Balance
On the edge of 2000 foot drop-offs is no place for someone with two left feet or a tendency to be klutzy. The margin for error is too small. Balance is important not only in the physical sense but also emotionally and internally as you move through your journey. There will be highs and lows and the ability to maintain an inner calm and a faith in a higher power is critical to personal mastery. The same balance is needed in our daily lives if we plan on living fully and being effective at the things we want to do.

Flexibility
On the mountain it took the form of being able to stretch and contort our bodies to fit the spaces given to us. At times I simply shouted to my partner who has shorter legs than I, "just grow, will you!??" In life and business flexibility is needed to go with the flow and respond to the constant and never-ending changes and challenges in today's environment.

Strength
It takes a lot of inner strength to achieve a goal. In our case it took a bit of physical strength as well. Keeping yourself strong by giving yourself attention and care on all levels - body, mind, and spirit - will allow you to have a stronger foundation on which to build the life and business of your wildest dreams.

Stamina
Having a deep well and the resources to tap into are important for the long haul. Treat your life and your business like you would a distance run. Pace yourself, take breaks along the way, and remember to stop and refuel.

Persistence
Keep at it and put one foot in front of the other. On the hike, there were definitely times when fatigue would set it, muscles would burn, or a moment of fear and anxiety would take over. Our life is not defined by any given moment. We do not achieve success nor fail in any one moment. Rather, it is our ability to string successful moments together and make consistent empowering choices over time that allow us to experience the exhilaration of the moment when it all comes together.

Support System
The people, places, and things in our life when combined form the environment and support system so vital to keeping us alive and well. On our hike it meant food, water, layers of clothing, and connecting with people along the way. It looks a lot like that in real life as well in that we need to meet our physical needs and our emotional needs as well. The relationships we cultivate with ourselves and others whether business or personal create the ultimate supporting structure upon which we build our dreams.