3 Tools Every Woman Must Possess to Prepare for the Entrepreneurial Climb
Add comment August 18th, 2007
Recently, while sipping my iced soy latte at my local coffee shop, I overheard three young men talking about what appeared to be their favorite sport - rock climbing.
A gal hates to eaves drop but I just couldn’t help myself. Besides being incredibly cute (I’m married not blind!), I was fascinated with their obvious passion and one fellows particular tale of his last climb.
Watching his animated gestures, and listening to his friends repeat ‘no way dude’ for the twelfth time in five minutes, I just had to tap him on the shoulder to ask what I’m sure is a typical stiletto heeled feet on the ground question, “climbing rocks…why?”
These nice fellas (not one was older than 19…good grief!) set me straight and schooled me on the wonders of climbing. Don’t worry I’m not trading in my strappy sandals for climbing shoes any time soon.
As Andy, Jet, and Brandon introduced me to the world of climbing, I recognized that rock climbers and entrepreneurs have a lot in common - particularly in free solo climbing.
Free soloing, I’m told is one of the most uninhibited forms of climbing. In fact, it’s quite dangerous and falls under the category of extreme sports. There are no ropes, no gear, no partners. Instead, the climber is left on their own (solo) relying on their skill and mental edge to keep them glued - in spiderman style - to the rock.
Doesn’t that sound like entrepreneurialism to you? At the end of the day, it’s your skill as an entrepreneur, and most importantly, mental edge that keeps you glued to the climb or risk making a nosedive!
Are you making the entrepreneurial climb without these three tools in your tool kit?
A Climbers Best Friend:
The rope is considered a climbers best friend. They say it’s one of the most important investments a climber can make and that a good rope is one that can sustain your weight. When the rope can no longer hold you, it’s time to replace it.
Your vision is the equivalent of a climbers rope because it’s that vision that will keep you focused and grounded on your journey. You will encounter bumps, boulders and potholes on your climb. The vision for your future, your family’s future and all the way’s you wish to affect the world is what supports and sustains you. When your vision can no longer hold you, it may be time to replace that vision with something bigger.
Old Gear, New Gear:
In free solo climbing there is no gear and when you start your entrepreneurial climb, you’re not handed any gear either. As a successful corporate rapunzel, I thought I had all the gear I needed in the form of knowledge to become an overnight success in my small business. I was quickly shaken and stirred to discover that I needed new gear!
My new gear consisted of unlearning the bad corporate habits that didn’t serve me in my small business. It included being guided by coaches, learning new business building systems, strategies and tactics to grow my business and retuning my greatest asset in business…my mind.
Money and the Mind:
As a free climbing solo entrepreneur, your mental edge is vital to the success of your climb. Partners, and alliances may come and go but the one person that will always stick by your side in your business is you.
Respect that relationship above all others by investing in your self-care, creating environments that support your growth and creativity, honoring where you are at today, and remaining true to your vision. When you do this, you will clear a path for wealth and abundance…whatever that means for you.
Before I left the coffee shop, I made the boys promise me they would not free solo climb any time soon. All three assured me they wouldn’t saying it’s ‘whacked’ (translation: for extremists only).
Entrepreneurs are extremists. We boldly go where others only dream of going and with nothing more than skill, mental edge and burning desire we are examples of what’s possible.
Climb on!
2007, Liz Pabon. All rights reserved
