Throughout our lives we may ascend to many summits. These climbs have unique challenges that require us to prepare and approach each one differently.
Some of these climbs may be approached in a reckless and nonchalant manner with little concern for the final outcome, while others require careful planning and route consideration.
Your career is one of the most important summits you will ascend—one that requires much planning and attention to the route that you will travel. The ultimate goal may require a combination of years of education, followed by on-the-job training, certifications, tutoring, mentoring, and learning through trial and error. Once we reach the final approach to the summit, we may walk the distance alone or lead those who have followed us.
I believe the integrity of the ascent is paramount to our ultimate success. The four principles that must be present if we are to reach the summit with integrity are: planning, preparation, listening, and obedience.
PRINCIPLE 1: PLAN~
Develop and commit to worthy lifetime goals
My family enjoys summiting mountains. We’ve climbed most of the peaks in Utah and have traveled to California to climb Mt. Shasta and Mt. Whitney. In August 2000, we decided to undertake a lifetime goal to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. I would like to compare what we learned on our climb to what I have learned as I have ascended my career path.
Mt. Kilimanjaro ranks as the tallest peak on the African continent at 19,340 feet—the highest freestanding mountain in the world. The ascent allows the climber to travel through several climatic zones, beginning in a tropical forest, traveling through the alpine desert, and ending at an altitude where almost nothing can survive. Our team consisted of local guides, support personnel, and twelve American climbers including three of my children and myself.
Our earliest preparations included a review of optional routes and trip plans. Some options offered a “quick” four-day climb—less camping, exposure, and discomfort. At the other end of the spectrum was a nine-day climb—seven nights on the ascent with the eighth on the return. It required more hiking, camping, cold nights, exposure, and cost. But, it offered something else, a 90 percent success rate for reaching the summit compared with less than 50 percent success on the other routes.
Though it would require more sacrifice than the shorter, more often used climbs, the Shira Plateau route rewards the patient climber with a greater chance of reaching the summit. We determined to follow the advice of President David O. McKay: “The greatest mistake we make in this life is giving up what we want most for what we want right now.”
When I was sixteen, a wise man taught me an important concept. Larry Ashton, an advisor to my youth group, invited any of us who were interested to develop a ten-year plan with his help and to visit him at his work. I took him up on both offers.
Larry was a skilled and well-known engineer. While visiting his office, I discovered he had resigned his position as the engineering manager to make a lateral move into another department. As the manager of this department, he received no pay increase and kept the same title.
When I asked Larry why he made such a move, he responded that what he really wanted in his career was to “run the company.” By traveling the longer, more difficult path he felt he had a better chance of achieving what he wanted most, the top position in the firm.
That day changed my life. I too wanted to “run a company.” I set about educating myself and developing skills in two functional areas: finance and marketing. My decision was to travel a longer path.
After college I accepted a position as a financial analyst with a large U.S. corporation. When the opportunity presented itself, I transferred into the strategic planning group. At first, my associates’ careers seemed to be developing more quickly as they rose in the financial group where I started my career. But it was not long before I was given the director of strategic planning position for my corporate division and soon thereafter was promoted to marketing manager within the group. What I wanted most was now in my sights as I began to acquire the skills that I would eventually need in my career pursuits.
Don’t sacrifice what you want most in your career for what you want at the moment. If your career summit trek requires more distance and a more costly path don’t be afraid to accept the challenge.
PRINCIPLE 2: PREPARE~
Get an education, learn the skills of your trade, and then execute your plan with vigor
We remained two nights at camp four on Mt. Kilimanjaro, located approximately 15,000 feet above sea level. There, we learned the skills of high altitude trekking—how to place one foot in front of the other and pausing before taking the next step. We climbed more than 1,000 feet, practicing our skills before descending to the next camp. I must admit I was not convinced that our efforts would be rewarded, but our guide insisted we needed to learn the skill if we were to succeed.
Let me relate this principle to a business experience. In 1998, our business decided to hire an investment banker to help find a potential buyer or partner for our company. By the fall of that year, we were deep into discussions with an NYSE listed company regarding the acquisition. During the next few months, I called upon every skill I had acquired during my education and trek through corporate life. As we reviewed our statements of past performance and developed complicated financial proformas requested by the acquiring company, I reflected back to the “pain” that I endured in William Edwards finance class during my BYU undergraduate program.
Dr. Edwards was a successful business and academic professional who believed in steep ascents—no easy walks through his class. He firmly believed in the old adage, “No pain, no gain.” My day at 15,000 feet learning the right-stride technique was much like the many hours spent working on projects in his finance class. Though my desire may have been to avoid the effort, I was willing to endure the pain for the education. He required excellence in everything we did. By the way, we successfully sold the company—I wish that Dr. Edwards were still with us so I could thank him personally.
PRINCIPLE 3: LISTEN~
Seek counsel from those you trust
As we consider seeking counsel, it’s worth remembering what Norman Vincent Peale said, “The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.”
Day one of the Kilimanjaro climb was a 1,500-foot ascent over approximately five miles in a tropical forest. Because of the humidity, I wore a pair of waterproof boots instead of my more comfortable mountain climbing boots. By the time I arrived at camp that evening, I had developed severe blisters and still had several days of climbing ahead. Full of great anxiety, I told my children of my condition. I honestly didn’t know if I could continue. We decided to wait until morning before making a final decision.
That night, my mind raced as I worried about what to do. Should I descend from the mountain, leaving my children with people I barely knew to continue the ascent? Or, should I continue on, risking even more injury to my feet and perhaps a more difficult evacuation from the mountain?
At daylight, I approached our guide, Alex, to discuss my alternatives.
He listened carefully and then began to counsel me. “Gary, we need to take this one day at a time,” he said. “We can’t solve all of the ‘what ifs’, but we can deal with this each day and do what is needed to keep you on the climb.” Alex then concluded, “As we face what appear to be overwhelming obstacles, we hinder our ability to move forward by over-processing information.”
I agreed with his plan and prepared to leave camp with my family. I covered my feet in moleskin, switched boots, and moved on to camp two. Each day Alex and I discussed the situation, and my children helped administer to my needs.
John Wooden, perhaps the greatest coach in the history of college basketball, once said that, “It’s what we learn after we think we know it all that really counts.” Alex taught me what was needed to continue the quest.
In my career, I often struggled with how I could move from the life of a corporate executive to that of an entrepreneur. I had learned how to run a business, but I lacked the idea to start something new. My church responsibilities allowed me to become good friends with a local leader. Over the years, I gained confidence in his ability to mentor me on professional decisions.
He had a very successful business developing large tracts of land and building homes. Much like me, he knew how to run a business, but lacked the skills needed in his industry. He partnered with someone who was skilled in the construction trades, and together they built one of the largest businesses in their market.
As we talked, I recognized my skills were similar to his talents. He helped give me the vision that would eventually lead me to form a partnership with a skilled professional in software development. Together, my partner and I were able to take a company that we bought and build it into the largest firm of its size in our market.
As we read in Proverbs 13:20, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Over the years I have chosen carefully those whom I considered mentors. These lifetime guides have provided for me insight, inspiration, confidence, consolation, and often just a listening ear.
PRINCIPLE 4: OBEY~
Be true to yourself and to your conscience
There were several times on the mountain when we turned to that inner voice of reason and guidance. The daily routine revolved around arising early, eating, breaking camp, traveling to a lunch stop, trekking on to the day’s destination, and setting up camp. The porters assumed the backbreaking work by carrying all the essential food and supplies, including our gear. We carried only those items needed during the day.
The division of labor troubled my children; their consciences would not permit them to watch as others labored. Each morning, they would help with the duties. To be true to what they believed, they knew that they must help, even though they were tired. At the Crater Camp at 18,500 feet it was difficult to breathe and extremely cold. Liquids would freeze in a matter of seconds and the basics of life, eating and sleeping, were uncomfortable. The kids labored on. They never compromised their values. I love them for what they did and how they behaved. They didn’t need to help, but they did anyway.
One of the greatest examples of being true to ourselves and acting as we know we should is the life of George Washington. After leading the country through the struggle of the Revolutionary War, Washington could have become the first king of America. Many wanted him to assume the role. Instead he shied away from leadership and needed to be convinced to return to the service of his country.
While living on the West Coast I had the opportunity to work with a fast-growing technology and manufacturing firm. I negotiated a stock option to purchase an ownership position in the firm after two years of employment. Three individuals founded the company and had never allowed anyone to buy into the firm.
The terms of my buy-in were very favorable and would guarantee my future with the company. One or two of the owners would be retiring within a short period of time, and I was set to move into a position of significant responsibility. As I considered my actions, all logic pointed to my exercising the ownership option and securing my position.
As I explored my inner feelings, I knew what was right for me and my family. If I were to be true to myself, I would need to decline the option to purchase stock, which would signal to the founders that I was not going to stay with the firm. I knew that my value system differed from theirs and that I would possibly never be comfortable as their partner. As I look back on that decision, it was the right one in every way. What seemed to be too good to be true was just that.
Staying with that firm may have precluded the other opportunities in my life for which I am grateful. We can learn much from what we know to be right; we must develop the courage to act on the promptings of our conscience.
What is the result of following the four principles of planning, preparation, listening, and obedience as we ascend the summits of our lives? In the case of our attempt to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, it meant reaching the summit on 13 August 2000.
As you consider your career path, let me share with you an anonymous quote that I carry with me in my planner. “Our achievements are shaped by the terrain of our lives and the strength of the foundations we set. In building the life we’ve imagined, we must be true to our beliefs, dare to be ethical, and strive to be honorable. For integrity is the highest ground to which we can aspire.”
If we are willing to strive with integrity in our lives, I believe that we will not only succeed in our ascents, but we will also cast a light on others and the organizations that we serve. Let me conclude with a quote from the movie Anna and the King. Anna is preparing to depart Siam. The boy King Chulalongkom is looking at Anna and begins to reflect on the influence that she has had on the people and country of Siam.
“It is always surprising how small a part of life is taken up by meaningful moments; most of them are over before they start, although they cast a light on the future and make the person who originated them unforgettable. Anna had shined such a light on Siam.”
I wish the best for you as you cast your own light on the future and achieve success in your careers through integrity in planning, preparing, listening, and obeying.
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Speech given by Gary Williams
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Gary Williams was recently recognized as the Marriott School’s 2003 Honored Alum (See news article). This article is adapted from the Honored Alum Lecture delivered to students 9 October 2003.
