Descending the Summit

Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.

 — Ed Viesturs

“Climbing the mountain” is a common metaphor for tackling life’s challenges, especially in the world of entrepreneurship. It represents the struggles of building something from the ground up, such as launching a business, securing funding, or finally opening the doors to customers.

However, this mindset can be deceptive. It can lead us to believe that once we reach the peak—whether it’s securing that loan, launching that website, or hosting that grand opening—we’ve arrived. We think we’re safe.

In reality, there’s still a long way to go.

The Descent is More Dangerous than the Ascent

Reaching the summit of Mount Everest is an extraordinary feat, but the real danger lies in the journey back down. More climbers lose their lives descending than ascending. Exhaustion, complacency, and increased risks make the way down treacherous.*

In business, the descent symbolizes coming back down to earth after that initial high. It’s the moment you realize the journey won’t always be glamorous or exhilarating. You may even slip into complacency, making irrational choices. You risk adopting a donkey mindset. As you navigate the descent, you become more prone to mistakes, some of which can be very costly.

Minimize Losing

If going up the mountain represents “how you are going to win at the game of entrepreneurship,” then the descent down the mountain asks, “how will you minimize losing at this game?”

For first-time entrepreneurs, starting a business is a significant transition, an entry into an unfamiliar world with its own set of rules, many of which seem contradictory. As humans, we are wired to fear uncertainty. We crave security and control. Often, we settle for quick, easy answers, even if they aren’t the best solutions. But real transitions take time.

To avoid costly missteps on the way down, keep these key points in mind:

• Understand the market. Don’t become enamored with your own solutions or ways of doing things. Test your assumptions before going all in.

• Take calculated risks, not reckless ones. You don’t need to spend large sums of money upfront. Have you tested your idea in a low-risk way first?

• Balance patience with action. Avoid waiting endlessly for the perfect opportunity, but don’t rush blindly either. Stay aware and take strategic steps forward.

  
  

Lighten the Load in Your Personal Life

Another overlooked factor in the descent is the weight of personal burdens. Running a business is deeply intertwined with your personal life in ways that traditional employment isn’t. Your income and financial stability are now directly linked to your business’s success or failure.

Here are some key areas to evaluate to lighten your load:

1. Personal Finances: What’s your credit score? Are you managing debt effectively? Poor financial habits in your personal life will spill over into your business.

2. Time Commitments: Are you juggling too many responsibilities—pursuing a degree, taking courses, or overloaded with extracurriculars? Trying to do it all while running a business can be unrealistic.

3. Emotional Baggage: Are you dealing with a difficult divorce or an unsupportive relationship? These factors can drain your energy and focus.

4. Money Mindset: What beliefs do you hold about money and success? Are you blaming external factors, or are you taking accountability? (Read my blogs on the sabotaging mindsets part 1 and part 2).  

5. Work Environment: While some circumstances, like where you live or family responsibilities, may be unchangeable, you can still seek out positive environments. Surround yourself with peers, mentors, and industry experts who can support your growth.

   
   

Creating space for your business to thrive doesn’t require perfection, but minimizing unnecessary burdens will increase your odds of success. We all carry some load. A lighter load allows you to move more freely and make better decisions.

By all means, use the metaphor of climbing the mountain.

Just remember: there’s a second part—climbing down.

*Source: Why is the descent from Everest’s peak more dangerous than the climb up?