Keynotes

Lessons from the wall: tales of grit, determination and perseverance

In 2020, during the height of the Covid pandemic, I severely injured my back and was confined to my bed for almost four months. Up until that point, I was always on the go. I was a former marathon runner and triathlete, a recreational soccer coach for my kids’ teams, and was constantly traveling the globe for work and pleasure. But as the weeks and months dragged on, I thought my active lifestyle was over for good.

Flash forward to June 7-8, 2024 when I completed the 29029 Everesting Challenge, hiking the vertical equivalent of Mt. Everest (29,029 feet) in 34 hours in Sun Valley, Idaho. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. By far. Especially since I strained my hamstring 28 hours into the climb on the steepest section called “the wall”. I wanted to stop with every step. Every single step. But between stimulus (each painful step) and response, I had a choice. A choice to let the pain end my journey or just be a part of my journey. I chose the latter.

I’ve written extensively about my journey and the lessons that apply to leadership and becoming the best version of ourselves.

Contact me to discuss how we can bring my story and customize these lessons to your organization’s next event or leadership summit.