Aim High!

Aim High!Atte Miettinen

25 October 2012

Me

• 36 years• MBA, London Business School• Four start-up’s in it / telecoms• Lived abroad for +10 years: USA, Singapore,

Denmark, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates• Done business in approx. 50 countries• Curiosity taken to all seven continents and almost

100 countries• Desire to test my limits: marathons, scuba diving,

mountaineering• 22.06.2012: first Finnish Seven Summits

• Kilimanjaro, Tanzania• Elbrus, Russia• Mount Kosciuszko, Australia (Bass List)• Carstensz Pyramid, Indonesia (Messner List)• Vinson Massif, Antarctica (November 2011)• Cerro Aconcagua, Argentina (December 2011)• Mount Everest, Nepal (March-May 2012)• Denali / Mount McKinley, USA (June 2012)

Seven Summits

What’s required to reach the top of the

world?

Setting Goals

Setting Goals

• Everyone has their own mountain• No-one inherits ambition – you have to find it

inside you!• Goals need to be challenging but realistic• Readiness to make sacrifices• If there’s no passion, a rational person will give up• Desire vs. obsession• First step is often the most difficult one

Preparation

Preparation

Right skills Right physical and

mental preparation Right people / team Right tools Right attitude

Recognise the key success

factors!

Right Skills

Right Skills

Right Physical Preparation

Right Mental Preparation

Right Mental Preparation

• Start with the end-goal in mind – no shortcut to the top

• Resolve / long-term approach• Readiness to make sacrifices• Positive confidence vs. arrogance• Recognising risk – margins of error are small and

consequences are often dire• Scenario planning and ability to adapt when

needed

Right Mental Preparation

Right People / Team

Right Tools

Right Attitude• Positive thinking – I can do this!• Team approach – we’ll succeed as a team, by

supporting each other• Be ready to learn• Tolerance for discomfort as well as uncertainty -

surprises are part of life• Fear is a healthy feeling, but it should not impact

decision making! • High morals / ethics

Execution

Execution

You Teamwork Uncontrollable elements Risk management Balance

Recognise the key success

factors!

You

• Right attitude / positive thinking• Resolve / persistence – mountaineering, like

business, is about long-term focus• Split the end goal into smaller objectives• Ability to learn from your mistakes• Recognition of stress and ability to deal with it• Judgment – ability to objectively evaluate

situations and make rational decisions

The human capacity is much bigger than we believe!

Teamwork

Teamwork

• Everyone’s A-type personalities / naturally competitive

• Succeed as a team = succeed as an individual• Positive attitude / looking after team spirit• Speak the same language• Supporting / helping teammates• Trust / be reliable• Conscious avoidance of unnecessary conflicts • How can I help the team to succeed?

Uncontrollable Elements

Uncontrollable Elements

• Mountains, just like customers / markets are often unpredictable!

• Important that mental preparation has been sufficient – on mountains you cannot control everything

• Patience / results are only measured at the end of the season

• Right timing is critical for success• A successful expedition always requires a bit of

luck

Risk Management

Risk Management

• Starts already during preparation e.g. right people / team and right tools

• Positive attitude but critical thinking• Don’t assume or guess• Seek to identify potential risks in advance• Scenario planning• Fear is a healthy feeling, but should not impact

decisions making

Balance

Dealing with Success and Failure

Dealing with Success and Failure• Success on mountains is never guaranteed e.g.

on everest more than half of climbers return home unsuccessful

• However, returning home with all your fingers and toes intact is always a sign of a successful expedition

• Failures teach you most about yourself and others!

• The price of success should not be too high

The price of success should not be too high – you need to be ready to say no when

that’s the right choice!

Thank You!

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