By Inge Scheve, XC Oregon/Madshus USA
Success and failure both offer valuable learning experiences. Adventurer and expedition leader Liv Arnesen (NOR) offers advice on handling challenges.
"Dreams are not just for kids," Liv Arnesen says, explaining that diligence, training and planning are key ingredients to success. The experienced expedition leader has conquered the South Pole alone, crossed Antarctica with Ann Bancroft, skied Greenland and climbed in the Himalayas to mention just some of her adventures.
"I started dreaming when I was 8 years old, and I went to the South Pole when I was 42 years old.
But while some of her journeys have gone according to plan, other trips have handed her brutal challenges that have forced her to turn around. Altitude sickness forced her to turn around before summiting Mount Everest.
While the media are quick to point out failures, Arnesen explain that all experiences help her develop coping strategies. These are some of her tips, and they are easily transferable to training and racing.
Don't waste energy on things you can't control or change.
"When I was skiing across the snowy ice sheets with head winds and crawling over snow drifts as tall as myself, while pulling 200 pounds, I spent the first few days swearing loudly and becoming increasingly ticked off. Then I realized that swearing at the snow drifts wouldn't make them go away, but it would make my next 50 or 60 days miserable," she recalls. Arnesen then decided to quit complaining and focusing on what she accomplished.
"All of the sudden, I had incredible amounts of energy," she says.
Express your dreams.
Reflections are useful. Spend a little time recalling the past, but keep your main focus on the future, Arnesen says.
"Who do I want to be? What are my values? What do I want to accomplish with my life? Express what is important to you, and let these notes be your compass. It's all about the long-term plan," she advices.
Success is a combination of challenges and skills. "When challenges and skills are in balance, you are in a comfort zone. Every once in a while, you need to step outside the comfort zone by adding either new challenges or attaining new skills," Arnesen says.
Everything and anything can happen.
"Know that everything is possible and have a plan," Arnesen suggests, explaining that the plan needs to allow you to turn around when that's the sensible solution.
"Visualize the challenges and have a plan, but you have to believe in the dream or it won't come true."
Realize that not everyone want you to succeed, Arnesen warns, explaining that recognizing manipulative techniques can help you handle situations where others are trying to sabotage you. Some of the common manipulation techniques include ignoring, ridiculing, withholding information, double punishment and blame.
Team
An effort is only as good as the team behind it, Arnesen says. Building a great team takes time, but it requires the ability to listen, a desire to make each other better and recognizing that everyone on the team is 100 percent responsible for the team effort.
Handling stress is another factor of success. "Stress happens in all organizations, not only on Himalaya expeditions. Recognizing the triggers can help you deal with the stress and find ways to solve it."
Stress can be caused by a variety of factors, but often it occurs as a combination of several nuisances, Arnesen explains. Illness, poverty, home sickness, oxygen deprivation, fear, poor team environment, doubt and your own effort are some common stressors.
"Doubting yourself hurts and it's dangerous, maybe the most dangerous stress factor. Believe in yourself."
Competition
Competition within a team is not always helpful, Arnesen says, offering an example from her 1996 Mount Everest bid.
"Several expeditions down there were competing internally to be the first to summit and were willing to leave their own teammates behind in the snow to get there. It's ridiculous considering that thousands of people have already summited the mountain over the years," she recalls.
Handling failure
Arnesen never reached the top of Mount Everest. She suffered altitude sickness and was forced to return to base camp. But just attempting the mountain and 80 percent of her expedition reaching the top was more than she had imagined. Still, she was faced with the question of how she handled the failure. "I really didn't consider turning around short of dying was a failure at all," she explains, noting that it's useful to have an idea of what to gain from such experiences.
"Openness and security in the team is crucial for a positive experience regardless of plan and outcome. Find your own release mechanisms and realize that there is always something positive to draw from any experience. Think learning and consider how you may change the order of operations next time. Never forget that honesty brings respect regardless," Arnesen suggests.
"I thrilled that the Norwegian climbers on my team reached the summit and that they all returned safely to base camp," she says. "At that time, I realized that I was better at going across continents than at climbing mountains in the Himalayas, and I started focusing on Antarctica," she concludes with a laugh.