I recently accomplished a goal I’ve been trying to achieve for quite some time. I made it to the top of Mount Shasta. Until that day, I had and used many excuses. One of the first was that I lived so far away. But as the years went by I moved closer and closer until I found myself living at its foot. The next best excuse was that I didn’t have a partner to climb with. Truth be told, I had many friends that were willing to climb with me, I just needed to set a date and invite them. Eventually, I ran out of excuses. If I was ever going to achieve the goal, the time was before me.

Overcoming all excuses, a date was set, a buddy was found and the challenge was on.

The climb was much more difficult than I imagined. Well into the climb on the second day, I began to feel that every step would be my last. I kept looking up to the goal, the top of the mountain, and it never seemed to get any closer. To manage, I forced myself to pick closer targets. My thinking was that if I can make it just a few more feet, I would re-evaluate when I got there.

As you know, I did reach the top of Mount Shasta. The view was breath taking and the sense of accomplishment was huge. At a later date while pondering this event, I couldn't’t help think there was a leadership lesson in it.

Leaders are often faced with enormous challenges. As I learned while climbing Mount Shasta, when the goal seems overwhelming, focus on smaller milestones.

Great heights are reached one small step at a time. Climb on!