At 3.30am there was a ‘knock’ on our tent that disturbed the ice which had formed around it overnight – it was our wake up call for “summit day”. After the strain of the day before, I knew when I woke up without a headache and any other symptoms of altitude sickness that today would be the day which culminated in the achievement of the goal I/we had set for ourselves 9 months earlier. It was a freezing morning, black as night but with stars shining and there wasn’t a puff of wind. We had been so blessed that the weather had held up for every day we had been on the mountain and this day was no different. There was a hush amongst the team as we quickly and quietly had something to eat and got ready. Everyone had at least 3-4 layers of clothing on, we had been advised to dress very warmly and as the day wore on shed the layers that were no longer needed. It’s hard to describe the feeling. Anticipation, excitement, nervousness, a certain level of exhaustion but at the same time a high amount of adrenaline had the team buzzing with energy. By 5am the call to move out came and we began the hike to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. 
As I look back and try to recall the climb, the details blur in my mind. But what I do remember is the determined feeling to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Even when that foot slipped backwards on the scree. Even when taking a breath felt like trying to move a mountain. Even when the pressure the 45 degree angle of the mountain put on my body had my limbs screaming for relief. I was determined to keep going to ensure that all that financial, physical and mental preparation paid off. I won’t lie. There were more than a few moments that I really did wonder whether or not I would make it. The quote from Woody Allen that “Eighty percent of success is showing up” certainly did not apply on the mountain. I realised that “just showing up” only gives you a distant view of the mountain from the first gate. It was the focused preparation, effort and determination to achieve my goal that had gotten me to this point. I hoped that it would be this same effort and determination that would carry me the rest of the way. At one point I looked up from my feet and the feet in front of me. I still don’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. But all I could see was the agonizingly steep climb that I still had to navigate to reach the first summit. I hadn’t known until we were on the mountain that there are two recognised summits on Mt Kilimanjaro – Stella Point @ 5756m (18885ft) and Uhuru Peak @ 5895m (19341 ft). And given I couldn’t even see Uhuru and what was left to get to Stella looked almost impossible I doubted in that moment if I’d make either. 
But of course as the photos show, we made it – to both summits. The feeling of relief, gratitude, overwhelm and pure joy were almost surreal. As I write this post I can still feel the tingles of lingering emotion from just having accomplished a feat that I had never even thought would be one I would attempt, let alone conquer, in my lifetime. 
So what did I learn that day? Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro was not about getting to the summit. The summit was a common goal we shared as a team to mark the end (or beginning) of our journey. But the journey to get there and the journey that has begun since then is really what life is all about. I also learned that success in life is about more than just showing up. Showing up is the start of the journey…after that the work starts…after that the rewards come. Life really is about the journey of growth we go on in order to achieve our goals. My goals act as milestones along my journey of life and what I take with me along the journey to improve myself and serve others is what fulfills me and fills me with love and happiness. 
Day 6 Statistics Start: Barafu Camp @ 4673m (15331 ft) Stop: Uhuru Peak @ 5895m (19341 ft) Distance: 5km (3 miles) Time: ~7-8hrs Start: Uhuru Peak @ 5895m (19341 ft) Finish: Mweka Camp @ 3068m (10065 ft) Distance: 12km (7 miles) Time: ~4-6hrs 7 Days of Leadership Lessons from Mt Kilimanjaro (Day 1) 7 Days of Leadership Lessons from Mt Kilimanjaro (Day 2) 7 Days of Leadership Lessons from Mt Kilimanjaro (Day 3) 7 Days of Leadership Lessons from Mt Kilimanjaro (Day 4) 7 Days of Leadership Lessons from Mt Kilimanjaro (Day 5) 7 Days of Leadership Lessons from Mt Kilimanjaro (Day 7)
As I look back and try to recall the climb, the details blur in my mind. But what I do remember is the determined feeling to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Even when that foot slipped backwards on the scree. Even when taking a breath felt like trying to move a mountain. Even when the pressure the 45 degree angle of the mountain put on my body had my limbs screaming for relief. I was determined to keep going to ensure that all that financial, physical and mental preparation paid off. I won’t lie. There were more than a few moments that I really did wonder whether or not I would make it. The quote from Woody Allen that “Eighty percent of success is showing up” certainly did not apply on the mountain. I realised that “just showing up” only gives you a distant view of the mountain from the first gate. It was the focused preparation, effort and determination to achieve my goal that had gotten me to this point. I hoped that it would be this same effort and determination that would carry me the rest of the way. At one point I looked up from my feet and the feet in front of me. I still don’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. But all I could see was the agonizingly steep climb that I still had to navigate to reach the first summit. I hadn’t known until we were on the mountain that there are two recognised summits on Mt Kilimanjaro – Stella Point @ 5756m (18885ft) and Uhuru Peak @ 5895m (19341 ft). And given I couldn’t even see Uhuru and what was left to get to Stella looked almost impossible I doubted in that moment if I’d make either. But of course as the photos show, we made it – to both summits. The feeling of relief, gratitude, overwhelm and pure joy were almost surreal. As I write this post I can still feel the tingles of lingering emotion from just having accomplished a feat that I had never even thought would be one I would attempt, let alone conquer, in my lifetime. So what did I learn that day? Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro was not about getting to the summit. The summit was a common goal we shared as a team to mark the end (or beginning) of our journey. But the journey to get there and the journey that has begun since then is really what life is all about. I also learned that success in life is about more than just showing up. Showing up is the start of the journey…after that the work starts…after that the rewards come. Life really is about the journey of growth we go on in order to achieve our goals. My goals act as milestones along my journey of life and what I take with me along the journey to improve myself and serve others is what fulfills me and fills me with love and happiness. Day 6 Statistics Start: Barafu Camp @ 4673m (15331 ft) Stop: Uhuru Peak @ 5895m (19341 ft) Distance: 5km (3 miles) Time: ~7-8hrs Start: Uhuru Peak @ 5895m (19341 ft) Finish: Mweka Camp @ 3068m (10065 ft) Distance: 12km (7 miles) Time: ~4-6hrs 7 Days of Leadership Lessons from Mt Kilimanjaro (Day 1) 7 Days of Leadership Lessons from Mt Kilimanjaro (Day 2) 7 Days of Leadership Lessons from Mt Kilimanjaro (Day 3) 7 Days of Leadership Lessons from Mt Kilimanjaro (Day 4) 7 Days of Leadership Lessons from Mt Kilimanjaro (Day 5) 7 Days of Leadership Lessons from Mt Kilimanjaro (Day 7)
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