Prepare Yourself for Adventure
I met Ben Saunders. He’s an explorer, storyteller, World Record Holder, and about to change the world.
Why say, ‘yes.’
I’ve recently taken to the art of the “cold call.” I’ve been reaching out to folks that I admire and asking if I can have a conversation with them for the Venture Out podcast.
Humbled, I can’t believe how many of them have said yes, to an unknown like me with no compensation. So why do they say yes?
That’s Ben Saunders, who’s spent two decades leading polar expeditions, one of three people in history to ski solo to both the North and South poles, and world record holder for the longest-ever polar journey on foot. He’s an explorer, storyteller, and father.
And he said yes to being on my podcast! But why?!
Saunders can be called many things, but for me, the word that comes to mind is, ‘adventurer.’
ad·ven·ture /ədˈven(t)SHər/ noun 1. an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity.
But that dictionary definition is not descript enough. Let’s dig deeper into the etymology:
c. 1200, aventure, auenture “that which happens by chance, fortune, luck,” from Old French aventure (11c.) “chance, accident, occurrence, event, happening,” from Latin adventura (res) “(a thing) about to happen,” from fem. of adventurus, future participle of advenire “to come to, reach, arrive at.”
Ok, clearly the luck that is happening here is me getting an awesome, free interview with a renowned person! But perhaps Saunders is also opening himself up to the possibility of an unknown outcome, by spending time with me and you, the Venture Out reader.
The meaning developed through “risk; danger” (a trial of one’s chances), c. 1300, and “perilous undertaking” (late 14c.) to “novel or exciting incident, remarkable occurrence in one’s life” (1560s).
Again, I think I am the recipient of these adjectives…
Earlier it also meant “a wonder, a miracle; accounts of marvelous things” (13c.). Venture is a 15c. variant.
Ah yes, and there’s the callback to the Venture! You’re here to read some insights on productivity, positivity, and just getting a bit better at this thing called life. And Saunders said yes because he’s always been interested in the unknown, but also because of something he’s discovered through his incredible feats… kindness matters most.
“Kindness gives me hope. Seeing someone helping someone else out. Someone smiling at someone else. Stranger smiling at a stranger.” — Ben Saunders, The Adventure Podcast
FIRST TAKEAWAY
A simple act of kindness is, in itself, a form of adventure. It opens up you and the other person to an unknown future.
Overcome Your Crux
For the podcast ep, featuring Explorer, Storyteller, and World Record Holder Ben Saunders, I actually met up with Ben at his hotel to do the recording, and wow, what a treat it was to meet one of my role models IRL!
I confess I was looking for how he would be dressed. Not because I’m a wannabe GQ scout, but imagine meeting someone who’s made a mark on the world by pulling a massive sled of over 400 pounds for 1,800 miles in Antarctica for over 100 days. Your definition of clothes means survival. But here in the hotel, he’s simply in grey sweats and sporting an old wise man beard, not GoreTex gaiters.
I was also looking for any behaviors that would be a telltale sign that this man has spent not an insignificant portion of his life outdoors and a lot of that time solo. I was interested in observing any nervous ticks when surrounded by the loudness of other humans. Yet, after almost an hour together, I could only discern this man was genuinely happy. He exudes a sense of wonder and happiness that was perhaps borne from an understanding that nature is amazing and that we humans are part of nature.
In the world of adventure, the word crux means a particular point of difficulty. If point A is the beginning and you’re trying to get to point B, then the crux is the most difficult point along that journey. It’s a common term used in rock climbing, where the crux is the section of the rock wall where most people fall.
Right now, at this very moment, you have a crux in your life. What is it?
We are each on a journey. We all have goals, things we want to achieve. It might be something super specific, like running further, getting a promotion, or hiking solo unassisted to the South Pole. Perhaps it’s more vague, like having an amazing relationship, living a healthier life, or being a world-recognized explorer.
Therefore, right now in our journey, there is a crux we need to overcome. This is where most others will fall, but not us.
In Ben Saunder and Tarka L’Herpiniere’s expedition to the South Pole and back, Day 70 represented the crux.
It set the world record for the longest ever polar journey on foot, but 70 days in, hypoglycaemic and down to half-rations, Saunders took it upon himself to call for an air-drop of food. The action probably saved his teammate’s life — he was becoming hypothermic — and possibly his own. But it meant the journey no longer qualified as unsupported.
“At the time it felt like I’d blown it. Now, with four years’ reflection, I think it represented, finally, some kind of coming of age.”
I find thinking of our life challenge as a crux a useful analogy. If you’re a rock climber training to overcome that rock wall’s toughest section…
The time-tested training strategy is to configure a simulator of the route’s hardest moves. Logging lots of reps on this simulator will refine nervous system motor programs for more efficient, nuanced movement; it also targets the muscles in a very specific way to develop route-specific strength and power. — Eric J. Hörst, Training for Climbing
In other words, they use an indoor rock wall with the handholds configured as it would be in real life, and they keep practicing. So much practice that it becomes muscle memory.
For example, a crux that I’m going through is in dealing with my aging parents, and their stubbornness to accept the right kind of help. I’ll def acknowledge I’m doing a poor job of confronting and pushing them for change. If I were to apply this rock climbing technique, it might look like practicing this confrontation sensation with them on smaller issues to build up to the bigger changes. None of this is easy for me, but it’s what’s needed if there’s to be a different outcome.
SECOND TAKEAWAY
Ben Saunders has had his share of cruxes given the incredible adventures he’s embarked on. But he’s trained for them, learned the skills to overcome, and has built a mental toughness that is indescribable.
We can do the same for our own life adventures.
Although, some days I’d rather be pulling a massive sled for 1,800 miles for over 100 days than talk to my mom.