tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36376233996161370362024-02-20T20:23:37.226+01:00CEO POSITIONSProducing Thought Leaders.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.comBlogger330125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-63319224490690261402016-10-10T12:41:00.004+02:002016-10-12T12:41:25.066+02:00Climbing History<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: inherit;"><b>Tibet/China (2016):</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: inherit;">Cho Oyu (8202m) normal route, with supplemental Oxygen</span><br />
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: inherit;">Grossglockner (3798m), normal route</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #212121; font-family: inherit;">Vincentpyramide (4215m),</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #212121; font-family: inherit;">Balmenhorn (4167m),</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #212121; font-family: inherit;">Ludwigshöhe (4341m),</span></span><br />
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<b>Argentina/Chile (2013/2014):</b></div>
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Aconcagua to 6000m (weather), False Polish Route</div>
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Aconcagua to 6500m, False Polish Route</div>
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<b>France: </b></div>
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Montblanc du Tacul (4248m)</div>
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Cosmic Grat (3842m, IV)</div>
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<b>Russia (2005):</b></div>
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Elbrus (5642m)</div>
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<b>Nepal (2005):</b></div>
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Manaslu Trek (5630m)</div>
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<b>Tansania (2002):</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kilimanjaro (5895m)</span></div>
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-76323420365116713342016-10-08T12:40:00.000+02:002016-10-10T12:56:51.454+02:00Acknowledgments<div style="color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe WP', Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><b>Clearly,</b></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> expedition success is group work. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="en-GB"><b>A big thank you</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="en-GB"> goes to my parents and brothers for being role models. </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Their examples allow me to do things at 60 that others can only dream of. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="en-GB">My parents raised the bar for their children by being fit, healthy and sporty at the age of 86 and 92. </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">In the last years, they did trekking in Turkey, went skiing in Switzerland and traveled to Namibia for star-gazing. They taught us the love for mountains, for snow and for the discipline to reach the top under tough conditions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><b>My heartfelt thanks</b></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> and admiration to my son Paul who took my job in the weeks of my absence. He took over with courage and a mix of sensitivity, innovation and group spirit. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="en-GB">He is one of the reasons that I slept well on the mountain and was not worried. </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Although his area of expertise is slightly different - he graduated from the LSE in Politics and Communications and is about to specialize in War Studies - his knowledge was very welcome to us and will give us a fresh view on our methodologies and business conduct. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><b>My team at CEO Positions</b></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> deserves lots of praise for taking over the firm with calmness and confidence. I have to say that this is the third time in five years for me to disappear into regions of the world where communication is impossible. Making independent decisions is essential and I am very grateful that my excellent team is so skilled, courageous and disciplined to do great work in times of my absence. Thank you! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>My friends</b></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> supported me with uplifting messages whenever we could push some bits and bytes over the Internet. I have been "eating" these messages like food for my mental and physical health, and they were very, very nourishing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><b>Paul Koller</b></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> in Kitzbühel trained with me on the glacier and inspected/improved my equipment with a number of important elements that were extremely helpful under way. Claudia Werner in Murnau helped me to prepare mentally for the project. The expedition head and his guides always knew I was 'cruising'. They knew I was on track all the time, thanks, Claudia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><b>My direct teammates</b></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> Billi, Stefan, Thomas, Marie Krystelle and Rob were amazingly helpful and good friends, always approachable for questions, and ready for a joke or a hug. Thanks, what a pleasure!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Unfortunately,</b></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> the expedition head does not want to be mentioned by name. I would like to thank him in particular.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-21160217227660521842016-10-07T12:39:00.000+02:002016-10-10T12:56:36.987+02:00Three Lessons Learned<div style="color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe WP', Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-GB">Valid for the thin air of the board room too!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-GB"><b>If you fail</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-GB"> to achieve a goal once, do not lower your ambitions. Set them higher! I had failed on Mount Aconcagua twice and normally that makes you seek your next goal at lower altitude. I did the opposite and succeeded. It is like being rejected at a job interview. If, after rejection, you select the next position at lower function and salary levels, you start a downwards spiral that can lead to despair. The rejection may have been unrelated to you, but you take it personal and lose faith into your abilities. It is technically possible to succeed on the higher level, if the preparation is accordingly.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-GB"><b>No health compromise.</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-GB"> Everything that takes focus from the process to reach the top is detrimental to your health. Don't take pills to avoid mountain sickness or to boost your energy, they dilute your natural instincts. I used natural substances like ginseng, ginger, caffeine, cardamom and chili. It worked really well. Diarrhea vanishes by itself and headaches can be reduced with proper breathing. I have been using supplemental oxygen because it is natural, has no side-effects and it reduces risk to lose brain cells or fingers/toes.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-GB"><b>If someone offers</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-GB"> to carry part of your load, give it away. No one measures your success by the weight of your backpack. I have seen this in particular with women who are proud to carry heavy loads. Make your life easier, it is tough enough on the top. In general, ability counts. Age or gender are just mind-clogging assumptions. I hope that my example of climbing my first 8000er right after my 60th birthday inspires others to be adventurous regardless of age!</span></span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-63560394257635109592016-10-06T12:31:00.000+02:002016-10-12T12:38:53.803+02:00Down to Earth<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">My body and mind</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> behave like after a car crash. I have survived unharmed, but my system is under shock. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Hours go by in slow motion. I need 45 minutes to empty my backpack. Without noticing it, I speak German with my English colleagues. At night, I dream bits and pieces as if my mind would do garbage collection, sleep as such is very light. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">My sense of balance is severely distorted and I can only walk a few steps as if I had been in the hospital and would now return to a normal environment. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">It is difficult to eat much and to drink much, as we have been advised. I develop what I would call 'de-acclimatization symptoms': Half-day diarrhea, a light cough, light nausea, gasping for air at night (symptoms I did not have at arrival). </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">When the first group</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> of colleagues is heading to Lhasa in an advance group, I immediately decide to join them. I must go down. After a dreadful half-day walk we are luckily being picked up by a minibus and a driver who takes us to Lhasa in two days. The first views into a mirror are better than expected, but interestingly that changes and I loose around 6 pounds in Lhasa overnight and look absolutely terrible. We eat all day, but the low point for my body comes around day 5/6 after summit. Interestingly, I never had sour muscles or other known symptoms after mountaineering. This here is different, more of a 'system threat'. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><b>After a week </b>I have the first relaxed night with deep sleep and continue to sleep well since then. Still, I find reading difficult (me, of all people). I forget numbers and don't calculate well. Also, when things are getting more complex mentally, I want to check out of the situation and ignore it. I know there is research about these symptoms and that the brain cells build up again, but it is quite remarkable to experience it. I do hope that it holds true for my skin cells, too. Without lamenting too much, the strain is visible on my body and face, unfortunately.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">People in the 8000er</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> business experience less of these symptoms or have faster recovery routines, it seems. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">In the meantime my digestive system has adapted to super spicy Asian food and I have no cravings except for Nespresso, Apples and Pumpernickel, Swiss Cheese Fondue and a bottle of Champagne.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-53096354909038755452016-10-05T12:34:00.000+02:002016-10-10T12:56:04.594+02:00A Man's World<div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><b>First,</b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> I wondered what these motionless figures were doing up on the hill, looking down on our camp and tents. Chinese policemen watching our camp life? After some days it became clear. These were ordinary climbers, peeing into the landscape. Their toilet tents were ten meters away but they did not care. The same happened in Camp 2. When I opened the zipper to a beautiful sunny early morning, a man was standing in front, doing his thing. Two very big toilet holes had been built the other day in close proximity. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span lang="en-GB"><b>Cho Oyu</b></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span lang="en-GB"> is a mountain without strict rules for garbage and personal relief, unfortunately. People even defecate on the summit, which I find extraordinary tasteless because for some the summit is a religious place. </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A church is to be kept free of this. Like in the boardroom, the more women participate in the life at the top, the more cultural conventions must change. Another example is the telling of extraordinary sexist jokes in our ABC tent after dinner. During the long wait for the weather window the after dinner conversation deteriorated by the day. Our expedition could have made a real difference, since we were 5 women out of 11 climbers, but we, women, calmed down and said nothing. Let the guys have their fun (at our expense). That was a huge mistake and I truly regret not to have raised my voice. I did not want to be the old spoilsport, obviously. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><b>Women at the top</b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> have a clear responsibility to moderate cultural changes (these are just two examples). We should also raise our voice for better equipment. We need backpacks that are suited for smaller waists and backs, but can carry heavy loads as well. We need longer down jackets to protect our kidneys and hips, but with the same amount of downs per inch like the men to keep us warm. We need expedition boots that do not destroy our finger nails when opening or closing. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span lang="de-CH">The list is longer but you get the point.</span></span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-62216742968426933832016-10-04T12:25:00.000+02:002016-10-10T12:55:44.068+02:00A Mistake<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">After returning</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> from the summit to Camp 2, we bring back our oxygen bottles, masks and regulators, and settle for the night (I will not say we slept, still at 7'200m). Around ten in the morning we have packed our backpacks once again and start the long, long descent to ABC. We <span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">descended</span> in teams of three, while my Sherpa Padawa is already busy on his second summit climb with one of my colleagues (unbelievable, those guys). </span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Soon we reach</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> the ice wall. A blue and a yellow rope leads downwards and we pull to see which rope is weightless and free to use. After a while it is my turn. I start to abseil and search for the 'Z' shaped curve in the 30+ meter of rope zigzagging down the heavily ice covered rock. Something is wrong. My harness does not distribute my hanging body weight under my body but concentrates it over my body, all around my stomach. It takes my breath away. Instead of sitting with my legs in the harness during the abseil, I feel like strangling myself at the sternum. Whenever I loosen the ATC to lower myself on the rope, it gets worse and I stumble a meter downwards. Higher up, my colleagues start to pull on the rope to test if I am finished. It further cuts into my chest, I yell 'stop', 'au' as loud as possible. Lowering myself more, my backpack suddenly rolls over and turns me on my back like an insect. I have lost the 'Z' track, legs in the air. Not good at all. </span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">An Italian climber</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> ropes up. I ask him for help. He cannot reach me, but instructs me how to roll my body back into track, including backpack. Then a colleague from below tells me step for step where to put my feet. He is very calm and reassuring. "You can do that. Come on. Here is a good step. Lower your right foot. Lower. Here. Now the left." Thank you, thank you. It takes 30 minutes until I have released the rope for the next climber and attached myself to the following rope. Breathing again, I quickly try to catch up with my peer group. Later I see that I have attached the leg stripes of my harness over my legs instead of under my legs during a quick pee break above the ice wall. Still secure, but extremely uncomfortable in its consequences. On we go. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Soon we reach</b> Camp 1, take on more
luggage, continue to Lake Camp and arrive in full darkness at 8 pm somewhere
near ABC. Other Sherpas have seen our head lamps from there. They come to guide
us home, bring us a bottle of Coke into the glacier. Dorje Sherpa takes my hand
and firmly guides me the last two kilometres through the snowy slippery rocks
into ABC. Dinner is ready. I am back safe.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-76332053921347021892016-10-03T10:12:00.000+02:002016-10-10T12:55:18.241+02:00The Hard Part<b>On all 8,000m summits</b>, most people die on the return. Some have calculated their energy reserves assuming it would be easy to go down. Others fall into some sort of euphoria, make mistakes and pay a terrible price for it later. I am just simply longing for a short break. I want to take the mask off quickly to blow my nose, I want to look around, I want to take pictures, I want to eat/drink and just rest. Please.<br />
<br />
<b>My Sherpa Padawa</b> turns me around and sends me down. "Go down! Go! Don't take things off!" I turn around and go down. This is easier than going up, but now each step is heavier than the one before. We reach the rock wall, the abseiling is not nice but relatively fluid. May I sit down here? Padawa shakes his head. He draws my mask to the side and pours some water into my throat. "Go!"<br />
<br />
<b>I become slower</b> and less concentrated. Wherever two fixed ropes meet, Padawa and I get into conflict. I start to make mistakes, like unclipping the security first and then attaching it to the new rope. Padawa becomes impatient and shouts at me. I must concentrate better. The route seems endless and steep. Another transition between ropes. Again I make a mistake. Padawa shouts.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVbjWR8HcAyL6No0Ry0ZXnCpIkPPohIFa1a2xGQ-RpHuSgGEOv8lHEvegC1ZEjsOdtN5orlrZMqCZFQRwCamgJedA7aYwK29rVlzLWy2uPYHvb4Q0I__b06nJQEUUVwkLnprHo4971Zcw/s1600/IMG_4946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVbjWR8HcAyL6No0Ry0ZXnCpIkPPohIFa1a2xGQ-RpHuSgGEOv8lHEvegC1ZEjsOdtN5orlrZMqCZFQRwCamgJedA7aYwK29rVlzLWy2uPYHvb4Q0I__b06nJQEUUVwkLnprHo4971Zcw/s640/IMG_4946.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Other climbers are following</b> from higher up and hear his criticism. I feel awful. "Padawa, I am doing my best. Sorry." My mind is getting tired. I am not interested in ropes and clipping techniques now! "Sorry" is perhaps the most used word on my way down. I go on.<br />
<br />
<b>After five hours of descent </b>and sixteen hours without break in total we reach the last 100 meters above Camp 1. Clouds have come up but visibility is still good. It is pressingly hot. I can barely walk. I see faces of friends further down. I want to be with them, but my legs don't function. I convince myself that Padawa considers me just another one of those tourists whose technical and body powers are insufficient for the 8,000m business.<br />
<br />
<b>Then I sit </b>on my bottom and slide down. I am fully aware that it is incorrect and dangerous, not at the least because of the crampons on my feet. But correctness and honor I have given up on before. I slide carefully down and walk the last 20 meters in maybe 10 minutes.<br />
<br />
<b>Then I reach Camp 2</b> and my tent. I smile. Someone takes my crampons off and congratulates me. Padawa has disappeared a while earlier.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-28754037111913233312016-09-30T10:08:00.000+02:002016-10-06T10:12:52.669+02:00Summiting<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Just when I am ready</b> to let go of my summit goal, a small weather windows opens. We bring up our gear to Camp 2 and go to sleep, three people per tent. At 10 pm I rise, melt snow for hot water, put heat pads on feet, back and hands, dress fully and go out with head torch, accompanied by best wishes from my tentmates. Thank you! </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Fellow climbers are out</b>, no one talks. Backpacks with Oxygen bottles ready, masks on face, harness, crampons, - go! A line forms quickly. My Sherpa Padawa is leading. After 2 minutes I step aside, exasperated, sweating, extremely embarrassed, heart pounding, mask hanging aside. Either I can make changes to my clothes or I will break down and return in the next minute. My Sherpa is angry but helps. Then he forces me to overtake all the people who have passed in the meantime in deep snow. It works. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Padawa climbs left of me</b>, I cannot not see him. He issues commands in the dark and watches out. I progress in a straight line upwards, following other climbers identified by the brand of their shoes or harness in the light of the head torches. All I focus upon is my breath. One foot upwards = four counts of breath. Can I recover with this pattern? Good. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>I go from fixed rope to fixed rope. </b>The rock band is easy to climb. Then I see Orion right above me. I am now following Orion, my favorite star sign, into the sky. Sunset on the left hand side and the first mountain top bathed in sunlight on the right hand side. A quick picture, please! "Go, go, go". Now I need five breaths per footstep. Padawa turns my oxygen supply one notch up. The steps are big and made by men for men. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>"Sunglasses on!"</b> Padawa hisses at me. Clip out of the last, clip into the next fixed rope. I start to see the way ahead, but must better watch my step. I am a machine now, can still count. One, extend Jumar on rope, breathe, three, four, foot into next big snow step, one. I may not look around. My brain is empty. The snow varies between hard and soft. Padawa gives me more oxygen. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>If there is a point to give up</b>, then now. I am getting tired. In hindsight this must have been the point where we have entered the 8,000m death zone. I know now that I will reach the top. Breathe, Jumar, two, three, four, step. Move foot. Move Jumar. It is very bright around me. Move. Breathe, one, two, three, four, move foot. "Don't look up!" Padawa from the left. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>I am on the summit plateau now. </b>Now more fixed rope. It seems endless. Don’t fall. Move. Breathe. It is very cold. Move. "There is Everest," says Padawa from the left. I look up and see my fellows. I have arrived.<br />
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNemqc8HnmkjxWCeBzSJWPx2PKFF0WDl3EUGCWvX__DnhpNeVHmFpAS3i82ZAVCHZboEgsIKz4yfBtRkO9FA0nwlQD095F3fCEAYz9zCGOQRpeS66hA3o08-6FWHF5CCE9sHcKnH6M5Ql2/s1600/IMG_4940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNemqc8HnmkjxWCeBzSJWPx2PKFF0WDl3EUGCWvX__DnhpNeVHmFpAS3i82ZAVCHZboEgsIKz4yfBtRkO9FA0nwlQD095F3fCEAYz9zCGOQRpeS66hA3o08-6FWHF5CCE9sHcKnH6M5Ql2/s640/IMG_4940.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>I see Everest 20 kilometers away.</b> We embrace. I want to get rid of the mask and take a picture. "No," says Padawa, "I do it." Quickly we line up. I am too slow to throw my arm up in victory. May I sit down and pause, please. No. "Go down now."</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-35575613153659862542016-09-29T11:29:00.000+02:002016-10-06T10:12:39.551+02:00A Loss of Energy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_zPGIpx-LiWMd-xAEDMLiiW3uRHhVQ9OCGTTSKVaMux2tj8SdGT2DHBBLAjgRGQ-PJB3gSMv7ag6-UW6J5H9xfr0B7JIYCerdb_4BNsLjjIl11njcvYQIJ36W9kDpG6vhyVrfzBgFSny/s1600/IMG_4951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_zPGIpx-LiWMd-xAEDMLiiW3uRHhVQ9OCGTTSKVaMux2tj8SdGT2DHBBLAjgRGQ-PJB3gSMv7ag6-UW6J5H9xfr0B7JIYCerdb_4BNsLjjIl11njcvYQIJ36W9kDpG6vhyVrfzBgFSny/s640/IMG_4951.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The longer we wait</b> for a weather window in Advanced Basecamp, the more I get scared that my good spirits and energy reservoirs will empty. It has been snowing outside my tent all day, the skies are cloudy; higher up a nasty wind is blowing. We get good food,porridge and eggs in the morning; there are salad, potatoes and baked beans for lunch, and at dinner baked chicken and vegetables are served. I sleep ten to eleven hours a night. I force myself to an hour of Yoga in my tent every day (glad that no one can see me because the tent is small and I have to adapt the postures to the size of the tent. It looks very funny, that much is certain!). I wear a cap or headband day and night; I protect my throat with a buff. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Despite all this</b> I feel awful on my daily walks into the direction of Camp 1. Even without backpack, I am short of breath, I am slow, my arms and legs feel weakened by altitude. The curiosity and innocence of the first rotation to the Ice Wall is gone. The ascent seems longer and more tedious than ever, given that we now have heavy snow and wind. We don't know when the day of departure for the summit will be. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>For the moment</b>, it even seems to require too much effort to apply any kind of positive thinking. Yes, it would be fantastic if I could jump up and down in the snowfall and find everything exciting. But it is a lot of work to positively ignore the adverse conditions. At the same time I wonder if it is even necessary. Conditions are what they are. The only thing I can do is to continue with my routine and not get depressed by negative thoughts about any diminished chances to reach my goal. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>I decide</b> to break the summit goal down into smaller chunks. Now, my goal is to reach Camp 1 again in the coming days and to have enough energy left to build a dry and warm place to sleep with warm food and water for myself. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Thinking of business</b>, energy-draining situations of 'treading water' occur quite often. It is an art to relax and save energy while treading water. More often than not, we want to cut the Gordic Knot and break through. But with these acts of desperation we typically only hurt ourselves and weaken our position considerably. Imagine thatI would decide to end the waiting game at ABC, regardless of the weather and run up the hill tomorrow morning. Laying out a path in knee-high snow would be very tiresome. The wind would test my endurance. I would arrive wet and likely quite cold. There is a small chance that I would meet the perfect weather window the next day, but I might be too exhausted then to take advantage of it.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-72545613926550905282016-09-28T12:00:00.000+02:002016-10-07T17:54:05.143+02:00Global Summits and Silos<div style="text-align: justify;">
"<b>I don't like</b> how the Chinese put their garbage everywhere. They bring up this giant tent for around 50 people to Camp 1 and when they leave, the place looks like a disaster." We have just arrived at camp. A minute later, the Chinese expedition head brings a 10-litre Thermos with super hot water and refills our bottles. This is totally unexpected and very very welcome. I realize that the Chinese Thermos is beautifully colored. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>There are many more expeditions</b> on Cho Oyu this fall 2016, it is a true global summit. Mountaineers from China, India, Chechnya, the US, Italy, France, Austria, Switzerland, Peru and, of course, from England (they 'invented mountaineering') share a goal which is pursued individually and in very different ways. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Working together </b>in global companies is a bit like this. You are organized separately, share some but not all information about your plans and visit each other occasionally. In fact, we have been encouraged not to invite visitors into our camp and in no way to share information about our weather info or the final ascent strategy (ABC to Camp 1 on day 1, Camp 1 to Camp 2 on day 2, sleep until 10 pm, start at 11 pm from Camp 2 to summit on day 3, return to Camp 2 immediately and spend the night, descend from Camp 2 to ABC in one long descent.) </div>
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<b><br /></b>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>These strategies vary widely</b>, and I think it is good that they vary and are linked to the expedition’s nationality and culture. Two people from the US booked their flights from California to Lhasa only after they found the perfect weather window, arrived in ABC on day 1, went up on Oxygen from ABC to Camp 2 on day 2, summited the next day and skied down immediately, returned to ABC on the same day and had a Jeep waiting in Noodle Camp on day 4, flying back to the US on day 5. For me, this approach has nothing to do with experiencing this particular mountain or Tibet and the Himalayas. It can only be done with Oxygen and has a lot to do with the small number of vacation days in the US. The Italians are friendly and relaxed. The French’s attitude of superiority isolates them. The guy from Peru brings his flute and played in the afternoon. The Austrians offer the best coffee. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Of course</b>, these observations are just mine. The level of cooperation between expedition heads was very selective and limited. There was one meeting among the Sherpa from all teams who organized a joint effort to install the fixed ropes (indispensable to define and install the way up and down). That was essential. Within global organizations, information sharing and joint initiatives in corporations is widely sought ("Break down the silos!") and I wonder whether this is realistic. It may be enough to share a common goal and to do some 'rope fixing'.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-26754702582445422062016-09-26T14:00:00.000+02:002016-10-05T11:39:19.504+02:00Into Trouble…<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>A Chinese climber</b> who was dressed for a light trekking (sneakers and anorak), tried to climb the 100m vertical Ice Wall yesterday without ice axe and other technical gear. After several unsuccessful attempts, he walked into Camp 1 and asked various people if he could sleep in their tent. Ultimately, he spent the night in a crevasse. The next morning, a number of Sherpa escorted him back down the mountain to ABC where he was received by Chinese military. He seemed to have no climbing permit (roughly 5,000 USD). The same day, an independent Swedish climber who had been treated for High Altitude Sickness some days ago was spotted with a huge backpack on the 'killler slope', desperately trying to reach Camp 1. 'A walking dead', says one of our guides. We did not hear if he is well or what happened to him. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The effort </b>to rescue climbers who underestimate the mountains is extraordinarily high. Especially here, on the Himalayan North side, helicopter rescues are impossible. How far would you go to help someone who has not listened to doctors' advice or who does not play by the rules? The hard line is: "Get yourself into trouble, get yourself out of trouble." The soft line is "If I have free resources, I will lend a hand." The American line seems to be "If you pay me 5,000 USD now, I will take you out of here professionally." </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TrMS8bSNuiUxMFqovUT_6bhXPM6QG4GdraqBb0KGoRWL_A3ooPkxLQ8szeBizuOcftIKGhEMEkL0F4VazqJEEUYi0kAm8_Q02t2WzIi34vt-SAUwGNk4LUxLyGoAS7UARQ8GisgPWeYq/s1600/2016-09-19-PHOTO-00000050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TrMS8bSNuiUxMFqovUT_6bhXPM6QG4GdraqBb0KGoRWL_A3ooPkxLQ8szeBizuOcftIKGhEMEkL0F4VazqJEEUYi0kAm8_Q02t2WzIi34vt-SAUwGNk4LUxLyGoAS7UARQ8GisgPWeYq/s640/2016-09-19-PHOTO-00000050.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>As Group CEO</b> of an enterprise, comparable scenarios come to mind. There are always independent subsidiaries who get themselves into trouble because they have fancy business plans and lofty ideas. Should they get themselves out of trouble independently? It will take time and they may not be capable of it. The problem is that their results affect your bottom line. Basically, subsidiaries spend other people’s money. Their management's 'skin in the game' is very limited. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Here in the mountains</b>, these crazy guys described above do have 'skin in the game', they effectively risk their lives. But it does not prevent them from seeking fame in a very dangerous way, plus involving others for their rescue. So it seems that we touch traits that are inherent in individuals on both sides of the rescue: the desire for fame and human compassion on the side of the risk takers. The rescuers on the other side feel abused because they have to clean up the mess. Doing too many rescues for free unfortunately encourages people to risk more. That turns rescuers into cynics.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-34684038304030624772016-09-23T10:00:00.000+02:002016-10-05T11:37:57.013+02:00Dealing With Adversities<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Today was not my day</b> - it was supposed to be a rest day. First, my sunglasses got lost. Then, after lunch we had a sobering conversation about oxygen masks for summit day; we talked about experiencing more than minus 20 degrees up there, frozen water bottles and a guy who ended up without fingers. Not encouraging! Then, part of a filling in one of my upper right teeth fell out when I was chewing a sweet. Also not good! In the afternoon we watched an impressive, but depressing film about a drone strike in Somalia. On top of everything a slight diarrhea hit me. It is now snowing and my tent is covered with snow. So I am quite happy to finish the day, retreat to the tent. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LXE_vVQxF5ErzIR9u6pSULbs_luCT1PH-8BBksK6rDYZbqWgpbHjEaqD4brpP5-WJ7m3VwUF0hiBLuJXcuNC3Lm6pEsej41cZ7anXh63sM9WpuDvp86vfxbPa0NXQpsnX6dwu5eVJUge/s1600/2016-09-23-PHOTO-00000072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LXE_vVQxF5ErzIR9u6pSULbs_luCT1PH-8BBksK6rDYZbqWgpbHjEaqD4brpP5-WJ7m3VwUF0hiBLuJXcuNC3Lm6pEsej41cZ7anXh63sM9WpuDvp86vfxbPa0NXQpsnX6dwu5eVJUge/s640/2016-09-23-PHOTO-00000072.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b>
<b>I find it difficult</b> not to let these incidents influence my perception about my strength to reach the summit. The number of obstacles clouds my self-perception. As if every detail could undermine my ability to reach my goal, I tend to take these things personally and start thinking about the goal as such. Am I qualified? Are these signals? Am I prepared and experienced enough? And so on. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Things look much easier</b> when everything goes my way. But there is a general fault in my thinking: I take incidents personally, as if I were the center of the world and things would happen relative to me. This is false thinking. In business, it is quite the same. More often than not, an important contract negotiation coincides with bad quarterly numbers, with the defection of a key sales team, with a sick child at home. The ultimate responsibility lies with the CEO; this is the time when people ask question after question and expect instant solutions. Is this what they call leadership? Probably.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>What business leaders can learn</b> from top athletes is how to put the past behind and move on in obstacle-loaden situations. Think of a biathlete who misses a target, gets up and skates on. If the biathlete would analyze the last shot while skating and question her ability to win, nothing would be gained. The key difference between Olympic gold medal winners and also-runs is the ability to mentally let go of obstacles immediately. Something happens and instead of rationalizing it, the gold medalist deals with the fact, then brushes it aside forcefully. </div>
<br />
<b>The main point</b> is to avoid creating a downward spiral or cluster of incidents (for example, letting a glove fall because thoughts are elsewhere; or in business: forgeting your assistant’s birthday and not stopping at the red light, deep in thoughts). Stop it. Count positive things. Concentrate.<br />
<br />
<b>I count good things</b>: my tent is warm. My tooth does not hurt. I have an idea where to find my sunglasses. My broken pole was repaired, I am happy that the rock broke the pole and not my leg. I was able to send ten emails with blog entries. There is no storm outside. It is another rest day tomorrow. I have people around me who are thoughtful and interesting.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-23350642936917162032016-09-21T10:33:00.001+02:002016-09-21T10:34:57.152+02:00Sleeping Yourself To The Top<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Tonight</b>
I was sitting in a plane that had to land on water, found the dream apartment,
had my handbag stolen in a pub and witnessed a helicopter landing in a garden
with apple trees to investigate some kids. Having been on this expedition for
21 nights, you can imagine how lively my nightly entertainment program during
the other 20 nights has been so far. This morning the head Sherpa said:
"If you go into your sleeping bag with good thoughts, you sleep very well.
If you think of problems, you toss and turn every ten minutes and stay awake
all night." Well, so far I have had only one night of choppy sleep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Sleep
is important </b>out here, it may be the primary factor to stay healthy and to
recover from a day's challenges. Dreams are very intense and one is more likely
to remember them. Two other things have helped me in the past on other
expeditions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>The
first: </b>go to bed after dinner. That is around 7:30 pm; I use a hot water bottle
to warm up the sleeping bag, read or write a bit with my headtorch; then I
switch the light off and dream along. I wake up at around 6 am and daydream
until the sun rises and warms my tent a bit. Ten hours of sleep on a hard
isolation mat is a cure, seriously. My head gets emptier, 'cleaner' by the day.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>The
second thing </b>that helps is the digital detox forced upon us. No digital
information reaches me at the moment to fill the empty head. Not easy, I have
to admit. But I brought two non-fiction books on the intersection of economics,
philosophy and religion. At the moment, there is nothing better than to watch a
sky full of stars (how long has it been that you have watched the Milky Way
under no time pressure?), to slip into my tent, warm up and read about the old
Egyptians' ideas on accounting. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Imagine</b>
that you are a CEO who sleeps/dreams ten hours per night without any digital
clutter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">PS:
I just had the worst night ever! Maybe the full moon? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-57501518016246485882016-09-21T10:31:00.002+02:002016-09-21T10:35:34.587+02:00Age And Strategy<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>The
first time</b> I clashed with our expedition head was when we were sitting around a
beautifully colored low quadrat Tibetan restaurant table and I wanted to take a
group picture. It was at the beginning of the expedition and all 12 climbers
had gathered. "No pictures! Don't do that ever. Ever again," he shouted
at me. I had seriously angered him. What was so bad about a group picture and
why was I publicly humiliated? In the coming days I felt dominated by his
detailed instructions, I felt handled like a kid by explanations about the way
ahead of us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhL6BDmpxS0a_6KauW_5slNYaVAirzJleoUYvKcbeeMaVftrRhS4_ONVG74_-jefiAT_3OPh1hfznt3ur4BDVv0PLSdxa1c0hNqra7jHnrN4SN3QqKKjdA1sdaFbLlkuQTPITRov_F2Af/s1600/IMG_2279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhL6BDmpxS0a_6KauW_5slNYaVAirzJleoUYvKcbeeMaVftrRhS4_ONVG74_-jefiAT_3OPh1hfznt3ur4BDVv0PLSdxa1c0hNqra7jHnrN4SN3QqKKjdA1sdaFbLlkuQTPITRov_F2Af/s640/IMG_2279.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>We
had all been members</b> of other expeditions, please. I found the man old-style at
72, his way of moving things forward seemed extremely slow. It seemed strange
that he, too, wanted to summit a Himalayan peak of 8'202 meters. "Does he
really want to do it?" we asked ourselves. We looked at his outdated
equipment and clothing with many patches, a huge contrast to our ultra-modern
neon-colored anoraks, boots and harnesses. On acclimatization walks he forced
us to move super slowly, two fellow climbers got repelled by having
climbed "too high". He seemed to ignore technology. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Having
assumed his role</b> was that of Chairman or Head of a Supervisory Board, he had
appointed two co-CEOs who were leading small teams of 4 to 6 people. Over the
coming days, we watched him refraining from the other team members, preferring
to talk to his CEOs in private. He received them in his tent and did not share
meals with the group. The CEOs communicated the order of the day(s), and it
looked like the Board of Directors was executing a strategy and preparing
things in the background like the gear and tent transport to high camps. By
now, as he had observed and assessed our strengths and technical skills, he
focused on other things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Over
the last days</b> I realized that our group stood out in the following way: we had
lost zero climbers; we were climbing independently but in a coordinated way; we
had amazing Sherpa support regarding tents, fuel and food; we had zero
discussion about strategy; we trusted our leader; we had fantastic CEOs.
Plus, we were not slower than other groups! On the contrary, we were a bit
ahead of other expeditions time-wise. One sunny rest day morning I met the
Chairman in the kitchen tent drinking Chai and chatting with the Sherpas (some
of them had worked for him more than 20 years). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>I
was allowed</b> to ask the Chairman one question per day (!). So my question that
day was: "What does age/experience add to strategy?" His
immediate answer: "Lateral thinking. The reason I was not friendly with
you in the beginning was that I know you are used to being in command. I had to
stop that. I have been here ten times. I look at every detail through a lens of
years of experience and think it through laterally, talking only to some
selected people. My executive plan is very flexible, it may change every day
depending on your condition, on the weather or on the supply chain." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Lesson
learned! </b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">But I could not help to add a second question,- what about the ban of
group pictures? As it turns out, group pictures should only be done after a
successful return. More often than not, the group is decimated due to
illnesses, accidents or even deaths. Another lesson learned.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></div>
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-73094906552606623812016-09-20T15:37:00.003+02:002016-10-10T12:44:41.714+02:00The Great Question - Why?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>On a stroll</b> through Advanced Base Camp with its 120 tents
or so I hear a flute being played and go closer. A kid from Peru is playing,
accompanied by iPhone music, his friend from New Delhi and a portable satellite
hotspot close by. They lend me their hotspot to send some pictures, offer me a
chair and we talk. Why are they here? Why are they attracted by 8'000ers? They
laugh and say: "Look around you - isn't this the best place on earth right
now? The glaciers, the mountains, the clouds and the sunlight? We love to be
here. There is no comparison with a desk in an office building." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>But, I dig deeper,</b> isn't this best place on earth
combined with a lot of suffering? The extreme cold, the undeniable exhaustion,
the remarkable limitations of comfort, the threats of nature? Again, they laugh
and say: "What suffering? Suffering
would be to sit at that desk in the Delhi office building from nine to
five. Suffering would be to have a predefined schedule without joy and with too
many chores. How can you suffer here? Look at the mountain - it is a beauty.
Climbing it is so relaxing and fun."</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_BNW-4F4hplJcDhE5FSjFC3vfKQ8_gQtsWr-p2_7x5Q5sDKuyS1whkWFr1Kf1R0sQHQFoUPOLb15Ts0oG1wa-QxfUDaTFlqRsNPzBHRSN-qz7XtolxyifZddxICQMkrtI2Wvc9MrghUe/s1600/IMG_5002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_BNW-4F4hplJcDhE5FSjFC3vfKQ8_gQtsWr-p2_7x5Q5sDKuyS1whkWFr1Kf1R0sQHQFoUPOLb15Ts0oG1wa-QxfUDaTFlqRsNPzBHRSN-qz7XtolxyifZddxICQMkrtI2Wvc9MrghUe/s640/IMG_5002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>As the Peruvian music continues to play</b> from the iPhone,
we chat along. I am thankfully offered an anorak against the afternoon cold
("Sorry, it might be smelly.")
After quite some time we agree that it is like with love. If you were
guaranteed the outcome of the 'push and pull' it would be boring. The
uncertainty is what we seek. We all search for 'the gold'. At the end it turns
out that the kid from New Delhi is a member of the Indian Young Presidents
Organization, a very prestigious club of successful young entrepreneurs around
the globe.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-12646248243183036022016-09-19T14:00:00.000+02:002016-10-07T17:54:17.071+02:00Big Data on a Big Mountain<div class="MsoPlainText">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>It is 6:38 in the morning</b> and the world around me is
still. The zipper of my tent makes noise as I pull it down to check the
weather. I see snow covered stones all around and a grey sky. How good that
tents are made from yellow plastic canvas. Yellow makes the inside of my little
tent appear warm and sunny, a welcome illusion as I slip back into my sleeping
bag. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The plan for today</b> is to bring up gear to 'Lake Camp', an
intermediate camp at the bottom of the 'killer slope' that leads to Camp 1.
Will the plan change according to the snow or are we going up nevertheless,
trusting that the gear will be brought up over the coming days? A very
experienced climber who lives in the area tells me that the Monsoon typically
returns for some days with rain and wind before a new season starts. Is that
it? What are the Sherpa saying? What data can we obtain from our weather
station in Bern, Switzerland? <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Two independent climbers</b> from India and Peru explain to
me that the distance between weather observatories in the Himalayas is around
500 km. Everything else in between is calculated and very unreliable. In
contrast, the Chinese weather
forecasting system is super accurate but is totally closed to the outside
world. To get tips, my informants made friends with some of the Chinese
climbers who apparently have access. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1knhvGXJ2G3Xn0F4kQEWjD2-TOOEPeR8qsyt0iJ7VEUKJc5LImqAQRHDnma7e7eky_8N6GrZU9TaOPnfPuDKTCRD7ge950TlwQDyOaNxQre-eXNTfdkIcEO_e1TpCiiQbtC7SO0fOTwJQ/s1600/16-08-30+VISIT+Susanne+Tibet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1knhvGXJ2G3Xn0F4kQEWjD2-TOOEPeR8qsyt0iJ7VEUKJc5LImqAQRHDnma7e7eky_8N6GrZU9TaOPnfPuDKTCRD7ge950TlwQDyOaNxQre-eXNTfdkIcEO_e1TpCiiQbtC7SO0fOTwJQ/s640/16-08-30+VISIT+Susanne+Tibet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>So the power of big data</b> becomes apparent at the
outskirts of civilization, too. The political aspect of data - make friends
with those who have access. The experiential aspect of data - rely on the
locals and their historic experience. The pragmatic aspect of data - watch the
target and if what you see is good, get going. The pricing aspect of data - the
price range for weather data differs between zero and 1'500 USD per month and
the quality does not increase with the price.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-89866064955674173342016-09-16T11:00:00.000+02:002016-09-20T15:48:19.829+02:00Today's Heroes<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>As I curl up</b> in my tent, daydreaming the bad weather away
- snow and rain interchange - the endless chatter from the mess tent reaches
through my earplugs. New climbers have arrived and it seems that all the
heroes' stories we have been listening to during the last ten days are now
repeated in front of the new audience. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwK2K8ygL8woY3uvIUaB_Uty2n4Q5mYJ7BqL1aMuFj9vhjGTr21LblhhxVfQ6OYJU6U61f_SBHDT3Ry-2UzPp9Uba_WfE8GNvkUW4OhKbeSOw4oJBDdNvqUPkzpYN31OgElvshMxxkwPkN/s1600/PIC+CEOP+Susanne+Tibet+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwK2K8ygL8woY3uvIUaB_Uty2n4Q5mYJ7BqL1aMuFj9vhjGTr21LblhhxVfQ6OYJU6U61f_SBHDT3Ry-2UzPp9Uba_WfE8GNvkUW4OhKbeSOw4oJBDdNvqUPkzpYN31OgElvshMxxkwPkN/s640/PIC+CEOP+Susanne+Tibet+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Although everyone agrees</b> that Everest is not a 'real'
mountain any more, people ironically and endlessly recall their attempts. Even
if they have only climbed to Camp 1, they have been there. The best survival
and rescue stories are told by those who were at basecamp in 2014 and 2015, the
years of the avalanche and the earthquake. They are survivors. Some have
written books about it and do motivational speaking. Of course, most keep their accounts to these small audiences
of fellow climbers in the mess tent. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>But I wonder</b> what makes it so important to talk about
past adventures. In an ideal world, the past has transformed you as a person
and the 'New You' shines, radiates, glows without a word needed. But this is
not an ideal world. We are a fairly average group of commercial climbers from
around the world with a limited number of 8'000 summits in our climbing
history, if at all. My stories are boring in comparison. But by telling them I
justify my being here. I gain strength from telling them in front of others, it
reinforces my belief that I can do these things.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>By telling stories</b>, time flies. We take ourselves out of
the present and delete some of the fear and uneasiness that we share but do not
confess. Storytelling is much hyped in
the corporate world, for the same reasons. But of course, it is more difficult
to tell corporate stories in a compelling way. Instead of avalanches, we deal
with stock exchange crashes, earthquakes that destroy factories and influence
delivery times. But in every business decision lies drama and behind every
decision is a hero whose story should and can be told.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-38356700601931378852016-09-14T12:30:00.000+02:002016-09-20T15:47:57.320+02:00Fundamental Support<div class="MsoPlainText">
<b>The strongest man</b> in our group suddenly goes into a kind
of mental crisis. We have just returned from our first trip to Camp 1 where we
spent three nights to acclimatize. We also climbed the Killer Slope and the Big
Ice Wall for the first time. On our way back to Advanced Base Camp I am quite
shocked how tired my body is. My legs and arms feel powerless, I get out of
breath with the slightest little hill on the way down. Walking as such is
tiresome and not fun at all. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<b>Our strongest man</b> arrives at mess tent in ABC, throws his
backpack into a corner, sits down and covers his face with his hands. "Why am I doing this?" he asks. He
has experienced the same body symptoms as I have, but of course as a more
aggressive person and not used to feeling weak and depleted. We all speak at
the table about what energizes us. Surprisingly, it is not food or liquids or
sleep. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<b>Quickly we realize</b> that the fundamental energizer is to
communicate with our loved ones at home. Parents, partners, children, siblings
and friends are absolutely essential to keeping us going. I am in the fortunate
situation to physically feel their support and motivation: in my sleeping bag,
while climbing and in occasional Whatsapp chats. When we reach our loved ones under
the dire circumstances of mobile or Internet communication at high altitude in
China, it changes the entire day. My appetite returns and I feel stronger
immediately. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZk9ek_MuQf8DAjI2Je7J1gAHNoHEPCsOUSxwkEjgGr8dhyphenhyphenv-Kc2IcqW6SqAphp6roQJ-DqRNLVehwvHKqzoxdH_fmQrHN5jIO9qj_ImHszDEfWUFYHKGQ2Dz1xi1Wvkyh3XLxkLVJ-tKC/s1600/PIC+CEOP+Susanne+Tibet+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZk9ek_MuQf8DAjI2Je7J1gAHNoHEPCsOUSxwkEjgGr8dhyphenhyphenv-Kc2IcqW6SqAphp6roQJ-DqRNLVehwvHKqzoxdH_fmQrHN5jIO9qj_ImHszDEfWUFYHKGQ2Dz1xi1Wvkyh3XLxkLVJ-tKC/s640/PIC+CEOP+Susanne+Tibet+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>In business</b>, it is absolutely the same, except that the
physics of communications are so much easier. But I wonder if we are aware of
the presence and the support of our loved ones when we feel empty and desperate
before or after an important presentation or negotiation. We might think that
they just don't understand the complexity of the business situation we are
dealing with. But is that really necessary? They know us best and their loving
feedback is independent from a detailed judgment of our situation. Does it
matter if I feel really bad at 5'700 or 6'400 meters?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-10501976881197139372016-09-12T10:00:00.000+02:002016-09-20T15:47:36.682+02:00The Importance of Rituals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtd-NXbz74GsQrxkjxK-vBnyGV_qKcZnzlG2J_aD0Xj0yzJdhxIwXxcdGNhr_wjPm05DTBfEsJw7a8hGCaAzy4yNUVjIjUW2hIdC7NJFL93v9QJtto6YTIGW5wJtCucYujvla88ECy6uJ/s1600/IMG_4696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtd-NXbz74GsQrxkjxK-vBnyGV_qKcZnzlG2J_aD0Xj0yzJdhxIwXxcdGNhr_wjPm05DTBfEsJw7a8hGCaAzy4yNUVjIjUW2hIdC7NJFL93v9QJtto6YTIGW5wJtCucYujvla88ECy6uJ/s640/IMG_4696.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Tomorrow will be the day</b> of the "Puja", when
the Sherpa prepare a traditional ceremony that asks the mountain for permission
to be climbed. Is it a tourist attraction that is performed for us because
travel books routinely describe it? At the moment it is hard to tell, a small
'altar' has already been built above our tents from stone. From the tent right
behind me monotonous mantra music has been played from a smart phone since last
night. It seems to be the tent of the guy who is kitchen boy on the one hand
but Lama on the other hand. He was humming along and it made me so nervous that
I fled into the glacier this morning for a walk. This afternoon the music has
changed to a version of Nepali Pop, not much better. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<b>I ask my fellow climbers</b> about Pujas. To my surprise,
they all take it very seriously. "Could we please all refrain from
swearing on the day of the Puja?" asks one Western guide. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<b>The ceremony</b> takes a lot of preparation and when it
finally takes place - all in Nepali - I am almost crying. Dry cedar burns, the
stone altar is beautifully decorated with deeds to the mountain, from handmade
dough figures to apples and Bounty bars. Rows of typical Tibetan flags span
into five directions. Our kitchen boy is the respected Lama, sitting in front
of the altar, singing mantras from a very old handwritten book that is covered
with coloured cloth. We must drink a small portion of Rum, throw dough into the
air all together and bring some of our gear to be blessed, like ice axes,
crampons or gloves. The ceremony ends and the kitchen boy hurries to prepare
lunch. Now we may approach the mountain. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>I wonder </b>if it would make a difference if we would hold a
small "Puja" in our office at the start of a project. Of course, I am
not thinking of a Tibetan-style ceremony, but of another form of informal
celebration, like sharing a special kind of tea and cake. We usually start and
end projects without a moment of emotional reflection at the beginning or
celebration at the end. A short pause is always good. Sending colleagues off to
a project would be much nicer if they saw that our thoughts are with them. I
would also hope that our clients feel more honoured.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-133125821231943022016-09-09T15:00:00.000+02:002016-09-20T15:47:14.589+02:00Just Sit There And Let It Happen<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The expedition team</b> has arrived at Advanced Basecamp
(5'700 meters). Unfortunately, the youngest climber had to return to 4'350m
because of severe headache and moutain sickness. It was an unexpected incident
and the 22 year old was quite embarrassed to have caused a change in logistics.
If he does not recover within two days he will be sent back home. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Acclimatization is tricky</b>, it requires a behavior we are
not used to. Instead of pushing forward and spending energy, acclimatization
asks for stillness and inaction. "You just sit there and let it
happen", says an experienced guide. The benefits of good acclimatization
are manifold: summiting is much more likely, you avoid brain and lung damage;
because of a better sense of balance, dangerous missteps don't occur. Thinking
of the business world, good acclimatization would be helpful when one reaches a
new altitude level. During the first days as CEO of a company or as a newly
elected board member, acclimatization would be a good thing. Typically, we do
the opposite and jump right in. We try to meet as many people as possible and
start speaking about the future. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>When I was elected</b> into my first board position, I tried
to prove my value to the company and said stupid things during that first board
meeting. I had almost no context and no real knowledge of previous initiatives
or the circumstances I was commenting upon. Whom did I shoot in the knee
involuntarily? Why did I take that risk? How much better would it have been to
"just sit there and let it happen."<br />
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<br /></div>
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<b>What makes "just sitting there" quite difficult
</b>is our desire to prove ourselves to a group of people; our aspiration to be
useful and proactive stands in the way. Also, first impressions count.
"Just sitting there" creates an unusual first impression, to say the
least. Reading about boardroom battles is a great means to acclimatizing to the
world of business summiting. Three cases come to mind: AOL, Enron and HP. There
is some good material available, if you would like to dig deeper: books like
"The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of
Enron" by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind, "Fools Rush In" by
Nina Munk, and "Dear Chairman: Boardroom Battles and the Rise of
Shareholder Activism" by Jeff Gramm.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-58413590030091119842016-09-08T11:13:00.002+02:002016-09-20T15:45:46.651+02:00Being First - Then and Now<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"<b>I get this email</b> from a woman from the UK with a 21 year old son who asks me about the youngest Brit on Everest. The youngest Brit was 16, I tell her. Her son is 21 and she desperately wants him to do a 'first' on Everest. Could he probably be the youngest Brit with a speed ascent? (A speed ascent means climbing in one go from base camp to summit and back.)She will send her child off with an expedition company called Alpenglow who charges between 100'000 and 130'000 USD for Everest. But Alpenglow doesn't do speed ascents, it only reduces the time for the trip as such, from 7 to 4 weeks. To acclimatize, you buy yourself a hypoxic tent to sleep in at home. Then you are helicoptered to basecamp and moved up the hill. I had to disappoint the woman. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Billi Bierling</b> is precise in her assessment. She maintains the largest and most comprehensive database of mountaineers who have climbed expedition peaks in the Himalayas since the beginning of high-altitude climbing in the sixties. This journalist, who lives in Kathmandu most of the year, has summited five 8000m peaks herself, so she clearly knows what she is speaking about. "Everything has been done, it is no longer special to climb Mount Everest", says Billi. "I get weird emails from people desperately trying to be first. Can you check for me, am I the first vegan, the first vet?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This is clearly not</b> how it all began. The Himalayan Database was started by an American journalist, Elizabeth Hawley, who, after travelling the world, decided to settle in Kathmandu in the sixties. There, she covered the first ascent of a US team on Everest in 1963 for Reuters. Hawley developed a unique hobby: she would go the airport and look at the boots of the passengers to spot the climbers. She took the climbers' details and recorded all expedition attempts and successes from the beginning.</span></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Over time</b>, she became an authority although she never claimed to be one. In 2004 her database was published in digital format; data entry and related discussions had taken around ten years. Hawley did it all on her own. The current database contains tens of thousands of records: all people, all attempts, all of the approx. 350 expedition peaks in Nepal, such as Everest, Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu. Per climber, the personal data is recorded, the expedition, the route, the sherpas, oxygen or not, accidents, deaths, and - in newer times, 'aviation assistance'.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Miss Hawley</b> had started the record- keeping with 6 Everest summiters in 1963 (with a success rate of 29.4%, excluding Sherpa) . Billi Bierling recorded 588 summiters in Spring 2016 (420 from the south side, 168 from the north, 74.5% success rate excluding Sherpa). Billi is happy to report a dramatically lower death rate between then and now (5.8% to1.2%).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>How did she get involved</b> with the Himalayan database? Billi met Hawley in 2001 when she attempted Baruntse with her boyfriend and visited the then 78 year old lady to be included into the database herself. One day, Billi decided to live in Kathmandu and wrote a letter to Miss Hawley: "Do you need help?" Hawley took her on as an assistant for 12 years, and when she stopped working at age 92 last year, Billi took over. Although she recognizes the power of data and the value of this historic account, she wants to keep the personal aspect. The Himalayan Database is not meant to be an anonymous online recording site.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
"<b>I want to meet all these people.</b> 30 years ago we talked to real mountaineers. Today we talk to people who do speed ascents. I want to take the historic value of the data into the future. What will always fascinate me is the people. For example, until now only six women have summited Everest without supplemental oxygen but this year alone we had two summiting without 'o'. They are two lovely women, and I had the privilege of meeting them all personally. I meet the best of the world."</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-38873937813940244442016-09-06T13:00:00.000+02:002016-09-20T15:43:05.422+02:00Budgeting for Risk<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><b>Commercial high-altitude expeditions</b> are like enterprise projects, however, with very risky budgeting aspects. In our case, for example, the return road to Kathmandu has been closed by the Chinese authorities which requires a costly flight back via Lhasa for 13 people. Other examples include expensive equipment that gets buried by an avalanche, or the ham and cheese for 30 days and 40 people (including Sherpas) banned from entering the country.<br /><br /><b>The biggest risk</b> is to fulfill the paying client's desire to reach the top. Commercial clients like us contribute considerable amounts of time and money;we have trained for months and most of us have jobs that do not allow for an expedition per year. We are doctors, teachers, journalists, civil servants or entrepreneurs. So what wonder is it that we would like to achieve the utmost possible? This aspect makes us a dangerous category of climbers. None of us would like to return after 46 days with nothing achieved.<br /><b><br />Just like</b> you can hedge for business risks but not prevent them, you can take certain provisions against bad weather or risk of avalanches, but not avoid them. That makes the role of the expedition leader difficult. The perhaps 50-70 high-altitude leaders from all over the world know/watch/cooperate with each other but also compare themselves by the number of clients they guide to the top and bring back to basecamp healthily.<br /><br /><b>Of course</b>, they feel the pressure of their clients' expectations. But not all fall prone to it. A very good leader summarized it here with a sense of super dry humor: "Better an angry client than a dead client. Too much paperwork!"</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-78451327877933295272016-09-05T14:00:00.001+02:002016-09-20T15:42:52.502+02:00Fear of going slowly<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><b>It is the first time</b> our team is going up a hill, from 4'300 meters to 4'700 meters. It is an acclimatization practice and the idea is to go very slowly. The first guide leads, one of us follows, then the second. I go third. The second guide goes last. His pace is even slower. I decide to fall back and to join him.<br /><b><br />Doubt rises.</b> What do my fellows think? I am the oldest group member, will they doubt my ability to keep pace? I am tested in an unusual way: to go even more slowly than before. Then we pause. Then we continue to walk slowly.<br /><b><br />After an endless snail trail</b>, we arrive at the top of the hill and spend a lot of time here to acclimatize even more. I become very impatient and hungry but decide to stay. We return after five endless hours to our small village and I have food and a nap.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZORtk7c8DW6VwH9qNfj21zomQIiahUiH9ev9Msa59zXw766rwOcMJFqTrhdgvZcfsFlFbgm-u7KdkLG7d2L7vBDzXWToN6o0_dvqZAxqvFPtq9cg3KTh-SC7wSGhyphenhyphen6cYxJ7Dh__BSteq/s1600/IMG_4694.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZORtk7c8DW6VwH9qNfj21zomQIiahUiH9ev9Msa59zXw766rwOcMJFqTrhdgvZcfsFlFbgm-u7KdkLG7d2L7vBDzXWToN6o0_dvqZAxqvFPtq9cg3KTh-SC7wSGhyphenhyphen6cYxJ7Dh__BSteq/s640/IMG_4694.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><b><br />It was Steve Jobs</b> who prided himself in being able to do something very quickly. He was convinced that the concept of fast is morally better than the concept of slow. We have adopted the idea. In the Internet economy not the big beat the small, but the fast beat the slow. We feel badly when an email is answered the next day. News must be commented upon instantaneously, with no time to sleep things over. Am I getting old and do I romanticize the past?<br /><br /><b>There is a new kind</b> of expedition company in the Himalayas. They provide a maximum of comfort (aka helicopters, oxygen, Nespresso machines, fixed ropes, load carrying) and advertise running the trips in 50% of the time but for up to 50% to 100% more money. So you can do Everest efficiently, put it on your resume and return to your fast-paced life.<br /><br /><b>There is a little difference</b>, though. It seems that the <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-a-climber-back-from-everest-prepares-for-his-next-high-peak-1466440293">success rate for the fast lane is lower</a>. Is human nature in the way?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-84673174680691159802016-09-01T11:00:00.000+02:002016-09-20T15:44:59.026+02:00On Success<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Dinner conversations</b> among high-altitude climbers are often about other climbers. The professionals and semi-professionals form a small community of some hundred individuals from across the globe. Who has achieved what goal? Summit photoshopping is a total no-go, but seems not unusual, especially among amateurs. One man found his personal summit picture used as a background for a man and a woman who had inserted themselves and had taken him out of his own picture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Many different types</b> of personalities seek success at high-altitude and an interesting question is: what group is most likely to succeed? The most likely group to succeed seems to be people who have failed a lot. They genuinely love mountains, altitude and adventure, otherwise they would not do it. They have returned many times and know about the intricacies of weather, tactics, routes and everything that can go wrong. They are familiar with expeditions, equipment, techniques and are quite humble facing the upcoming challenge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>More often than not</b>, athletes who have achieved certain credentials in other sports fail. Their superior fitness and expectation levels seem to create a tunnel view that is extremely focused on summiting. Much of the joy of climbing as such gets lost and thus may lead to failure.</span></div>
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<b>At the moment</b> we are still acclimatizing at 3'600 meters and I feel quite relieved when my fellows admit that climbing the hotel staircase makes them tired, too. I am very happy to take naps and am somewhat concerned about a 2-3 hour walk tomorrow. It seems that the idea of the summit as such (4'600 meters higher than we are now) is very distant. Summits stand for orientation and aspiration.</div>
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<b>But even if</b> I should reach the top, my goal is a different one: to bring stories back to all those who have supported me in an unprecedented way. I am deeply grateful for their encouragement and tolerance.</div>
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3637623399616137036.post-85727294746583975462016-08-28T15:00:00.000+02:002016-09-20T15:44:09.953+02:00Power Communications<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">As soon as</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> we arrived in Kathmandu, we tried to get online. Our loved ones wanted to know about safe arrivals. How did we like the expedition team? The team was made up of people from all over the world. We are to spend six important weeks in our lives as a group and we did not know each other from before. The team mates will learn about our strengths and weaknesses in hours of defeat and victory more than many others who have known us for years.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;">First impressions</b> stay with you, like who arrives at the reception desk in full gear (8'000m boots) and who walks in with flip-flops. Who asks your name and who walks by. What do you talk about during dinner, a civilized affair (still), other than past accomplishments? Of course, some people set the record straight from the beginning. "Oh, were you on Everest with Peter in 2015? Wasn't that the year when ..." and so on. This is pretty frigthening if you have never been on Everest and probably never will. The war stories for such an adventure are much more entertaining than those told on low-skill trekking trips, I have to admit.</div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;">I was seriously impressed</b> by the ease with which one person told a story where three people had climbed up and two came back down. Sure, they had to remove the dead body. That seemed quite normal. And it is normal for people in the Himalayas. There were other stories about plane crashes, car accidents on the way to basecamp, shootings on a smuggler's pass across the border and more.</div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;">"Go big or go home,"</b> one fellow climber said. Hmm, I thought. Am I going big? The way you communicate as incoming CEO with a team of fellow 'climbers', aka direct reports, is equally important as here.</div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;">Power communication</b> is very important. As a leader, you must scare people with past adventures, you must appear a hero. It builds respect and trust. Your team will understand that you are going the extra mile to their rescue. Should these stories be passed on? As tempting as it may seem, I promised to keep them off record. And again, this is much the same in the corporate environment. Passing on the war stories to the outside is suicide. You will not survive as a leading member of the team, and people will let you down when you need them most.</div>
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09325898349486826292noreply@blogger.com0