Posts Tagged by success

I felt like the best way to start the new year was with the kind of story that inspires me. Nick Bramhall set out to accomplish something and in his quiet way, just went and did it. He decided to climb 100 Munros. There are some significant success tactics here if you’re looking as carefully as I am. I’ll give you my 8 Insights Into Nick’s Success here. See if you agree.

Please treat yourself by following the links through to Nick’s blog. But be warned! Nick has been been imbued with the peace of the Scottish landscape, carries it in his spirit, and brings it to his writing. You will be inspired by his stunning photos and descriptive writing. You will want to see the stags in the field and the mist on the Loch for yourself.

What follows is Nick’s email in response to some standard questions like “exactly what is a munro” and “how did you feel about your success.” I just didn’t see how I could improve on it. Besides…I followed the links and got lost in the beauty of the Scottish countryside.

Photo by Nick Bramhall

Hi Teresa,

Ok, so to begin with, Munros. I don’t know how much Leslie explained, but in total there are 283 Munros. The definition is “a Scottish mountain over 3,000 feet”. As recently as 1891 no-one had a clear idea of how many of these mountains existed in Scotland. The Scottish Mountaineering Club, one of the earliest such clubs in the world, was established in 1889 and one of its first activities was to clear this mystery up. Sir Hugh Munro, one of the club’s founding members, took up this challenge and devoted more than a year to research and study. This led, in September 1891, to the first publication of “Munro’s Tables” in the journal of the SMC. The tables listed 283 mountains over 3,000ft. Although there have since been revisions – some mountains have been promoted, some have been demoted – the list currently stands at the same number, 283.

I should probably mention at this point that I’ve actually only climbed one hundred of them so far, so I am only a little over a third of a way to climbing all 283. My original goal this year was to be on a hundred at or around my birthday back in July. Unfortunately circumstances conspired to delay that until late October. It did feel like a significant milestone though, particular as I have climbed 48 this year alone, many of which were tough and involved long, demanding days, and one in particular which involved an overnight camp, on my own, in the middle of nowhere!

I climbed my first Munro in November 2007. This was less than two months after I originally moved to Scotland to begin my graduate job in Aberdeen. Although I have always enjoyed walking (I only bought a car last year) I had never really done much walking outside of towns and country parks. When I was much younger my Grandpa was a leader in the Ramblers group in our town. The Ramblers are somewhat stereotyped in this country as people in anoraks ambling around the countryside, but my Grandpa was enthusiastic, led long walks, and even took me out on a few of their outings. I particularly enjoyed climbing one local hill called Roseberry Topping which is only about a half hour drive from my parents’ house, but has great views. In addition both a friend of my parents, and my uncle, are more serious mountaineers. They would share with us slideshows of trips to Scotland, the Alps and New Zealand which really captured my imagination at the time. It wasn’t however until I moved north to Scotland that I finally decided to give hiking a serious go. I did some research during the preceding week and on Friday night went into town to buy a rucksack, map and compass, flask and a few other things. The next morning I caught a bus out of Aberdeen and an hour and a half later began a walk that would see me cover more than 30km and climb my first Munro, Mount Keen. There is a fuller description on my blog, written at the time.

That day I immediately felt a passion kindled for the Scottish landscape and for long distance walking. The first of these was fueled by the fact that I love landscape photography (and landscape writing/description actually). Scotland on film is a glorious thing but it is another thing to be in that landscape. Scotland has relatively few roads so, to see much of it, the only real option is to walk. The way a landscape develops as you walk through it is very different to the development when you drive through it. I also feel that walking, being more naturalistic, allows you to better connect with the scenery. You aren’t looking at it through a pane of glass, you are in it; breathing the air, hearing the sounds, feeling the crunch of gravel under your boots. I can happily sit on a summit or by a chattering stream or looking down a deep glen and just be at peace with the landscape. It is so different in comparison with my working week which primarily centres around my computer or meetings. I value the time I am not there and feel it is important to get away from the city, from the office, from the normal routine.

As I say, my goal this year was only a partial goal, a step on the way to climbing all of the Munros. Still, the feeling on the day I hit 100 was joyful and was accompanied by a real sense of achievement. I’ve written a full account of it here. I have enjoyed every minute of it, even the tough times, and feel like it has been a very positive influence on my life, giving me space and time to reflect and to look forward.

I hope that’s ok to start with. Let me know whether you need any more information or whether there are other topics you want to touch on!

Nick

http://www.invertedworld.co.uk

You covered it all, Nick, either here or in your blog. Thank you for sharing with us all.

Read my 8 Insights into Nick’s Success in this post.

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I need your help. I’m looking for success stories. You see, it’s my theory that success is contagious. If you read about, hear about, talk to, rub shoulders with, or study successful people, you’re sure to gain some extra insight or inspiration you even closer to your own version of success.

What kind of success am I looking for?

Big success is built on a series of little successes! I want to give people an opportunity to shine at any level of success.

If you’ve been following this blog for any length of time you’ve probably read about “Gary” and his success. That kind of success stirs up our souls and makes us believe we can achieve anything we want. But there are plenty of other ways to succeed: I made my first $1,000 online! I found enough courage to get on stage and dance! I ran to the top of the steps just like Rocky!

Here’s my other motivation

Years ago I worked on a county newspaper as a staff writer. My favorite part of the job was the chance to do interviews for the People Pages. Interesting jobs, amazing hobbies, contests won, community service recognized…I loved it! Loved talking to the people, loved finding about their lives and what they loved, loved the energy they glowed with as they talked about what they loved. Wow! Lot of love in there. But newspaper work doesn’t pay all that well. Not enough to support a growing family, so I moved on to other things.

I still miss it! And want to recapture the fun of talking to people about what inspires them to achieve!

Again, I need your help. Please, recommend yourself, your friends, or even someone you’ve only heard about for an interview here on my blog. Everyone knows someone who is doing something interesting! Thank you so much!

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A frayed shoelace, a late oil change, an overflowing inbox – all of these used to drain energy from me. And let’s face it, Energy = Success. If you don’t have enough energy to “get it all done,” you just don’t reach that same level of success you’re working toward. You don’t have the same clear vision of where you’re going or the focus to stay on task.

Ever noticed that really successful people radiate calm, confident energy. I’m pretty sure they don’t get that way by tolerating situations, small or large, that will hold them back. So follow their lead! You’ll find some things that drain energy are easier to fix than you might think.

Try this 3 step process to clear up anything and everything that’s draining energy from moving toward your goals.

Step 1 Get out some paper and ask yourself – What am I tolerating? This can be a loose doorknob, a can opener that has to go around twice, a co-worker’s interruptions, or your own disorganization.

Step 2 Write it all down. All of it. Every little, stupid thing that pops into your head.
This step is more important than you might give it credit. All those annoying habits, less than effective tools, things at work, things at home, friends, family, the dog… If this list takes a while, it’s worth it. Getting it all out on paper clears the air and makes it possible for you to create a plan to…

Step 3 Take care of it. Schedule an hour or two a week, or a few minutes each day, to deal with the things on your list. Start with the easy stuff if you need to build up your courage. Or go for the big stuff first if the relief of having it off your mind will make the rest easier. As you get things cleared off your list, you’ll begin to feel the difference. You step into the flow of a more effortless life. You find the energy that used to be drained away by irritation going toward producing results.

Just a couple of examples

There’s a shirt in the closet that you never wear because it has a loose button. Take care of it. Pull out a needle and thread, have your laundry service do the repair or get rid of the shirt! Why have it hanging there if you’re not going to wear it.

And that annoying co-worker who doesn’t seem to have enough work. Oh, yeah! They gave you half his work because the boss knew you’d get it done! Not too professional to snarl and call either one of them names. Maybe tell him you’re swamped and ask if he’d like to meet for lunch and talk then. If he doesn’t get the hint, you might have to step it up a notch, but you do have the right to take back your time. Exercise that right!

Now Celebrate! Do not – I repeat – do not wait until you’re finished with the whole list to reward yourself. Celebrate each week, each day, for every ten items checked off – however suits you best. You don’t want to wait until the list is complete if you’re at all like me. I started this practice several years ago and just keep adding things to my list. Don’t be thinking I’m just easily annoyed! I’ve finally learned that I don’t have to put up with things I used to needlessly tolerate. And I keep raising my standards! The point is to continually clear up the things that drain energy from your success and celebrate along the way! Here’s to your success!

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