100

In 1923, a reporter from the New York Times asked George Mallory why he wanted to climb Mount Everest. His reply became seared into mountaineering history and will resonate with climbers forever. He simply retorted; ‘Because it’s there’.

There is something magical about starting a challenge. Whether it is a personal challenge, in your business, or within your marketplace, the moment you decide to set yourself a goal and head off into the unknown raises the spirit and heightens emotions. There is always an element of risk. No doubt you will consider the pros and cons; complete your risk assessment and a SWOT analysis, but without risk there is no challenge. The learning is, as they say, in the journey. It is only by having a go, experiencing your Everest that you can discover what is possible.

Mallory and his climbing partner Andrew ‘Sandy’ Irvine died in their attempt, however there is still debate as to whether they were the first to set foot on the summit of the world’s highest peak. When they set out they were well prepared, at the height of their physical and mental powers and understood the consequences of their endeavour. They wanted to find out what was possible. Indeed their courage continues to show others what can be achieved.

As I write this today the news from around the world is dominated by retrenchment, risk aversion, and clinging to what is familiar. The challenge we are presented with is not about discovery, or development, or even progress. Yet surely going backwards cannot be the way forward.

Perhaps we need to consider how we challenge ourselves and our people. Maybe this is the time to look up and ask what we can do to make a difference in the world. Conceivably there could be more, not less.

100 blogs ago we set ourselves a challenge to explore ‘What more can there be? We believe that within realms of customer experience, change and striving for the next level we can offer stimulation to our readers. Our challenge is to at least open minds to the possibility, just the possibility, that by thinking differently we can create a better world.

The likes of Mallory and Irvine are our inspiration, long before we posed our question they dared to answer it. Why write this collection of blogs? What makes us want to make our small contribution to a challenge so huge? Because it’s there.