a place in the path on the way down that features an old plane wreck that just never got cleaned up. (God rest the souls of those who lost their lives here.)

The wreck has apparently caught the attention of many folks.

The path goes right to all the sights where the pieces of the plane lay.

 

 

 

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As I was hiking I thought – I bet they have the path going to these wreckage sites on purpose.
Pilots can be forewarned to not fly here.
UMMMMM NOT!

Then a stroke of genius came upon me:

What if these paths aren’t really the hiking path but rather a mere distraction?

Yes, indeed, that stroke was genius.
I looked up and had NO IDEA how to connect with the real path!!!

This photo is NOT showing the path. Instead it is another illusion – like the appearance of water in the desert.

Initially I decided to continue in the way I ‘thought’ was right.

BAD IDEA!!!

I wised up and pulled out my compass and map.  I  was a good solid 90 degrees off track!

I figured I had no option but to use the compass and simply work my way towards where I thought I might find the path again.

The Challenge – Hiking horizontally ACROSS a Cali moutain is LIFE THREATENING!!

Dirt in California slides! (A true slippery slope!)

I had to use a very creative strategy to find big solid rocks, shrub branches, and sheer prayer to make my way back to where the trail was supposed to be.

It was fun – in a twisted sort of way.

I only wished Bear Grylls had been there to join in the fun!
I’ve got to get on one of those adventures someday!

I digress…..

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As I scrambled and fought to not slide down the mountain.
As I also looked out for snakes with every step in brush.

I was thought:

Sometimes leaders have to be very creative in order to blaze a path that’s different from the ones others follow. Wonder what new path is next. hmmmmm  :=)

Are you blazing forth a path that’s new to those around you? Keep at it!

Just use your compass, your common sense, and keep your eyes on the goal.
You’re gonna LOVE where you end up!!!

 

3) Insignificant sightings can be life-changing

I eventually made my way horizontally across the side of the mountain and got to a place where I thought I was seeing evidence of being back on the path.  I was cautious, however. I had been deceived before!

Suddenly as I was testing a possible path I looked down and saw something insignificant and yet life-changing (well at least hike-changing).

I saw a footprint!!

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When I saw this simple yet profound sign, I knew I had made my way back to the path.

Now I would have LOVED to have seen a spray painted rectangle on a tree or rock!!

That’s not what I was given.

I was given a simple footprint.

I took a moment to reflect:

How many times do we pass by seemingly insignificant sightings in our lives and our leadership that have the power to profoundly change our direction?
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We miss these signs because we are off looking for something that screams louder to us than the mere presence of a footprint.

Keep your eyes open. There may be a simple sign right under your feet.

 

I knew the rest of the hike would be easy…. or so I thought…..

 

4) Short-cuts are rarely worth the expense

The remainder of the hike was beautiful in so many ways:
The mountains
The tiny trickle of a stream
The beauty of God’s creatures
The fun and interestingly shaped vegetation that was all new to me

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After a while I came to a place in the map that was very near the end of the trail.

The path made a little curve and then came back horizontally on a lower part of the mountain.

The map I had showed a little short-cut from one part of the road to the other. The short-cut was to “simply” go down the side of the mountain.

The road is simply straight down.

Easy, right?   haha NO!!!!

 

In SoCal, the top layer of dirt is about 5 inches deep.

As you inch down the mountain the top layer of soil simply goes with you!!
This eliminates your clear foot holding.
It also makes a large visible dust pile that follows your dissent.

As I started to scooch on my buttocks I realized this was not going to be as easy as I thought.

The rocks I expected to hold me back just flowed right along with me.

I planned strategic little jaunts from one big rock to one little tree branch.
Then I let gravity take me until I could grab something else on the way down.
I can surely say – that short-cut was not short at all.

At least I amused the little crowd that gathered to watch my creative hiking techniques.
The paramedic in the group reminded me that I could have broken a lot of bones and caused internal damage had I lost my control and tumbled.

Ahhh – well… we live and learn.
I was grateful to make it down to the bottom alive.

I learned in an unforgettable way:  Short-cuts are rarely worth the expense

 

In Closing:

 

 

 

 

 

As I relaxed by my campfire that night and gazed up at the moon I reminded myself of the four leadership lessons my 12 mile hike ingrained in my spirit.

1) Your recent accomplishment is really just a step

2) Sometimes our path looks a little different than the ones others take

3) Insignificant sightings can be life-changing

4) Short-cuts are rarely worth the expense

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Can you think of a practical application for any of these lessons?

Have you learned a few lessons along the way on your own hikes?

Tell us about it in the comments section.
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© All photos are property of Inspirational Leading (LouAnn Stropoli)

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