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Not Far from the Tree

A Guide to Using Personality To Build Your Business Online

November 7, 2008

Issue # 7

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Killing the Monkey

If you are a PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) member you should probably just hit delete, because this article is about how I killed a monkey a week ago. It wasn't an accident either. I deliberately set out to kill the monkey that's been on my back for the past five and a half years.

Most of you know that I like to climb 14,000-foot mountains (14ers). I attempted to climb my first 14er five and a half years ago. It was February 2003 (winter), and I tried to climb Mt. Evans near Denver, Colorado with my friends Jason and Josh. These guys became my regular hiking partners, but this was the first time they asked me to join them (a decision they came to regret!).

The wind was blowing, the snow was two to three feet deep, I was using snow shoes for the first time, and I failed miserably. The trail crosses about two miles of willows and swamp before you enter a gully that begins to go up the mountain. I made it across the willows (tired) and up the gully (exhausted). Around 13,700 feet I knew I was not going to make it, so I turned around and headed back to the car (practically crawling). I don't think I have ever been more tired in my life. Jason and Josh completed the climb, but they agreed that it was one of their most difficult climbs.

Ever since that climb in 2003, I have had the desire to go back and conquer that mountain during winter conditions. In the meantime, I climbed other mountains. Since attempting Evans in 2003, I have climbed 22 other 14ers. I successfully climbed my first 14er in June 2005. That was my first mountain-climbing victory.

I've climbed in difficult winter-like conditions (Pikes Peak). I've learned how to conserve my energy on challenging trails and in the snow. I've gained experience pressing on even when I'm tired and want to give up (last year on Mt. Antero). Each was a little victory, one more step on my journey.

None of which got the Mt. Evans monkey off my back.

Last week, I got the chance to go back to Mt. Evans with Jason. It was a beautiful day, but the weather forecast called for "blustery" conditions. They lied. (Unless blustery means 40 to 60 mile-per-hour winds.)

The snow was not as deep as in 2003, so the willows were a little harder to get across. They were wet and muddy. The trail wasn't very clear so it was hard to find our way across, but we made it without getting too wet. We conquered the gully. When I reached my 2003 turnaround point, I stopped and took note. I was tired but able to keep going. My next steps were so satisfying. It was one more little victory on my journey.

When we neared the top, the wind really picked up. I was almost blown off my feet a couple of times. The gusts were coming in 60 mile-per-hour bursts and the climbing was difficult. But there it was. The summit.

(PETA members: If you ignored the previous warning, avert your eyes now.)

After a few minutes of hard climbing, the moment arrived. I took that monkey and left it dead on the summit of Mt. Evans.

As I hiked back down the mountain, I realized that even though one monkey was gone, there were others hanging around. I have 31 more 14ers in Colorado to climb. Then there are the other 14ers in California and Washington. And Denali up in Alaska. And all the hiking to beautiful spots here in the U.S. I also haven't learned to kayak yet and I want to hang-glide someday. I realized that there will always be another monkey to kill. And maybe that's not such a bad thing.

I also realized that mountain climbing has taught me a lot about eNewsletter success. Here are 4 lessons I've learned as I've literally walked through the last five and a half years.

1. There's always a first step. You've got to start somewhere. If you don't start you can't succeed. You won't fail, but you won't succeed. Take the risk and make the first step, even if you are not sure what you are doing.
2. You are very likely to fail at first. The first few eNewsletters may not be very good. You may have to work hard to make your voice compelling. Engaging an audience and building relationships takes time. But remember, each failure is one more step toward success.
3. You need to celebrate little victories. Your first eNewsletter, your first sign-up, the compliments of a friend. These are little successes that keep you going.
4. Success is a journey, not a destination. When I reached the top of Mt. Evans, I achieved one standard of success (I killed that monkey) . But I realized that there are lot of "successes" still out there. By continuing to move forward, we can experience the joy of killing many monkeys.

Bottom Line. eNewsletter success is a process that takes time. It's a journey that will never be complete. But when you keep putting one step in front of another, you are succeeding. You are building relationships and staying in contact with folks. You are learning additional skills. You are clarifying your vision. If you refuse to try or (worse yet) get discouraged and quit, you'll never know the satisfaction that comes from killing the monkeys.

(I told you PETA folks not to read this. Sorry.)