Reach for New Heights
Steve Maloney

Last weekend, I received a phone call while walking the golf course and watching my son, Daniel, compete in a golf tournament. I’d been anticipating a call from my other son, Joshua, who was at the summit of Esther Mountain in the Adirondack Park. I was elated to accept his FaceTime request as he celebrated reaching his 46th High Peak in the Adirondacks. He was officially a 46er!

This distinction is reserved for those who’ve climbed all 46 peaks over 4,000 feet in elevation – an accomplishment achieved by approximately 17,000 people.

After that phone conversation, my only regret was not being there with him. I’d planned to join him for this final ascent, but our schedules were difficult to coordinate. So, the next best thing was sharing this special moment through FaceTime.

Joshua’s journey began in 2014, when he was 14, and we hiked Cascade Mountain together. Twelve years later, he achieved his goal. If you can’t tell, I am incredibly proud of him!

Along the way, some very challenging hikes tested his resolve. Some offered no views, others had no marked trails, and several were accompanied by terrible weather. A recent hike was completed in pouring rain from start to finish. They‘d begun at 3 AM and, after hiking for a while, sat down in the rain to decide whether to continue. After a four-hour drive, they decided it was worth pressing on. After all, Joshua had set a goal of completing his 46er this fall. He was determined to see it through.

His journey reminds us that achieving a meaningful goal requires determination, preparation, and the resolve to keep moving forward when circumstances become difficult.

In our Supervisory Leadership class, we dedicate a segment to setting goals and planning actions. The process includes several important steps:

• Create a mental picture. Look beyond today and envision what could be. What does success look like?
• Decide on actions. Assess where you are now and determine the steps necessary to get where you want to be.
• Identify roadblocks. Consider what might get in your way and develop strategies to overcome those obstacles.
• List the benefits. Keep your focus on why achieving the goal matters. Your purpose can provide motivation when the journey gets difficult.
• Write it down as a SMART goal. Make it Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bounded.

As leaders, it’s incredibly important to continually pursue personal growth. If we want our teams to perform at a higher level, we must be willing to grow ourselves. Developing a mental picture of the leader we want to become is a great starting point. From there, we need to establish a plan, take action, and remain committed to the process.

Perhaps you’ve been thinking about becoming a better communicator, developing your coaching skills, strengthening relationships with your team, or becoming more effective in addressing difficult situations. Whatever your goal, recognize that you have tremendous potential to grow. No matter what has happened in the past, you can begin moving toward a better future. You don’t need to have every step figured out before you begin. You simply need to establish your destination and take the first step.

Let’s be like Joshua. Stay committed to the goal, work through the obstacles, and don’t let temporary setbacks determine your destination.

Keep climbing. New heights await you in your personal growth as a leader!