We all have heard of a friend who did a long run, big hike, or other athletic activity that was strenuous, stressful, or just new to their body. They take off running and get blisters and lose toenails. It happens all the time. It all started with a big idea. The finisher T-Shirt, the social media post of success, or maybe just that thing you always wanted to do. We finish with the end in mind. The glory of victory is enticing and we often don’t break it down into the steps we need to take to cross the finish line.
I am on such a journey. We are hiking up Mount Katahdin in Maine in a few months. Doesn’t sound like much of an endeavor on the surface, and I quickly said yes. Of course, I want to hike up a mountain with my friends. So we all bought plane tickets and booked hotel rooms for months down the road, and we started to prepare. Now let’s look at the preparation because that was very different for all 6 of us.
My preparation was watching a video about the world’s best free climber and how easily and lightly he ascends mountains. Sure Alex Honnold has extraordinary strength, the balance of a gymnast, and has been climbing for years. Free Solo is a very inspiring movie. My favorite line of the movie is that the people who know what he is really doing are freaked out and what he is doing because it is it’s so dangerous. Luckily the mountain I will climb is not like El Capitan.
Have you ever climbed a mountain?
Have you ever done something dangerous?
Are you a risk taker?
Next, we made a schedule of actual hiking in Wisconsin, so I would know what it felt like to hike. I grabbed my trusted old hiking shoes from 6 years ago. They were hardly worn, so they must be just fine. We headed to Devil’s Lake and started to climb. The up was no problem, I had the physical strength to do it. Then as we headed down the slippery rock wall my feet were unable to grasp the ground. I spent the next 40 minutes nervously moving down the rocky staircase the entire time hoping my knees would absorb the descent and my foot would hold the ground. The hike was not so dangerous to be life-threatening, but a hard fall would certainly hurt and could lead to an injury.
My hiking partners had recently visited the local hiking outfitter and just purchased new shoes. They were excited and pleased with the way their hiking boots were holding firm to the slippery rocks. They were comfortable with the slippery rocks like it was flat ground. It occurred to me that the movie was inspiring, but had very little to do with the hike that I was preparing for and worse yet. I had not prepared for the actual hike I was going to do.
Next week, my husband and I head to the hiking outfitter. I spill the beans to the sales guy. I am hiking in Maine, we are going up Mount Katahdin, It will be 4000 elevation gain. We are taking the easy trail, with no ropes. We are going to use the Saddle Trail, we expect to be hiking for 10 hours and this is my first climb. I have used other shoes and didn’t like how they slipped. The shoe salesman proceeds to give me 3 pairs of boots and explains that one is especially good for new climbers with bad knees, hips and back. Thank you, I know you are listening and now you are talking in my language. Injury prevention is my primary concern. I happily parted with the expensive hiking boots.
My husband tells his sales rep he needs hiking shoes. That is all, just need hiking shoes. He buys a black pair and is rolling his eyes that I am sharing all the details of my upcoming journey. Fast forward to our first hike in the new boots. He gets a blister, not one, but a couple. The boots are narrow, and uncomfortable on flat ordinary pavement, he gets a blister.
As a salesperson for my entire life, I simply said to him. You didn’t give the salesperson enough information to recommend the right product for you. They have climbed mountains, and they know the best tool for the job. Slow down and let them ask you the questions they need to answer to give you the right product. In marketing, we call it a Client Needs Analysis, fellow hikers. We all face mountains. Take the time to let your partners know about your journey, or you will get blisters and lose your toenails on the hike.
You do dangerous work every day. Running your business is dangerous work with many opportunities for injuries and pain. Make sure you select a partner who has been up that mountain and will recommend the right products for the job you need to be done. If you get the right advice. It is not expensive at all, and you will not get blisters.
Shar Hermanson 