Climbing the Mountain

Let’s get this out of the way first: I’m not an outdoorsy person. I don’t own hiking boots. The only mountain I’ve climbed recently is the pile of laundry threatening to collapse in my bedroom.

But National Climb a Mountain Day reminded me of something important. Whether you’re leading a team or just trying to finish that one impossible task, it always feels like a climb.

Here’s what this odd little holiday reminded me about getting stuff done when the peak feels far away.

Step One: Name the mountain

Before you start climbing, you have to know what you’re aiming for. Is it finishing that report? Launching a course? Finally sorting out your inbox from last September?

Whatever it is, give it a name. Make it real. Mountains are easier to face when they’re not just a vague feeling of “I should be doing more.”

Funny how “finish Q3 planning” sounds exhausting, but “conquer Mount Outlook” feels at least kind of doable.

Step Two: Pack snacks

No one climbs a mountain hungry. The same goes for whatever project or deadline you’re dragging yourself through.

Snacks can be literal, like cheese crackers or those chocolate-covered espresso beans you keep hidden behind the coffee cups. But snacks are also breaks, little wins, nice comments from coworkers, or just permission to work in silence with your phone face down.

Energy isn’t endless. Feed it.

Step Three: Accept the switchbacks

Mountains don’t have straight paths to the top. You loop, you backtrack, you trip on your shoelaces. Same with projects.

Sometimes you make a plan and then everything changes. Sometimes people don’t respond. Sometimes you realize what you’re building isn’t quite what you were aiming for.

That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It just means you’re climbing. Keep going.

Step Four: Celebrate the small views

You don’t have to wait for the summit to pause and appreciate how far you’ve come.

Celebrate tiny things. Like sending the email you were avoiding. Or fixing the typo before it went to print. Or surviving a meeting that should have been an email.

Put a little flag in that moment. Take a breath. The summit will still be there when you’re ready.

Step Five: Bring the right people

Climbing with the wrong people is exhausting (and risky). You know the type. The ones who pretend they’re fine while they quietly unravel. The ones who only point out problems. The ones who never carry the map but always complain about the route.

Surround yourself with people who want to keep pace with you. People who check in. People who share snacks.

This includes you. Be a good climbing partner to yourself too.

Step Six: Remember that every climb ends

Every hard thing has an endpoint. Even if it doesn’t feel that way when you’re deep in it.

The task gets done. The day closes. The deadline passes. You learn. You adjust. You try again. You rest.

Just like any mountain, the top is real, even if you can’t see it yet.

Trail Notes

Whether you’re managing a team or just trying to get your kid to eat a vegetable, there’s a mountain somewhere in your day. Some are steep. Some are annoying. Some are made entirely of sticky notes and calendar reminders.

But you’re climbing anyway.

So today, maybe pause for a second. Look around. Take a sip of water. Give yourself credit for showing up.

You’re not behind. You’re on the trail. Keep going.

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