Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Leadership lessons from West Point


The symposium is called the National Conference on Ethics in America and takes place at West Point Military academy in New York. I was invited to share some of my ideas on the subject of ethics especially as they relate to sports and more specifically climbing high peaks. I have climbed in numerous countries around the world and have been challenged by cultural interpretations of ethics and how they change in direct proportion to the distance one is from "civilized culture." The object of the week at West Point is to bring student delegates from different universities all across the country to discuss the relevance of ethics in relation to campus life and honor codes. The Army's code is simple: a cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate anyone who does. Beyond this of course there are other codes of dress and etiquette, but this is foundational and carved in stone on the academy grounds. Staring at this stone I reflected on how counter this is to the way most of our society lives each day as lying, cheating, and stealing are quite normal and even more so we seem to all be guilty of tolerating these things. In my time on the high peaks of the world I have seen people go back on their word, promise one thing and deliver something horrible and deceitful in its place. I have seen lives jeopardized and lost due to lack of integrity and ethics. Something seemingly so simple as giving care to someone in need, is withheld for the glory of standing upon a summit. We depend on each other, and the amount on which we can depend is related to the degree by which we are all willing to live by a common code of ethics. My code comes from the Bible and the belief that God has given us a perfect plan by which to live, the only problem with the plan: us.

Perhaps we can't change the ethic of a society around us, but we can influence the ethic of the team we choose to lead, the team which we support, or the team we have yet to build, but it starts with a foundation of moral and ethical character that seeks to transform those who are willing to build upon it.

I know myself to well to think that I would be the bright light in this place and was thankful to have had the opportunity to listen in to various talks given by Colonels, Generals, White House Correspondents, Writers, Counselors to the President, and Rocket Scientists just to name a few, and the wisdom that they have gained over the years as they have led and failed, Led and learned. Led and succed (succeeded I know).

Having heard from these leaders and from the student leaders I was refreshed and re-energized knowing that there are people who care and feel the same way as I do. That we do have a social obligation to serve in our communities; to seek out of concern change, having a vision to transform our surroundings for the better as we can; that charcter is important for our survival; and that we become our habits, so we should put forth every effort to seek truth knowing well that our thoughts become speech which lead to action going on to habit which forms our character and becomes our destiny. This looks good lest we forget we are not divine and we will fail to manage this sequence of destiny. In seeking truth we seek God, and in finding him we find forgiveness - a loving gift that we can accept knowing that we need to forgive. As leaders we need to look beyond the rules and codes knowing that failure is as large a part of success as is living by the code.

Leadership lessons from West Point


The symposium is called the National Conference on Ethics in America and takes place at West Point Military academy in New York. I was invited to share some of my ideas on the subject of ethics especially as they relate to sports and more specifically climbing high peaks. I have climbed in numerous countries around the world and have been challenged by cultural interpretations of ethics and how they change in direct proportion to the distance one is from "civilized culture." The object of the week at West Point is to bring student delegates from different universities all across the country to discuss the relevance of ethics in relation to campus life and honor codes. The Army's code is simple: a cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate anyone who does. Beyond this of course there are other codes of dress and etiquette, but this is foundational and carved in stone on the academy grounds. Staring at this stone I reflected on how counter this is to the way most of our society lives each day as lying, cheating, and stealing are quite normal and even more so we seem to all be guilty of tolerating these things. In my time on the high peaks of the world I have seen people go back on their word, promise one thing and deliver something horrible and deceitful in its place. I have seen lives jeopardized and lost due to lack of integrity and ethics. Something seemingly so simple as giving care to someone in need, is withheld for the glory of standing upon a summit. We depend on each other, and the amount on which we can depend is related to the degree by which we are all willing to live by a common code of ethics. My code comes from the Bible and the belief that God has given us a perfect plan by which to live, the only problem with the plan: us.

Perhaps we can't change the ethic of a society around us, but we can influence the ethic of the team we choose to lead, the team which we support, or the team we have yet to build, but it starts with a foundation of moral and ethical character that seeks to transform those who are willing to build upon it.

I know myself to well to think that I would be the bright light in this place and was thankful to have had the opportunity to listen in to various talks given by Colonels, Generals, White House Correspondents, Writers, Counselors to the President, and Rocket Scientists just to name a few, and the wisdom that they have gained over the years as they have led and failed, Led and learned. Led and succed (succeeded I know).

Having heard from these leaders and from the student leaders I was refreshed and re-energized knowing that there are people who care and feel the same way as I do. That we do have a social obligation to serve in our communities; to seek out of concern change, having a vision to transform our surroundings for the better as we can; that charcter is important for our survival; and that we become our habits, so we should put forth every effort to seek truth knowing well that our thoughts become speech which lead to action going on to habit which forms our character and becomes our destiny. This looks good lest we forget we are not divine and we will fail to manage this sequence of destiny. In seeking truth we seek God, and in finding him we find forgiveness - a loving gift that we can accept knowing that we need to forgive. As leaders we need to look beyond the rules and codes knowing that failure is as large a part of success as is living by the code.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Climbing Blind in Africa


Recently I went on my third trip to Africa and my third ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro. On the previous two ascents I was able to stand upon the 19,340' foot summit of Uhuru peak, guiding large groups with members of various abilities and disabilities. On this trip, however, I found a greater joy. The joy was found not in the summit, but in serving a team that would summit without me. This team was made up of 10 students ages 15 to 20, three of these students being totally blind and one having a visual impairment. Eight out of ten of the students made it to the summit, all of the blind and visually impaired students stood atop the roof of Africa. For me, it was more fun to climb with this team to 18,000' and then retreat with the two students who were in need of my help, then listen over the radio for the shouts of joy from those who had made the summit including my co-leader Casey who had never been to Africa. I made the decision that the members of the team who were still climbing were all strong and doing well should continue, Casey with them, and make her first summit instead of turning back as had been our protocol. I could have bragged of how I led these students to the summit, as if carrying them, but the truth is they got themselves and each other to the top and can be the ones to brag that they did it without me. Now I can brag on them for their success, and delight in the joy of giving an opportunity to someone else. After all that is what this climb was all about - opportunities. Some would say it was the hardest thing they had ever done, others that it was a lifetime high - and not just in terms of elevation. My view of our success, was that all came home in good shape having learned the importance of teamwork and reliance on others. As for the team and their view: This is what the students had to say about standing on the Roof of Africa in 2007:
Anna - It was really challenging, but we made it.
Alysha (Blind) - One of the most challenging and rewarding things I have ever done.
Brad - The most physically challenging thing I have ever done, but worth everything we had put into it.
Max - The culmination of my being.
Terry (Blind) - I never thought I would have been standing here today!
Kyle (Blind) - It is still hard to believe.
Charlotte - I really wish I had not been too sick to climb, but I am glad the majority was able to make it.
Justin (Visually Impaired) - Indescribable!
Ryan - It is a beautiful but tough mountain. It is a good teacher.
Jill - When the going gets tough, the tough get going and that is what we did this morning on the mountain.
Casey - I am grateful to have had the opportunity to climb such a beautiful Mt with such an amazing group of people, I only wish everyone could have been up there for the summit experience. I am truly inspired.
Eric - I am proud of the efforts that everyone gave today, pushing through the cold night supporting each other like a great team does, pushing themselves to new limits. The way they were going you would never have guessed the mountain is 19,340' and nearly half of them couldn't see.
Please look at the daily dispatches which are posted on the global explorers website - www.globalexplorers.org

Climbing Blind in Africa


Recently I went on my third trip to Africa and my third ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro. On the previous two ascents I was able to stand upon the 19,340' foot summit of Uhuru peak, guiding large groups with members of various abilities and disabilities. On this trip, however, I found a greater joy. The joy was found not in the summit, but in serving a team that would summit without me. This team was made up of 10 students ages 15 to 20, three of these students being totally blind and one having a visual impairment. Eight out of ten of the students made it to the summit, all of the blind and visually impaired students stood atop the roof of Africa. For me, it was more fun to climb with this team to 18,000' and then retreat with the two students who were in need of my help, then listen over the radio for the shouts of joy from those who had made the summit including my co-leader Casey who had never been to Africa. I made the decision that the members of the team who were still climbing were all strong and doing well should continue, Casey with them, and make her first summit instead of turning back as had been our protocol. I could have bragged of how I led these students to the summit, as if carrying them, but the truth is they got themselves and each other to the top and can be the ones to brag that they did it without me. Now I can brag on them for their success, and delight in the joy of giving an opportunity to someone else. After all that is what this climb was all about - opportunities. Some would say it was the hardest thing they had ever done, others that it was a lifetime high - and not just in terms of elevation. My view of our success, was that all came home in good shape having learned the importance of teamwork and reliance on others. As for the team and their view: This is what the students had to say about standing on the Roof of Africa in 2007:
Anna - It was really challenging, but we made it.
Alysha (Blind) - One of the most challenging and rewarding things I have ever done.
Brad - The most physically challenging thing I have ever done, but worth everything we had put into it.
Max - The culmination of my being.
Terry (Blind) - I never thought I would have been standing here today!
Kyle (Blind) - It is still hard to believe.
Charlotte - I really wish I had not been too sick to climb, but I am glad the majority was able to make it.
Justin (Visually Impaired) - Indescribable!
Ryan - It is a beautiful but tough mountain. It is a good teacher.
Jill - When the going gets tough, the tough get going and that is what we did this morning on the mountain.
Casey - I am grateful to have had the opportunity to climb such a beautiful Mt with such an amazing group of people, I only wish everyone could have been up there for the summit experience. I am truly inspired.
Eric - I am proud of the efforts that everyone gave today, pushing through the cold night supporting each other like a great team does, pushing themselves to new limits. The way they were going you would never have guessed the mountain is 19,340' and nearly half of them couldn't see.
Please look at the daily dispatches which are posted on the global explorers website - www.globalexplorers.org