I recently went to a self improvement workshop in Los Angeles, California, which was one of the most insightful and enlightening experiences that I’ve ever had.
On the very first day I was partnered with a 50 year old woman named Diana. Our challenge was to team up and climb a 60-foot tall rope ladder, working as a pair. We were connected at the hip with a four-foot long rope and each fitted with a body harness to catch us if we fell during the climb.
At first glance I thought that I would be able to make the climb on my own, seeing that I’m pretty active and physically fit. When I realized that I would be teamed up with Diana, the voice in my head started to buzz with disempowering thoughts: “How the hell are we going to do this? I hope Diana doesn’t have a heart attack!”
Well, seeing that the whole point here was for us to learn something about our own limitations as people, I made a choice to turn things around and take on this challenge head on. I began to ask myself more supportive questions like: “How can I motivate and inspire Diana? What are our strengths as a team?” Before starting our climb, I looked Diana in the eye and I said: “I believe in you, just give me your 100%.”
In the beginning, things went pretty well and we eventually reached the first rung on the ladder. Then it started to get tougher. I was up on the second rung and Diana was still on the first rung and our connecting rope was stretched to full length. I heard someone yell to me from down below, “You’ve got to go down and help her up!” That was the first time I realized that even though I knew I could do the climb on my own, it wasn’t just about me. We had to do it together. It was about both of us making it to the top as a team.
I climbed back down and bent down on my knees to support Diana and using all my strength, pushed her up to the second rung. The whole time we were doing this, we were swinging back and forth with a 40-foot drop below us. As soon as Diana got settled above I screamed up to her in support of this massive accomplishment. We were making the impossible possible.
Diana and I continued this way up the rope ladder until we reached the top and we gave each other a big hug – we were both exhausted but hugely delighted. After we got back down to the ground, Diana said to me: “I didn’t think we were going to make it to the top.” I thought to myself, I didn’t think we would either.
It was at this moment I really understood what I learned from the exercise – that in fact this was not about climbing at all. I realized that in my entire life I had always done things for myself in order to feel that sense of achievement and purpose. When I heard Diana say those words it made me realize that it’s very lonely at the top when you do things only for yourself. I learned that life is a lot more fulfilling when you take other people along for the journey. I now know I will never again feel lonely at the top.
The self improvement seminar I attended was with Peak Potentials. The workshop was called The Enlightened Warrior Training Camp.
Registration: Phone Peak Potentials Client Care Toll Free: 1-888-868-8883
Major Discount: Use my Name and You will get a Significant Discount on the Camp
10 Comments
Internet Entrepreneur
October 17, 2008Well, this is basically an article promoting network marketing as I see it. But your writing is good. Keep it up, Mate!
Steve
October 17, 2008I guess I should start a network marketing business then :)
…and thank-you(for the writing comment).
It’s great to hear from the boys down under. I love Aussies :)
Curtis
February 5, 2009While network marketing uses the concepts of teamwork, and helping each other to the top, they certainly do not have the market curbed.
Steve, That’s a great story that I find inspiring. You also have a great looking website. I find it very clean and smart looking.
Steve
February 5, 2009thanks Curtis. It’s a pleasure to have you drop in :)
Ann
April 27, 2009It’s a great story. And so real. I think we need someone to full happiness.
Greetings from Poland :)
Ania :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Anthony
May 24, 2009Great headline. Need to work on mine… lol
I don’t think network marketing has cornered the market on teamwork at all.
We should all become leaders and think this way, the world would be a better place for it.
Just downloaded your ebook and am looking forward to reading it right now!
Angioplasty
July 13, 2009You are a great story teller. Thanks for you post.
David
September 6, 2009Great story. Look forward to hearing more from you.
Thanks
[…] provide just the right dose of magic. Stephen Martile shares a wonderful and invaluable story in It’s lonely at the top. Thanks Stephen, I will remember […]
[…] This article was published in Confidence Bound Magazine in 2007 and I’ve been writing ever since. You can read the article here: It’s Lonely at the Top. […]
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