13.32 miles and 7,815 Feet Straight Up: Preparing the Ascent to the Cloud

After spending years in the technology industry, I have become passionate about how technology changes the world, businesses, and the lives of individuals. I am lucky enough to see this evolution firsthand as I work with companies that are transforming themselves and reaching higher levels of success.

Over the last few years, my colleagues, friends, and family have encouraged me as I take on my personal ascent to the cloud – Pikes Peak Ascent, a 13.32 mile race to the top of the peak from the middle of town. This journey is an amazing metaphor for digital transformation.

For years, I have driven past this formidable mountain, wondering what it would be like to touch the clouds at the summit under my own steam. Each time, I tucked that thought back to the furthest corners of my mind, thinking that this was an impossible dream. I hoped someday I could tackle the ascent and knew it wouldn’t happen without a plan.

Then, one day I made the leap. It was the day that my youngest daughter graduated high school and headed off to her freshman year of college. She was full of excitement about her next phase. For once, I was left wondering what my next adventure would be. Was this my time to tackle Pikes Peak?

But there was a hitch: After years of low-key activity with my family and answering the demands of my career, I found myself – like many guys in my generation – out of shape and posting unhealthy numbers that constantly disappointed my doctor. How could I ever fulfill this dream with more than a few extra pounds and high blood pressure?

Putting one foot in front of the other and never looking back

As a product marketer for SAP Cloud Services, I realized that I would need my own cloud transformation plan – just like SAP customers that are moving to the cloud. My desire to reach Pikes Peak required me to transform myself physically and mentally. But, more important, I needed to get out of my comfort zone. Revolutionary change was needed to succeed.

I accepted took advice from family and friends and decided to follow steps similar to a company’s cloud journey:

Get advice and guidance.

Achieving any significant goal requires planning. It’s not the same for everyone, but you have to consider where you are coming from, what your current “landscape” looks like, which constraints are present, and whether any competing tasks (like painting the house) may need to take a back seat.

Without a plan and support, the inevitable setbacks become roadblocks rather than speed bumps. This is where an experienced and trusted advisor can help. While customers turn to SAP for this in their technology transformations, I turned to a local trainer who was experienced, had done this many times before, and could help devise a comprehensive transformation plan so I can reach my goal with concrete steps and a road map to transformation.

Set a solid goal.

As a powerful process for motivating oneself and turning vision into reality, goal setting is an opportunity to dictate how we will live or run our business.

To make sure the goals could carry through the good times as well as the hard times, I took a page from the SMART plan:

Specific: Identify exactly what you want to accomplish with as much detail as possible.

Measurable: Quantify your results. For me, I wanted to complete the grueling Pikes Peak Ascent with zero injuries, wanting to do it again at the end and complete the prequalification half marathon under two hours.

Actionable: Think in action verbs. Rather than “I will reach the top of the mountain”, proclaim “I will race to the top”.

Realistic: Stretch yourself with a dose of common sense.

Time-bound: Associate a date with your goal, and sign up. The investment is a motivator. A goal without a date is a dream. A goal with a deadline – now that’s a reality you own.

Train.

Before you dedicate the next few months or years to the new goal, you need to have a training plan. Not only was I personally concerned about training myself to go from a slow walk to a pace-worthy run, but I also considered injury prevention, diet, supporting technology, and the effect of changes in altitude and oxygen level as I go up the mountain. By getting educated, I was able to help ensure my strategy addresses all of my needs for a successful outcome.

 Firmly commit to your goal.

For many of us, the biggest problem when working towards a goal is commitment. Sometimes, life happens and forces us to push the “pause” button on our dreams. Other times, we hit a rough patch that makes us reevaluate why we are doing it in the first place.

Commitment must be unwavering – no matter how hard it gets. Create reminders to stay on track. Schedule time regularly to review goals. The end destination may stay similar over the long term, but the action plan may change significantly along the way to ensure relevance, value, necessity, and the finer details involved in attaining it.

Surround yourself with a knowledgeable and trustworthy team.

Achieving any goal requires a team of people with expertise you can trust as much as it requires strong commitment, technology, and equipment. By getting help from a trainer, joining a running team, connecting with my brother who has participated in a number of Iron Man races, and accepting help from knowledgeable friends, I was able to deal with the complexities of training and adapt with changes while staying on course and keeping the process fun. My family and friends encouraged and volunteered at the race’s water stations!

Monitor conditions – and plan for potential danger.

It would be nice to have the foresight to know how every step of the journey will go. But until then, consistent monitoring of internal and external conditions, like the weather, that can affect goal achievement is a mandate. As one area changes or gets stronger, it is likely to affect another aspect in different ways.

In terms of my personal challenge, I kept a keen eye on my pace, duration, and quality of my overall health. By ensuring the reliability of these factors, I was able to see how one small change can impact my total performance. By taking a broader approach to the whole activity, I was able to understand and adapt throughout the experience. This gave me peace of mind that the rest of my plan would prove successful.

Get it done.

Sooner or later, you need to show that all of that hard work was worth it. This is another reason why you need a knowledgeable, trustworthy team. Your team can make the difference between going through with your plans and abandoning them altogether.

Even though I trained for months, I was terrified to register for the Pikes Peak Ascent race. All of these doubts crossed my mind: What if I didn’t train properly? What if I injure myself? What if I fail? What if I am not really a contender?

With support and encouragement, I was able to face down those fears, sign up for the race, and run. It was especially helpful when my brother ran with me, encouraging me along the way.

Celebrate and recover.

Life, in general, is a string of goal attainments. However, none of these achievements should be taken for granted. Celebrate every accomplishment with the people who helped you along the way. Appreciate what you have done by taking some time to rest and reflect.

Yes, I did reach the summit of Pikes Peak and touched a cloud. But far more important, I was able to spend time with my family, deepen my friendships, reconnect with my brother, establish new relationships, and maintain a lifestyle that will ensure a long, healthy life. Better yet, I learned what I am capable of doing – which is far more than I ever thought. For those reasons, I celebrated.

Figure out what’s next – and tackle it head-on.

It is human nature to push ourselves more after a particular goal is met. Throughout my recovery time, I had the nagging feeling that I wanted to push my physical limits further. Can I run further, faster, and longer? There’s only one way to tell.

The same is true in the business world. Companies are evolving at such a dizzying pace that it’s impossible to sit still and be complacent at what you’ve accomplished so far. You need to look ahead and see what else your organization can do to remain competitive and maintain the favor of your customers.

Let’s look for another challenge to tackle!

Of course, change isn’t easy. But if it’s embraced with gusto and keen focus, the rewards are beyond what anyone can imagine. So let’s focus on pulling those dreams from the dark recesses of our brains. Make a plan to reach them, whether it’s running a marathon or taking your business to new heights.

The next adventure awaits!   

Top image credit: Creative Commons