Episode 14: Leadership Lessons From The Top Of Mount Everest

Since I was a kid, I have always been fascinated with The Death Zone.

No, that is not some zombie movie. I actually don’t like zombie movies or horror movies. Give me an action movie or an inspirational sports movie or a comedy or a superhero movie. Just not a zombie movie.

Anyways, The Death Zone is a term used by mountain climbers. In mountaineering, the death zone refers to altitudes above 26,000 feet where the pressure of oxygen is insufficient to sustain human life for an extended time span. All 14 mountains that are 26,000 feet or higher are in the Himalayas.

As soon as a mountain climber goes above 26,000 feet, their body starts to die. The summit of Mount Everest is 29,031 feet.

Since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated by people that would choose to do that to themselves. Why would someone climb into an area where you need bottled oxygen just to survive? Even today, 70 years after the first successful expedition, climbing Mount Everest is still considered one of the world’s greatest feats of physical endurance.

On today’s episode of the Private School Leader podcast, I am going to share with you 5 Leadership Lessons from the top of Mount Everest:

• Your teachers need to see very clearly that they are part of something bigger than themselves.
• Get super clear on your goals so that you can make better decisions when you are stressed out.
• Your leadership skills will only take you so far. What will take you the rest of the way comes from your heart.
• Becoming a better leader is a process and it is OK to fail.
• Leaders should always see farther than everyone else.

You won’t need an ice axe, a climbing harness or special boots, but I promise that you will learn some important leadership lessons from the highest point on planet Earth.

I’d like to ask you for a quick favor. Can you please rate and review this podcast? This will help the algorithm push this podcast out to more leaders who might benefit from this content. Thanks!

I hope that you will listen to this week’s episode. Maybe while you're driving to school or walking the dog, just pop in those earbuds for your weekly dose of motivation, inspiration and PD! You check out a ton of free resources at www.theprivateschoolleader.com/resources and you can grab the show notes at www.theprivateschoolleader.com/episode14

Thanks for making a difference!

Mark Minkus