In 2022, my family and I set out on an adventure—climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. As an insatiable learner and professional in tech, I thrive on challenges in my professional and personal life. Joined by close friends, my husband, and our oldest son, we set out to conquer the world’s tallest free-standing mountain.
The climb, spanning over a week, was challenging for sure. At nearly 6,000 meters, Kilimanjaro tests one’s physical and mental strength like nothing else. For perspective, you must wear an oxygen mask in a non-pressurized plane for more than 30 minutes at just over 3,000 meters—this is the elevation that the hike started, and we were at or above this altitude for almost a week. On day six, nearing the summit, exhaustion and doubts crept in. My head pounded, I was dehydrated, and worse, I watched my son struggle. He had to force himself to eat for days and struggled to keep food down during the last push to the summit. The voice in the back of my aching head kept asking if we had reached our limit and should stop. Yet, amid the adversity, our guides, seasoned experts with unwavering resolve, kept us going and cheered us on. They knew our needs, reminded us of the game plan, forced us to eat and drink, and kept our spirits up.
You know what? We did it. We reached the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and my son and I found one another and just cried—out of relief and sheer joy.
I share this story because my experience summiting Kilimanjaro mirrors many aspects of my approach to work. Success, I’ve learned, is a collective endeavor. It’s about teamwork, persistence, planning, focusing on quick wins, and celebrating shared success.
Here are five key takeaways from my climb that I apply to my daily work and hope will benefit you too!
- It takes a team: Climbing Kilimanjaro would have been impossible without the support and expertise of our guides. Just like our guides rallied us, successful businesses collaborate across functions to exceed customer expectations and achieve shared goals. At Freshworks, our collective responsibility is to exceed expectations, guiding our customers toward success while fueling our own.
- Plan and prepare: Thorough planning and preparation are critical in business. Just as we meticulously planned our climb and kept each other focused on executing the plan, a well-defined strategy, combined with an understanding of potential obstacles, assists organizations in navigating challenges and staying on track with objectives. Shared OKRs and joint resource planning across functions can achieve similar results.
- When times get tough, persevere: Challenges and setbacks are inevitable, but a determined mindset and willingness to persevere can lead to success. Climbing that mountain was grueling, but it was a dream—a goal. We had amazing people around us who knew we could make it and pushed us beyond what we thought might be our limits. I tell my work team, “don’t let a skinned knee stop you.” If you run into a roadblock, change your operational approach or divide tasks differently. Embracing grit and perseverance will lead to consistent improvement.
- Focus on quick wins, and celebrate them: As we climbed and faced challenges, prioritizing quick wins was crucial. Whether it was measuring our progress in distance or simply ensuring we could keep food down, focusing on small victories kept us motivated. At work, focus on short-term objectives that contribute to long-term success. Celebrating team achievements is key to building morale and camaraderie.
- Take a systemic approach: Climbing Kilimanjaro requires following safety rules, using proper gear, and adapting to change. Similarly, achieving success in business requires executional rigor, accountability, and clarity across the organization. This involves emphasizing accountability and execution, with executives leading by example from the top down. Maintaining clarity and rigor around accountability and execution across the organization is essential.
Whether you’re scaling a mountain or bringing a new product to market, I hope my learnings will help you (and your teams) summit success.
