Habitudes - The Half-Hearted Mountain Climber
The Fulling Management & Accounting team has started watching a new video series! Every week in our staff meetings, we watch a culture & leadership video to aid in our professional and personal development. The series we’re watching now is by Dr. Tim Elmore and is based on his book Habitudes - The Art of Self-Leadership. Follow along as we learn about self-leadership.
Dr. Elmore starts this lesson by sharing about a mountain in Switzerland that attracts many tourists to come hike up it. There is a café halfway up the mountain and most people stop here to get a treat. However most of those who stop at the don’t continue hiking up the mountain. Those who stay comfortably in the café see the select few who have pushed on, made it to the top of the mountain and are now returning to the café. Elmore shares that those who have decided to stay in the café and not continue on “have exchanged excellence for mediocrity.”
Mediocre means “middle of the rock”. It was a rock climbing term about those who had the goal of reaching the top but stopped halfway through. “But there’s no such thing as a half-hearted mountain climber,” says Elmore, “Nobody accidently climbs to the top of a mountain.” Just as is true for a mountain climber, it takes purpose and commitment for a leader to reach their goals. A leader cannot simply be involved and not committed.
Many people are involved in things but they are not committed to them. “We tend to not commit ourselves because we don’t want to narrow our focus. The problem is, we can’t do it all,” says Elmore. When you make a commitment, there will be energy, resources and wisdom at your disposal. If we commit ourselves to what matters for an extended period of time it will become a conviction you are willing to die for.
Food for thought…
When you think about your team, what are some examples you have seen of being “committed”?
What are some ways you serve your clients that can easily become mediocre?
What are some ideas of how you could exchange mediocrity for excellence?