Power Hour
Last spring we took a trip up the west coast on Highway 1. Final destination: Yosemite National Park. Absolutely one of the most iconic trips we have ever taken. The scenery was incredible. Nature at it's finest.
One of the most breathtaking moments was entering Yosemite Valley. Driving through the forest is beautiful, but the moment that the trees open up and you see the valley for the first time...🤯 There's nothing like it. Waterfalls, massive trees, rock walls everywhere. If you haven't been, then you need to (the waterfalls are at their peak in late April, early May). The entire valley is mesmerizing, but the massive granite wall on your left as you enter cannot be beat. El Capitain. A slab of granite that dominates your entire view. You can't see the top from your car. It demands that you pull over to the side of the road and get out the moment that you see it.
This rock face has special significance for me because it is the backdrop to one of my favorite documentaries, Free Solo. It follows the story of Alex Honnold as he attempts to be the first person in history to climb El Capitain without a rope. The physical feat in and of itself is absurd. Who would try something so insane? But even more impressive is his mental clarity towards the climb. Alex has had a lifetime of mountain climbing to mold his body to withstand the physical toll of the rock. The real strain was having to be perfect mentally. One moment of weakness and his life would be over. It's a fascinating work of art and an incredible feat of heroism.
How do we reach this level of clarity in thought?
Show Up for Yourself
How much of your day is for you? Any? I know for me it is incredibly hard to balance work, family, relationships, etc. But if you don't dedicate at least an hour of each day to yourself, how are you ever going to gain clarity about what you want? Alex dedicated his entire life to rock climbing and reached the pinnacle of his sport. Is this a well-balanced life? No. I'm not asking you to work to climb El Capitain without a rope, but I am asking you to show up at the base of your mountain once a day for an hour.
Slow Down
As you carve out this hour for yourself, slow down! Our lives move at an incredible pace. Our minds are constantly in overdrive. Break that cycle. You need to train your brain to be strategic. The mental piece of Alex's climbs were amazingly methodical. He was slowing down to ensure that every move was strategic and on point. His life depended on it. Follow the same approach. Dedicate your first week of this on slowing your mind down, reflecting, mediating, praying, whatever helps you break the cycle.
What's Your Mountain?
Now that you've slowed down, it's time to pick the mountain that you will climb. What area of your life needs work? What get's you excited? It's time to create a priority list and start taking action. One hour, every single day. Some days there will be lots of friction and you will feel like giving up. That's okay, show up anyway. Why?
Friction Builds Muscle
Remember this thing you're working on? It's for you. So every painful step forward that you take is YOUR growth. You aren't sweating for someone else's benefit, the growth is adding direct value to YOUR life. The outcome is YOUR success.
Muscle Builds Confidence
That thing you thought was impossible three months ago, doesn't feel so impossible now. How do you know? Because you've already done it. What seemed like a "high-bar" goal before now starts to feel like a "low-bar" goal. Progress begins to build at an even faster pace.
Recognize Your Process
What's been working? Why did your progress suddenly take off. My process will not be your process. Mentors are great, but the best ones aren't going to tell you how they did it; they are going to help you recognize your own process for success. Make a note, because it's time to find a new mountain to climb.
Find a New Base
Some will be Alex Holland. Dedicating their years to a singular pursuit. But most of us will reach a point on the mountain, where it's time to move on. In making the change, don't throw everything you learned away. Reapply your process to the new mountain. By consistently showing up, you've been able to recognize the patterns of growth. If they worked on one aspect of your life, they undoubtedly will speed your growth in other areas as well.
It's Works Turn
You've gotten a few successes under your belt. The process is well defined. So far, you've applied this to areas you're passionate about and under your control. Guess what? It's time to show your co-workers what you're made of. Time to carve out one-hour of your work day and apply this same process. Yeah, maybe you don't have the same level of control and you'll miss some days here and there, but you know how this works! You put in the work using a pre-defined process, growth will follow.
These are Just Words, Now Take Action
How will you get started? What are you passionate about?
Need help getting started? Is wealth one of the mountains that you'd like to climb? Setup a free assessment call now and lets carve out that one hour per day right now!