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Do you have what it takes to reach the summit?4 min read

Happy mountaineer standing on the topThis past week, two American rock climbers, Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgenson, did what many have said “can’t be done.” They free-climbed and reached the top of the Dawn Wall of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Many have attempted this feat, including Caldwell and Jorgenson themselves. But no one in history has free-climbed the Dawn Wall of El Capitan in one continuous attempt.

Nick named “The Nose”, the Dawn Wall is a 3,000 foot vertical granite wall, making it one of the most difficult climbs in the world. Free-climbers don’t pull themselves up with ropes. Instead they push themselves forward. They don’t reply on climbing ropes; only safety ropes. Using only their hands and feet, they look for cracks and crevices that many before them may have overlooked.

How did these two succeed when many others have not?

Planning

Caldwell and Jorgenson decided to take on this beast of a mountain in 2009. It took them 5 years to practice, train and prepare for this climb. They even traveled as far as Russia to sharpen their skills on other mountains.

Resilience

Climbing the Dawn Wall was not an easy task. They fell down many times, but they got back up and tried it again. In fact, one of the climbers fell a few years ago and broke his ankle. But they made it to the top not in leaps and bounds, but inch by inch.

Vision

One of the climbers had a vision to achieve this goal in 2007. Although El Capitan has been climbed before, no one has done it free-climbing. Caldwell and Jorgenson have kept their focus on their vision of doing what others thought was impossible.

Motivation

Both lovers of nature, Caldwell and Jorgenson set about to climb El Capitan not to “conquer” it, but to embrace and better understand the environment, something many people don’t appreciate.

Focus

They were told it could never be done. But the two climbers blocked out the naysayers and pushed forward, never giving up.

This past week, two American rock climbers, Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgenson, did what many have said “can’t be done.” They free-climbed and reached the top of the Dawn Wall of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Many have attempted this feat, including Caldwell and Jorgenson themselves. But no one in history has free-climbed the Dawn Wall of El Capitan in one continuous attempt.

Nick named “The Nose”, the Dawn Wall is a 3,000 foot vertical granite wall, making it one of the most difficult climbs in the world. Free-climbers don’t pull themselves up with ropes. Instead they push themselves forward. They don’t reply on climbing ropes; only safety ropes. Using only their hands and feet, they look for cracks and crevices that many before them may have overlooked.

How did these two succeed when many others have not?

Planning
Caldwell and Jorgenson decided to take on this beast of a mountain in 2009. It took them 5 years to practice, train and prepare for this climb. They even traveled as far as Russia to sharpen their skills on other mountains.

Resilience
Climbing the Dawn Wall was not an easy task. They fell down many times, but they got back up and tried it again. In fact, one of the climbers fell a few years ago and broke his ankle. But they made it to the top not in leaps and bounds, but inch by inch.

Vision
One of the climbers had a vision to achieve this goal in 2007. Although El Capitan has been climbed before, no one has done it free-climbing. Caldwell and Jorgenson have kept their focus on their vision of doing what others thought was impossible.

Motivation
Both lovers of nature, Caldwell and Jorgenson set about to climb El Capitan not to “conquer” it, but to embrace and better understand the environment, something many people don’t appreciate.

Focus
They were told it could never be done. But the two climbers blocked out the naysayers and pushed forward, never giving up.

When you face setbacks in life or in business, do you give up? Do you take the easy route and use ropes to pull yourself up? Or do you keep your eye on the summit and continue the climb? What is your Dawn Wall that you want to accomplish? Talk to your ActionCOACH about creating a plan and vision. Your coach will keep you focused on the peak and help you to reach new heights!

What is your Dawn Wall that you want to accomplish? Talk to your ActionCOACH about creating a plan and vision. Your coach will keep you focused on the peak and help you to reach new heights!