How to Eat an Elephant


I recently returned from a wonderful vacation in the U.S. I spent some time with my family, visited some friends, and spent three weeks in Alaska, climbing Mt. McKinley. Mt. McKinley, or Denali, is the highest mountain in North America. Before I started the climb, I asked a climber who had just flown off the mountain if he had any last-minute advice. "Climb one day at a time," he said wisely.

Our lead guide, who has six summits of Mt. Everest, reinforced this sage advice when he asked us, "How do you eat an elephant?" The answer, of course, is "One bite at a time." I'm taking this for granted, because I have never eaten an elephant, nor do I plan to. It made me think, however, that we all have our own "elephants" to eat. Sometimes it is best to remind ourselves to "eat" them one bite at a time.

Our unforgettable climb began at 7,200 feet where we arrived by aircraft at the Kahiltna glacier. The thought of ascending to 20,320 over a distance of about 15 miles (somewhat steep) was a little daunting that first day. After 5 days, we had only reached 11,000 feet but had covered more than half of the horizontal distance. This meant that the remaining elevation gain would be quite rapid. It was important to travel slowly, both for acclimatization purposes and to become stronger rather than weaker as the climb continued.

We reached the summit 13 days after we landed on the mountain. At times we traveled no faster than 1/4 mile per hour, breathing at a rate of 2-3 breaths per step as the amount of available oxygen gradually diminished. There were times when I thought I could only take one more step. So I would take it, and then I'd take one more, and one more, until I had climbed for two more hours.

Every day I stayed focused on that day. I didn't think about all the climbing that lay ahead, just what my task for that day was. At the beginning of each day, I knew I could do what had to be done, whereas if I thought too far ahead, I might have doubted my ability to finish.

ACTIVITY

What is the elephant in your life? Do you have a task that you have been putting off because it seems to big too tackle? What about a change you want to make in your life that would require time, patience and courage?

Write down at the top of a sheet of paper what it is that you want to do. Make a timeline for completion, and break the task into smaller, less intimidating steps. Continue breaking the task down until you think you can manage each individual step.

Now start eating that elephant!

If you would like some support "eating your elephant," please don't hesitate to send me an email!

Jenni Fogle, Personal Coach http://www.vitaricca.com

Please email jennifogle@vitaricca.com to subscribe to my free monthly newsletter or for more information about how coaching can enrich your life!

MORE RESOURCES:
RELATED ARTICLES
The Rate of Change
There have been many discussions and grumblings in the Western world about the ever increasing pace of change and the ability of the brain to accept it. The Internet (something uninteresting that the American Military was developing) suddenly became a required household feature.
Keep Motivated To Succeed Online!
Starting and managing a business takes motivation and talent. It also takes research and planning.
My Grandmother Never Had a Degree
There were four generations sitting at the kitchen table, smacking on Mommy's delicious meal-somehow we never made it to the dining room. I smiled to myself when I thought of how fabulous this truly was--sitting here, next to my grandmother, my mother, my father, my sister, my children and my niece-celebrating Mother's Day.
Vanity Killed My Car
When I was a freshman in college, my first car was a 1973 Dodge Swinger. Stop laughing! When I first bought the car it was quite sad looking.
Maintaining Your Motivation
I recently spoke to a group of sales professionals at the end of their training conference. The attendees had participated in many learning sessions over a two day period - most of which were product related.
Is Failure the End of Everything?
"The important thing is to learn a lesson every time you lose." --John McEnroeMuch as we would like, not everything is going to go our way.
How To Deal With Denial
Denial is a coping mechanism commonly used when something happens that we really don't want to see. Doing this is actually quite natural.
How To Be Motivated To Create The Life Of Your Dreams
When it comes to motivating yourself to be a better person, to do better at work or to create a happier family life you need to understand the importance of taking control of your self-talk. You really need to know how to motivate yourself through thick and thin.
Your Dream Can Be Your Future
Here is a basic truth you must accept and believe if you are to achieve your dream?Your dream can be a reality! That's right, your future can actually see you living your dream. It doesn't just have to be a big wish!When we are young we are dreamers.
The Biggest Mistake Youve Made About Manifesting
What is the biggest mistake you have made about manifesting your desires?You will be surprised by the answer and you probably thought it was the best thing you could do to achieve your desires. However, this mistake has made your desires 100 times more difficult to achieve.
Motivation By Consequences
In 2004 seven badly behaved teenagers were sent to a brat camp in the USA by desperate parents whose lives had been made hell by their own offspring. All seven were from the UK.
REST: The New Strategy for Business and Life Success
No matter how many times you have vowed to change your harried ways, you still find yourself running behind, running out of time, running out of patience and running on EMPTY. Your biggest problem--exhaustion.
Becoming Rich in Your Own Way
If you really want to become rich, then begin by evaluating your work habits and work environment. That's how most millionaires made their first million.
Success Through The Power Of Daily Action
Daily actions to achieve your goals means daily progress and daily excitement as you start to feel your dreams are actually coming true.As you take action daily, you cannot fail to realize that you are moving steadily towards your goal and this can only fill you with growing enthusiasm and the belief that, at long last, you will achieve your goal whatever it is.
The Default Setting
In the coaching relationships I have with our clients, the major problem I see is that individuals end up in the same place - over and over and over again. They mean to save money and build wealth, only to end up (again) with "too much month at the end of the money.
Creating Your Best Year Ever
January is synonymous with resolutions and getting organized is high on many people's list. Unfortunately, perhaps some of us make a resolution, when what we really want is a revolution.
Were Good at the Things We Like
Read that again. It doesn't say "We like the things we're good at," though that's true as well.
Forward Motion
The natural cycle of life is to grow and move forward but moving forward brings with it an element of the unknown. It is human nature to fear the unknown.
Dont Get Hysterical About The Historical
The tension was palpable in the room as I began the first marital counseling session ever for the couple who had passed their 50th anniversary several years before. After a few pleasantries designed to put them more at ease, I invited, "Tell me about what brought you here.
Recommendations for the Best Personal Growth Books
I can't stress this enough: You've got to motivate yourself in order to motivate your team. You don't motivate people, they motivate themselves (or they don't).