High Altitude Leadership

1. High Altitude Leadership Steven A. Brigance Litigation Solutions Group

2. Bibliography • A New Earth ~ Eckhart Tolle • Abandon Ship ~ Richard Newcomb • Albatross ~ Debra Scaling-Kiley • Alive ~ Piers Paul Read • The Boys of Everest ~ Clint Willis • Crazy for the Storm ~ Norman Ollestad • High Altitude Leadership ~ Chris Warner, Don Schmincke • Into the Wild ~ Jon Krakauer • Into Thin Air ~ Jon Krakauer • In Harm’s Way ~ Doug Stanton • Not Without Hope ~ Nick Schuyler • The Promise of Rest ~ Reynolds Price • Philippians ~ “The Apostle Paul” • Savage Summit ~ Jennifer Jordan • Seaworthy ~ TR Pearson • Simple Courage ~ Frank Delaney • Ten Degrees of Reckoning ~ Hester Rumberg • Touching the Void ~ Joe Simpson • The White Cascade ~ Gary Krist

3. Bibliography II Field Guide to the North American Bird ~Adam Blank & Lauren Blank Table of Contents Chapter 1: The Nest Chapter 2: BirdusClassicus Chapter 3: Birds for the Chicks Chapter 4: Bird Plumage Chapter 5: Office Birds Chapter 6: Party Birds Chapter 7: Birds for the Outdoorsman Chapter 8: Birds of Prey Chapter 9: Mechanical Birds Chapter 10: Birds of the World Chapter 11: Rejected Birds

4. The Word For the Day Afflatus A divine imparting of knowledge or power; inspiration – not today, at least not from me

5. Learning's From the BookHigh Altitude Leadership -9 Dangers- • Fear of failure from which you cannot recover (personal or professional death) • Selfishness – “What’s in it for me?” • Tool seduction • Arrogance • Lone heroism

6. Learning's From the BookHigh Altitude Leadership -9 Dangers- • Cowardice • Comfort • Gravity • A long journey ahead with no clear outcome guaranteed

7. Fear of Failure - Danger 1 • Counteract it or risk the thing you fear most • Accept failure as an option (not necessarily a desired option, but an acceptable possibility.) • Acceptance counteracts fear by providing the power & freedom to act • Never seek to conquer all fear – fear, if managed, focuses the mind

8. Selfishness - Danger 2 • DUD – dangerous, unproductive, dysfunctional behavior • Me first/CYA • Entitlement mentality – “what’s in it for me?”/ ”every person for him or herself” • “Grin Faking” • Blaming/finger pointing • Credit taking • Playing to the boss

9. Selfishness - Danger 2 Counteract selfishness by having a “compelling saga” – a passionate if not all consuming purpose beyond yourself, which involves other people.

10. Tool Seduction - Danger 3 • Popular saying – “in the end, the person with the most toys wins.” • Business corollary – “the company with the most ‘tools’ wins.” • Right best-selling book • Right jargon • Right computer system • Right consultant • Right resume

11. Tool Seduction - Danger 3 • Tool seduction is both costly & risky • “A fool with a great tool is still a fool” • Behavior & adaptation are key to avoiding tool seduction • Appropriate decisions • Appropriate actions/deeds/conduct • Adapt tools to you – not you to the tools

12. Arrogance- Danger 4 • In almost every failure event you will find one root cause to be arrogance/over-confidence • Arrogance places organizations and “teams” in danger of failure every day – Enron/Railroads • NIHS • Following past “successful” formulas in new circumstances • One antidote to arrogance • Humility – it hinders neither competence nor confidence

13. Lone Heroism - Danger 5 • A little mountain climbing humor: • Q: Why do mountain climbers rope themselves together? • A: To prevent the sensible from going home • Lone heroism, though on the surface may appear or even be admirable is dangerous • Not talking about the “brave” people willing to stand up for the truth & what's right • Talking about the ego-driven, selfish, glory seeking, dream-killing Lone Ranger

14. Antidotes to Lone Heroism • Ask for help • Rid yourself of the “if you want it done right…” mentality • Forge win-win partnerships • Give up control whenever prudent • Empower key talent • Give credit • Let accomplishments define the results

15. Cowardess - Danger 6 • Indicators – refusal to challenge traditional thinking; unwillingness to challenge the status quo; refusing to hold yourself and others accountable • Risk avoidance risks the very thing you fear most – failure • Antidote – bravery • How to instill bravery? • Some are naturally brave, others need to be taught

16. How to Teach Someone to be Brave • Shame (peer pressure) – not pretty but can be effective • Truth, not motivational speakers • By example – “walk the talk” • Beware, some will never be anything but cowards – take action

17. Comfort - Danger 7 • Comfort sabotages the search for greatness • “the enemy of the great is the good” • Great achievements often require periods of extreme discomfort • “The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling un-comfortable, unhappy or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by discomfort, we are most likely to step out of our ruts and to search for different ways or new truths.” ~ M. Scott Peck, Author & Psychiatrist

18. Comfort - Danger 7 • Some of the worlds greatest companies have achieved lofty goals only to be derailed by basking in the comfort of their achievements • Comfort promotes politeness – comfort’s “evil offspring” – which ultimately leads to truth avoidance • Antidotes to comfort • Take one more step – Press On • Persevere • Be comfortable being uncomfortable • Immerse yourself in the truth • Beware – blind persistence is not perseverance. Perseverance sometimes requires retreat.

19. Gravity - Danger 8 • “Mysterious force of uncertainty that unpredictably pushes or pulls us for no apparent reason – it can propel you forward or suck you down.” • You have no direct control over gravity – gravity, just like sh@#, “just happens.” And, at the “darndest” times. • Survival tip, LUCK – yes luck • Skilled luck • Pure luck

20. Gravity - Danger 8 Finding luck: • Work hard (Paul “Bear” Bryant) • Maximize your chances by being open to new opportunities, new people and new ideas • Follow your hunches, unless…

21. The Journey Begins and it is Long and UncertainDanger 9 Some concluding thoughts: • Ernest Hemingway, when asked how he went bankrupt, responded “gradually, then suddenly.” • So it is with High Altitude Leadership. Failure or success takes time and perseverance. Skills gradually emerge or disappear and success or failure explodes.

22. The Journey Begins and it is Long and UncertainDanger 9 • “DUD behavior in an organization doesn’t hit you as an avalanche. It creeps up on you.” • “Beware of the three small mistakes.” • Persevere, be passionate and don’t lose yourself in the process of seeking greatness. It’s never worth it.

23. Your Challenge • So, with your new company and new colleagues, take with you what you have seen and learned over the last 18 months and strive to be High Altitude Leaders. • What you do, care & service, can and should be as long as you are in this industry, the centerpiece of your “compelling saga.”

24. Your Challenge Suggestions • Embrace the possibility of failure, even death – don’t pretend it’s not out there • Think “we” not me • Don’t be seduced by tools – ours or anyone else's • Have humility • Seek win-win partnerships with your new colleagues • Have the courage of your convictions

25. Your Challenge Suggestions: • John Wooden – “be interested in what is correct, not who is correct.” Seek and live the truth, which is not dependant upon who has the power. • Get comfortable with being uncomfortable • Manage fear • It’s a long, dangerous journey, but what makes it worth it is doing the right things the right way – persevere, keep the passion.

26. “I took the road less traveled and it has made all the difference…” ~Robert Frost “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” ~Johnny Carson

27. Darryl’s Greatest Gifts • Perseverance • Focus on the Higher Purpose • Sacrifice/Unselfishness “No Greater Gift…”