The views expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their very own.
In my experience as an entrepreneur, having a passion outside of my business has been integral to my personal growth and efforts to balance my skilled and personal commitments. Rock climbing has often been my passion.
Although climbing is now something I find time for in my free time, 15 years ago my husband and I traveled across the country for three months, living in our automotive, to check our climbing skills.
Climb by climb, we broke recent ground, made strategic decisions, and relied on resilience and adaptability to succeed in our grueling, vertical pursuits. This was years before I became a business owner. But now, as I reflect on the experience and the lessons I learned from climbing, I see much more how much those lessons mirror the trials and triumphs of building and scaling a business.
1. Nothing is insurmountable
Rock climbing is difficult and grows with you. It requires determination and fortitude to beat what may initially seem insurmountable obstacles. If you desire to improve, you have to place in the time and work. No one else will do it for you. And when you stop working, it quickly shows.
It’s the love and despair of climbing. And business. It’s often not fun and a lot of labor until it comes together and you are feeling the rush of success.
I distinctly remember a trip to Bishop, California, to climb a boulder that I had missed the 12 months before and that had left me in tears. I had been forced to depart and return home without being “sent.” Here I used to be, a 12 months later, driving to Bishop in March at sunset, and regardless that it was cold and getting dark, I couldn’t wait. “Let’s go there now,” I said to my husband. This time I made it on my first try.
When building a business, you have to be willing to take a beating, make mistakes, fail, and then get back up and keep going. You can’t let fear derail you or discourage you. I don’t know of any entrepreneur who doesn’t feel overwhelmed by what’s ahead. Building and growing a business is definitely an uphill climb. But if you truly wish to win, you’ll keep trying until you succeed, even if it means getting a few bumps and bruises along the way.
2. The key is the big picture
Successful climbs and businesses start with a clear vision of success. Before climbing a rock face, you want to assess the route, discover potential problems, and develop an approach strategy. Often, visualizing yourself completing the climb can provide the motivation you want to reach the top.
When I built my family business, Marshall Building & Remodeling, the big picture got here easily. My goal was to deliver seamless, efficient operational excellence—making it easy for our customers to attach with us, delivering a high-quality product, and providing an exceptional customer experience. Once I had the vision, the hard part was making it occur.
3. Take one move at a time
One of my biggest suggestions is to interrupt things down into small pieces. Yes, the big picture is essential, but the devil is in the details—step by step, move by move. It doesn’t matter how long or how high the climb is (literally or metaphorically); you have to focus on what’s directly in front of you.
Rock climbing often comes all the way down to micro-adjustments (e.g., how do I shift my weight or how much pressure do I want to use at this point?). The same is true for growing a business. What steps do I want to take to execute my plan? How can I rethink the customer journey at any given moment? For me, it got here all the way down to processes and people and how they fit together. The details could also be different for you. Either way, you may’t be afraid to get specific, to actually break things down and rebuild them until they meet (or exceed) your expectations.
4. Learning together can make it easier to reach recent levels
Rock climbing is a journey of constant learning. Climbers refine techniques, share “beta” (i.e., information about moves or sequences), and seek mentoring to enhance their skills. Similarly, successful entrepreneurs should adopt a growth mindset, prioritize continuous learning, and adapt strategies based on advice from mentors, market feedback, and industry trends. When you remain open to continuous improvement, you may unlock innovation and competitiveness, which may, in turn, empower you to attain greater heights and sustain long-term success.
5. Go at your individual pace
Like building a business, mountaineering isn’t about chasing others. It’s about creating your individual path. While I’m competitive in business and sports, it’s really about attempting to outdo myself. Any business leader will inform you that the entrepreneurial journey is a marathon, not a sprint. You have the power to set the pace based on what works best for you and the long-term health of your online business.
It could also be tough; you might need to vary your expectations or change direction, but ultimately, once you get over that first hurdle or reach that first milestone, my best advice is to only keep looking forward. Remember, preparation, resilience, and adaptability are the universal keys to reaching the heights of business success.