Standing at the base of a waterfall in the remote wilderness of Oahu, you feel small. The water crashes down from a dizzying height, mist spraying your face, and the rope that leads to the top looks impossibly thin against the sheer rock. Every fiber of your body says, Maybe this is too much. And yet, the challenge calls to you.
Leadership and business often feel the same way. The goals that matter most are rarely easy or convenient. They look daunting from the start, and the path up is steep, uncertain, and sometimes exhausting. But it’s the willingness to face that climb, rope in hand, step by step, that separates those who achieve extraordinary results from those who settle for the familiar.
Climbing that waterfall wasn’t just about fun; it was about focus, persistence, and trusting my own climbing skills. Each handhold required attention, each foothold demanded calculation, and each step upward was a decision: Do I move forward or retreat? In leadership, every decision matters the same way. One misstep can slow progress, but careful, deliberate action builds momentum.
Reaching the top revealed a perspective that made every effort worth it. From up there, the view stretches beyond the waterfall, beyond the jungle canopy, and into the horizon. It’s a reminder that the hardest climbs offer the most clarity and the greatest reward. In business, leaders who tackle the toughest challenges often gain insights and opportunities that those who take the easy path never see.
In my keynotes and leadership programs, I use experiences like this to illustrate how leaders can prepare for high-stakes challenges: know your tools, trust your preparation, take calculated risks, and keep your eyes on the summit even when it seems distant. The climb is rarely comfortable, but it’s always transformative.
Success, whether in climbing, in business, or in life, comes down to courage and commitment. It’s about choosing to step up when the path is hard, about persevering when the natural instinct is to pause or turn back, and about trusting yourself to navigate the unknown. The waterfall taught me that the heights worth reaching are rarely the easiest to scale, but the view from the top makes every challenge meaningful.