Challenges tend to bring the best out of you. Particularly the challenges which you set for yourself, the drive and the inner energy will never let you down. What you need is commitment.
It all started with a bunch of college students walking into my office. With not much money to spare they had come to embark on an expedition with Outward Bound. Since there was a cap on the expenses they could afford to make, they needed OB’s help in working out an expedition to the mountains in the north.
It was a challenge and an opportunity for both, they wanted an expedition with limited budget and I was thinking of how to utilize this opportunity in giving them the best possible learning experience. Certainly I never wanted to end up as a logistic consultant who made their expedition possible on a shoe string budget.
Over the next couple of meetings I checked their level of commitment. When I was convinced about it, I decided to take them to a higher level of commitment.
I shared with them the following;
- The need to be 100% committed to the expedition.
- The willingness to take up the ownership of the expedition.
- To have the inclination to learn.
It took almost a week for them to come back to me to announce their intention in the affirmative. We are now on the threshold of a journey that will challenge us to remain committed and always think in terms of Win-Win situation every time.
Expeditionary Learning: A way to enhance your "Life Skills".
When you are committed 100%, are ready to take the ownership coupled with an open minded approach, you are setting up your team for success. And when you have your mind focused on the goal you want to achieve during the expedition, there are lots of things you learn from your experience.
During a wilderness expedition, when the settings are unfamiliar and challenging, the emotionally charged environment makes working together a wonderful experience. People are at their natural best. This is the right time to have a look at your own self, analyze your own positives and negatives. Under the circumstances you try to relate optimally with your team mates. For those who don’t, its opportunity for you to ask why? People with the right attitude make the best use of the situation to extract the positives and work on them. One of your objectives should be to stay positive and reap the benefits of participation.
At times you are pleasantly surprised to see your responses to situations, contrary to your expectations. You are pleased and happy; it’s good to accept this change for better. It’s time to rediscover yourself, your own potential and to be a better human being. It’s a commitment to yourself and your loved ones.
I am looking forward to the upcoming expedition in the month of May.
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