Small Steps, Big Summits: How Kaizen Fueled My Endurance and Success
Share
Kaizen, the art of continuous improvement through small, steady steps, is not just a business philosophy; it’s a lived reality for endurance athletes and entrepreneurs alike. My journey with the 29029 Everest challenge over the past four years is proof of its power.
Learning the Hard Way: My 29029 Journey
In 2022, I made my first attempt at 29029. Fueled by adrenaline and ambition, I pushed too fast, paid little attention to my heart rate, and six hours in, fainted, ending my challenge before I truly began. In 2023, a second attempt took me higher, yet the same mistake happened; I fainted again and spent time in a hospital for monitoring. Later that year, attempt number three saw me complete the event, but my achievement was marred by an out-of-body experience and a mental blackout at the finish; for whatever reason, I never felt like I had finished, and this meant I had to try it again. This weekend, on my fourth attempt, I crossed the finish line clearheaded and proud, savoring the win that came from building and sticking to a better process, with steady learning and improvement each year.
The Kaizen Philosophy in Practice
This is the essence of Kaizen. Every misstep became a lesson. Each lesson was folded back into my training: slower, smarter, steadier. Kaizen isn’t sexy, and progress isn’t always Instagrammable. But those incremental gains compound over time, adding up to real transformation, whether you’re climbing mountains or building a business.
Rethinking Success: Lessons for Business
Imagine if business embraced this mindset. Rather than a high-pressure sprint to roll out an ERP or HR system in 18 months, what if project plans spanned 5 or 8 years? Wouldn’t patient, thoughtful, steady effort, not frantic speed, lead to more sustainable success? I bet it would.
The Takeaway: Small Steps to Big Wins
Whether on the mountain or in the boardroom, Kaizen proves that small steps, done consistently, are the surest route to achievement and to enjoying the view when you finally arrive.