Appalachian Trail Trip Reflections

My son is hiking the Appalachian Trail this spring, so I decided to join him for a week while I’m old enough to appreciate it, but still young enough to keep up. While the mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee are a different world from the business environment where I spend most weekdays, there are similarities that span all these places where we spend our lives. This blog will list a few.

Preparation

When preparing for a week in the woods, great deliberation helps to minimize weight and maximize comfort. All people, and all organisms, strive to maximize return on minimal effort. When I left home, my pack, which included a sleeping bag, tent, clothes for all possible weather and other necessities weighed about 24 pounds. 2 Liters of water (daily minimum consumption), and a week of food brought my pack weight into the low 30s. 15 to 20 years ago weights for the same trip would be in the low to mid 40s; less today due to advances in clothing technology. Similarly business tools including PowerPoint, iPads, and other technological progress make presentations more efficient today. Preparation, however, still means the difference at the margins. The success of any business presentation is always greatly affected by the level of preparation by the presenter. One day, I met a hiker who was carrying a 50 lb pack, and quickly advanced out in front of him in spite of his 30 year younger legs. Similarly, a good business presentation with deliberate and diligent preparation will outpace a poorly prepared message any day.

Balance

The old expression "All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy" is as true on the trail as it is at work. My business coach reminds me to be sure that my work, personal, and spiritual lives are in balance. Similarly, on the trail, our bodies need a break every once in a while. One afternoon, after hiking the highest mountain along our trip, we decided to continue with a night hike to double our mileage for a 21+ day. The next day we took a "Near-0", (some “take a Zero”), hiking just five and half miles out to Erwin Tennessee. We so enjoyed that brief interlude of camping, instead of hiking, that morning with time for a campfire and a hot cup of coffee after all the hikers left for the trail. And my feet healed a little.

Similarly, in business, a day of rest makes sense to recharge ourselves from time to time, especially following a difficult or especially lengthy day.

Challenges

In business we know that setting SMART goals which challenge us sets an important path to success. Challenges on the trail are equally important. Fellow hikers (substitute “workers”) may push us to accept challenges that we rise up to meet. But it is equally important to reject those challenges where you are bound to fail. Failure on the trail can be life threatening so especially when the risk of failure is severe, pay heed. On the other hand, the ability to rise up and meet those challenges that must be met fosters perseverance, fortitude and discipline. These make us better at whatever we do.

Give and Take

Stephen Covey wrote that win-win situations should be pursued in business as well as in life. On the trail the level of generosity is tempered by shared resource limitations (there's only so much food in reserve). But the happiest hikers seemed to be those willing to help others. The evening of our first day of hiking, G surprised us by breaking out a six-pack of PBR Talls. This gesture of generosity added approximately 20% to the weight she carried that day, but the satisfaction of presenting these to her friends was worth the hurt. Mentors in business find deep satisfaction in helping others. Give to receive.

One big difference – hospitality vs. generosity

As a child I was taught about self-reliance, and never been comfortable accepting charity; but am always pleased to accept hospitality. But when you are tired and cold and thirsty and weak after a difficult day’s hike, accepting Gatorade, a slot in the shelter (we routinely exceeded stated capacity), and other forms of charity are accepted without hesitation. Thus, I offer a message to those who are kind enough to donate or offer charity in their lives: the recipients of your largesse may feel better about your generosity if it is offered in the spirit of hospitality, not just out of charity. They may also be too desperate to make the distinction.

Risk: frequency and severity

When climbing on ice covered rocks in a steep incline, a misstep can be disastrous and even life threatening. Whenever I return to towns lined with sidewalks and curb cuts and warning signs saying to "watch your step," I am amazed by how safe public ways are. It’s good that we can walk around without fear of falling into a ravine. Safe walkways prevent injuries, and allow us to focus on other matters. But a sterile environment also dulls our senses. I believe that it is healthy for all of us to step away from the sterile and predictable environment we work in, to experience the high sensitivity required by unpredictable (risky) terrain, if only to feel the rush of focus and fear. Taking a measure of risk in our lives and then dealing with it appropriately keeps us alert and makes us better.

Final thoughts

This hike was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Stepping out of our comfort zone into unpredictable new areas forces us to be better, to grow, and if we’re lucky, to forge new relationships. While living in great discomfort for a week is not for everyone, I urge anyone to step into an environment where sensitivities are sharpest and life explodes before us.