Steps to Make Big Changes
“Every time you get to the base of a mountain … you’re presented with a new opportunity to challenge yourself,” said Alison Levine, a world-famous mountaineer. Jim Puryear taught this principle in 2016 when he compared climbing a mountain to meeting big, life-changing goals. Whether you are looking to change your health or to start your own business, the principles of climbing a mountain can help you track your course to success. Here’s how.
Make the Choice
“The guy on top of the mountain didn’t fall there. He had to decide to do it,” Jim taught in 2016. The first step to changing your life is recognizing the need and deciding to do it. It’s important to understand why you want to complete your goal or make this change. This is going to push you through the hard parts of your journey, so make sure this is rock solid.
Have a Guide
The second step to your journey is finding someone who has done something similar to what you’re trying to accomplish—someone to show you the way. Climbing Everest means you’d have a sherpa or a mountain guide, but in your life this person is your mentor. Your mentor can be your most valuable asset on your journey, as they share life experience, warn you about the pit falls, and can help you succeed more than you could on your own.
Get Your Gear
The quickest way to fail any task is to not have the proper equipment for the job. Whatever you’re trying to accomplish, make sure you have the tools you need to succeed. For a mountaineer, this looks like proper clothing, hooks, shoe crampons, water, supplies, tents, etc. For you, this will look different depending on what your goal is.
There are a few things that will help you in the thick of your hike.:
- List of your goals and your plan to reach them (your map!)
- Motivational podcasts
- Vision board
- Books
- Like-minded people
- Mentors
Get Trained
No one just wakes up one day and climbs Mt. Everest without some serious training. In order to make the summit, mountaineers need to be skilled hikers and in excellent health to ensure they are safe through the ascent … and so they can reach their goal of the summit.
For whatever goal you have, proper training is essential. Maybe you need to take some classes to make this happen or read some how-to books, so you are prepared for the trek ahead of you.
Start the Climb
Lao Tzu once said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Your journey is no different. You can’t start unless you take that first step, so do it! Often the first step is the hardest, but after taking a few strides you will start building momentum, which will make your journey start to flow.
Whether it’s taking your first run or registering your business, celebrate this first step and then keep going!
Make your Base Camps
When climbing Mount Everest, climbers don’t run straight up the mountain without stopping. As Jim says, “Climbing a mountain is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.” Hikers divide up their journeys by stopping at base camps along the way. These are semi-permanent settlements that serve as checkpoints and refueling stations for people to regroup and get ready for the next leg of their journey.
For you, this could be attending motivational functions, making three phone calls, talking to one new person a week, or getting together with like-minded people to share your wins when you are feeling bogged down.
Enjoy the View
Reaching the summit of any mountain or peak is an accomplishment (imagine Mount Everest!)—especially knowing you’ve reached your goal and can bask in the glory of victory. The same feeling can happen when you’ve reached your goal, accomplished a task, or reached an amazing milestone. You journey may not be complete but be sure to look around and enjoy the view.
Making big changes in your life is no easy task, but it can be done. No matter what you are hoping to accomplish, taking on a mountain with these steps will set you up for success.
Need help finding the people to surround yourself with for success? Read our blog “Four People You Need to Live a More Faith-Filled Life.”
