One Step At A Time
There is a small group of friends with whom I share a very special bond. They are men from very diverse backgrounds and experiences, yet they hold a very special place in my heart. I think of them from time to time, usually when things are not going too well and the sledding gets tough. Among them is a baker, an electrician, a computer programmer, a Pastor, and a Hollywood writer/producer. This eclectic group has essentially two common denominators that draw us together. One is that we were originally assembled as a unit by my friend and mentor, Wes Dupin, who is the Executive Pastor of Daybreak Church in Grand Rapids. Wes is an awesome leader of a large church, and is worthy of a “Leadership Thought of the Day” blog or two on his own accord. The other common factor is that Wes has pulled us together, from time to time, to embark upon some epic backpacking trips. These trips have included hikes in Yosemite, California, the Maroon Bells in Aspen Colorado, from rim to rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona and a tip to tip hike across Michigan’s Isle Royale, to name just a few.
Our campsite at the foothills of Elk Ridge Pass
These trips all have some significant things in common: They are filled with great anticipation in the planning phases, they are replete with the most beautiful scenic settings in the USA, and they are all back-breakingly difficult to execute. The excitement and build-up to these three of four day hikes, with all their promise of adventure and wonder are quickly displaced by grueling physical and mental challenges. Imagine if you will: mile after mile of hiking up majestic mountain passes with a 40-pound backpack cutting into your shoulders and weighing you down and oxygen deprivation from the high altitude making every step an extreme challenge.
I recall vividly our trip to the Maroon Bells mountain range in Aspen Colorado several years ago. We had hiked two grueling days, up and over several mountain passes. We finally set up camp near a small lake at the foothills of Elk Ridge Pass, a pristine yet daunting site. Elk Ridge Pass is a 12,500 foot obstacle that stood between us, Snowmass Lake and, ultimately, the trail head where we had started. The mountain-fed lake was beautiful and the resting site was picture perfect. We were completely exhausted from the two days of hiking. The freeze-dried food that was to be our dinner was sparingly picked at before we all collapsed in our tents to rest up for the next day’s journey, which was looking ominous. It was both pristine, and daunting. All evening I just stared at the mountain trail before and above us. I kept thinking “how can we climb up that trail?”. That thought kept me awake all night. I could hear the elk bugling during the night. I actually used that as the excuse for not sleeping; but the truth was, I harbored serious doubts if I would be able to muster the strength and stamina to make one more steep assent. When morning came, with no other viable options, we packed up our gear and set off on our objective.
We climbed, and climbed, and climbed, and climbed some more. The camp site from the night before became but a spec as we neared the pass. All of our attention was set on the objective before us: get to the top of the next peak. Finally, after several long hours of placing one hiking boot in front of the other, we arrived at the top. Here is where the leadership thought of the day was born. As we all reached the pass, a small area about the size of an average living room, Wes pulled a video camera out of his pack, stuck it in my face and asked, “Terry, we made it! What leadership lesson would you like to share with the folks back home?” Leadership lesson? Was he serious? All I wanted to do was suck in as much oxygen as possible, strip my backpack off, let it fall to the ground and find a rock to rest on. I was dripping with sweat, my heart was pounding, I was breathing like I’d just run a marathon, and this guy is asking me leadership questions?!?!
My first thoughts were mixed between wanting to cuss him out or blacken his eye…however, considering that he’s a pastor and all, I nixed that first idea. The thought to blacken his eye was nixed as well, since I just did not have the energy for it! Not to mention the camera was rolling and I was in the spotlight. Time to “break a leg” and act. As I stood there, I believe God helped me form the answer. I prayed my words might be helpful to the folks back home when they viewed this interview. The words came something like this, “It was just too high, I could not make it.” A funny thought, seeing as we did make it. We were standing at the summit to prove it. I continued, “I did not have the energy or strength to make it to the top. It was just too far and too high. But, I could make it to the next switchback in sight. And I did. Once there, I could make it to the next rock. And I did. From there, I could make it to the clump of scrub brush a little further up. When we were able to string a series of those incremental and reachable goals together, with a constant effort, we were able to ultimately make it to the top and conquer the mountain. Leadership is like that”. I went on to say, “When the objectives before us are too daunting, too intimidating or too difficult, leaders can simplify the complex and lay it out in smaller, more realizable goals, the sum of which will lead to the ability to achieve great objectives and missions that perhaps are too difficult for some to visualize in one fell swoop.”
Hikers climbing Elk Ridge Pass. Note the campsite in the background
I think this leadership lesson was even better told by NFL quarterback Drew Brees in his memoir, “Coming Back Stronger” written together with Chris Fabry. In the sixth chapter, Drew is describing the beginning of the process he endured to come back from a devastating shoulder injury and subsequent surgery on his throwing arm. In the section highlighted as Working My Way out of the Sling, Drew writes, “I was told at the beginning of rehab that if everything went smoothly, it would be eight months before I could play again. And I wouldn’t feel totally “normal” for two years. Except for my ACL tear in high school, I had barely gone a day of my life without football – I couldn’t imagine eight months. But I knew I couldn’t focus on that huge obstacle right now. As it was, getting through each day was going to require a minor miracle. A good friend of mine once told me that each morning when you wake up, think about winning the day. Don’t worry about a week from now or a month from now – just think about one day at a time. If you are worried about the mountain in the distance, you might trip over the molehill right in front of you. Win the day!”
I think that makes for a good Leadership Thought of the Day. Many of the missions before us, the visions of a better world we wish to lead our teams to are almost always daunting tasks. They may often appear as mountains that seem too high or our abilities insufficient to reach our goals. When that happens, the leader can best serve his charges by focusing on one step at a time. Trust in the people and trust in the process. Make it to the next switchback, the next rock or just focus on the day at hand and build one victory upon another. With this leadership approach of “Carpe Diem”, or “Seize the Day”, soon you could be standing atop your own summit, looking back and tellling the world how they too can accomplish tasks that, for all intents and purposes, seem larger than they are, but in reality, are yours to seize!
Carpe Diem, and as always,
Stay Strong,
Terry J. Woychowski
