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Man Morning #20 - You don’t climb a mountain by accident

Man Morning #20 - You don’t climb a mountain by accident

Your lungs must earn it, fire and enthusiasm, and nothing is impossible.

GM. This is Man Morning - the newsletter for the man who wants to wake up each morning with a greater sense of purpose and community.

In today’s issue:

⛰️ Your lungs must earn it
💬 Smart words
📺 What we’re watching

⛰️ YOUR LUNGS MUST EARN IT

Imagine you were magically dropped off at the top of Mount Everest at 29,000 feet. What do you think would happen?

If it was a clear day, odds are you would take in an epic view. Then you would pass out.

You might even die.

Why? Because your lungs couldn’t handle the very thin air.

By getting dropped off, you would have skipped the most important part of trekking Everest - the gradual climb that acclimates your lungs to the increased altitude.

Another way to put it - you didn’t earn it.

You don’t climb a mountain by accident.

It takes preparation and time. It takes dedication and effort. It takes commitment.

The challenge in society today, especially with the prevalence of Amazon Prime, is that everyone wants everything right now. Even if they haven’t done the work required.

People who begin brand-new jobs want a promotion three months later.

Someone who takes a beginner’s improv comedy class thinks they’re ready for Saturday Night Live.

That dude who just purchased DJ software for his laptop expects to headline at a sold-out nightclub in Ibiza.

It’s no wonder that after someone wins a reality TV talent competition, 2 years later they’re often nowhere to be found.

It’s not that they weren’t talented. It’s just that reality shows press fast-forward on what should probably take people years.

The success arrived prematurely.

They got to the top of the mountain too soon and were unable to sustain being there.

It’s no wonder that so many lottery winners are more likely to declare bankruptcy than the average American.

Anything worth achieving, takes time and effort.

Climbing a “mountain” requires constantly taking another step forward amid turmoil, uncertainty, setbacks, and changing conditions.

It requires doing the unsexy and unglamorous work that most would rather avoid.

We all can fall in love with the process of “climbing” and doing the work, day in and day out - even when no one is watching.

When you skip over the hard stuff, you’re bound to miss the good stuff.

So, have you done the work? More importantly, are you willing to do more?

💬 SMART WORDS

📺 WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Speaking of mountain climbing…

14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, is an amazing documentary that captures the seemingly impossible and dangerous quest of Nepali mountaineer Nimsdai Purja to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in a record time of under 7 months.

The riveting film includes (Spoiler Alert) tragic deaths, lobbying of governments for mountain access, a mother’s heart attack, and many highs and lows.

A powerful moment in the film is when Purja tells the camera:

"I always say to myself, I'm not going to die today. Maybe tomorrow, but not today."

Watch the trailer. Watch the film.