Leveraging Rock Climbing Strategies in Making Decisions

Photo by Jeff Ochoa on Unsplash

I’ve got a bit of a story for you. A few years back, I was hanging out in the Himalayas, and I stumbled upon this phrase: “Think like a rock climber.” It was a bit of a head-scratcher at first, but it stuck with me.

As time went on, whenever I faced a tricky decision, those words would flash before my eyes, guiding me. It started to make a lot of sense. Reaching the peak is the result of many small decisions a rock climber makes, and each decision can be a matter of life and death. But they also make only one decision at a time. Each one requires focus on the immediate, an assessment of their position, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, and taking calculated risks. The same goes for making real-life decisions, whether personal or business.

Thinking like a rock climber can transform the way we approach decision-making, especially during difficult times. In this article, I’m going to unpack my approach to “think like a rock climber.”

Alright, so you’re probably thinking, “That’s cool and all, but how do I actually think like a rock climber?” Well, let’s break it down.

1. Assess Your Current Position: This is about being realistic and honest about where you are at the moment. It’s about understanding your present situation in all its complexity. It means identifying your strengths and acknowledging your weaknesses. It’s about evaluating the resources you have and the challenges you face. This isn’t the time for optimism or pessimism, but for realism.
2. Explore All Your Options and Resources: Once you understand where you are, you need to figure out where you could go. This means looking at every possible option and resource you have. It’s about thinking laterally and creatively, not just in terms of what you could do, but also what you could leverage to help you do it. It involves extensive research, brainstorming, and sometimes even seeking advice from others.
3. Focus on What’s in Your Reach: After understanding your current situation and exploring all possibilities, it’s time to narrow your focus. Among all the options you’ve considered, which ones are within your grasp? Which ones can you act upon with the resources and abilities you currently possess? No matter how great the options are, a rock climber can choose only the ones within reach. This step is about setting achievable goals and creating a realistic action plan.
4. Choose the Most Optimal Option: Now, it’s decision time. Based on your assessment of your current position, the options and resources available to you, and what’s within your reach, you must choose the most optimal path forward. This is often a balancing act between what’s ideal and what’s practical.
5. Repeat: The process doesn’t end with making a decision. Just like a rock climber doesn’t reach the peak with one move, you won’t reach your ultimate goal with one decision. It’s a series of decisions, each building upon the last. After making one decision and taking action, you assess your new position, explore your options again, focus on what’s within your reach, make another decision, and so on. Each decision moves you closer to your goal.

By thinking like a rock climber, we can navigate through difficult decisions step by step. It’s not about making one big leap, but rather, a series of calculated moves. Each decision brings you closer to your goal, just like each move brings a climber closer to the peak. So next time you’re facing a challenging decision, remember the rock climber, and keep on climbing.