“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”
Sir Winston Churchill
Over the last two decades, I have had the privilege of spending many weeks on demanding long-distance backpacks in the Rockies, Sierras, the Grand Canyon, and in Alaska with young scouts and their fathers. With well over a thousand miles logged on trails together, and sitting around many a campfire, you learn something about your trail companions. From the early ages of 11 up through 18 and beyond, these boys slowly emerge into outdoorsmen capable of leading a trip into the wilderness. And soon enough, they are young men heading off into a variety of education and career pursuits that follow. From this perspective, I have gained abundant confidence that the seemingly intractable problems of our times will be little more than a disappointment curve once the next generation gets involved in developing solutions.
I have a favorite photo from the first day of one of those 60-mile wilderness adventures. The photo captures a group of scouts standing tall, at an inspirational overlook that they had to earn themselves to by a very difficult uphill climb. Not surprisingly the photo was taken at a place in the Sierra Nevada range called “Inspiration Point.” Below Inspiration Point you can see the San Joaquin Valley and in it the farms and cities, the comforts in a way, that we had left behind for the week to come. In the background is an endless, crisp blue sky – a blue that you only see when well above 9,000 foot elevation. In the distance are spectacular Sierra vistas. That far off scenery is actually the journey the scouts would soon undertake. The photo shows the ridges and peaks that lead off to Maggie Mountain and Sheep’s Pass. Beyond that the Kaweah Basin is in view. One can pinpoint the Blossom Lake cirque; and imagine that just beyond Blossom is Lake Ansel Adams. You can also distinguish the valley carved by the Little Kern River that leads to Broder’s Cabin and Mineral King. Above that valley and to the right is Silver Lake and Shotgun Pass which for many years served as our far-fetched goal. You can read on these scouts an expression of satisfaction at getting to the top of a grind, and undoubtedly getting that pack off for a brief rest. And having been at Inspiration Point many times in my life, I know we each look forward with anticipation to the journey ahead, as we view it from our distant vantage point.
I was at a similar vantage point in the mid-70s. My pursuit of a college degree was just underway, and I headed out for one last 60-mile trek as a scout with Mr. Wheatman. Al Wheatman was an insurance executive, an attorney, a scoutmaster, and at the time our long-serving “Mountaineering” Explorer Post advisor. Late one summer night near Hell-for-sure pass, Al and I sat alone around the dying embers of our campfire, under a brilliant canopy of stars. He asked about my college plans and career objectives, then he listened as I outlined my ambitions.
Before we doused the fire, he asked me to remember what he was about to say. He started slowly with emphasis and said, “Never lose sight of what we are all really working toward — whether in college, in our career or life in general. You won’t measure your success by the size of your bank account or by your material possessions. Even your achievements won’t stand alone.” Then he added, “Goals are critical. Just like on this trek, the trailhead is important. However, it is the journey that is foremost among the lasting joys. Therefore be careful how you get to where you are heading.”
Then Al’s voice rose along with his four fingers. He said, “There will only be four things in your life’s journey that will matter:
• Integrity,
• Competence,
• Higher purpose,
• And how much you love unconditionally.”
He repeated:
• “Act always with honor, and avoid sharp practices,
• Study hard and become trained – then competent,
• Stay grounded to a higher purpose, and
• Love unconditionally and thereby serve by making a difference in the lives of others.”
To make sure I got it, he later wrote it to me in a letter. He knew with me learning was a process grounded in frequency.
By his expressions and deeds, Al Wheatman demonstrated his final point. As business leaders, professionals, and community members, we have have an obligation to take time to listen patiently around the glowing embers of a fire, or the metaphorical equivalent, and pass the message on of honor, quality effort, duty, and service to others. Every business professional I know who embraces this responsibility with both commitment and enthusiasm is the first to admit that they are the ones most affected by the effort.
©2009 Ancala Equity Partners / Timothy P. Fargo all rights reserved
Next: “Intrapreneurs” can become entrepreneurs.
Tim,
Love this one. As an active Scouter, I was able to ‘experience’ Inspiration Point with you and the Scouts. Those are special times and memories.
Principled leadership. It seems a bit like an oxymoron in our current economic and political situation. I look around the landscape for leaders who are not simply taking the shortest path out of this painful chapter and who will do the right thing. Isn’t that the challenge — reaching Inspiration Point is a lot of hard work and sacrifice before you soak in the view.
Thank you. You say it better than I ever could.
Tim,
It’s a pleasure to have this opportunity to drill down to the essentials of your leadership methods and talents — to understand where you come from, as it were.
Further as one who treasures those moments of clarity on the trail when the view is inspiring, the air clear, and the company good–thanks for sharing your inspiration along the way.
Tim,
I had a scoutmaster that was very much like yours was. We did many fun activities together, but I have since realized that the purpose of it all was so that he could teach us lessons for life. We didn’t even notice it at the time, but all of us learned the lessons he was trying to teach.
In the last couple of months I found out that he is running for mayor in the town where he lives. I went to a meeting where he spoke and he discussed the exact same things that you mentioned in your post as his goals for the town. I was glad to see that he had not changed and clearly the principles that he taught us over 20 years ago have not changed either.
It is always good to see that these concepts are still important to people.
As an Eagle Scout and now as a Leader of Scouts I have been on many similar scouting adventures. The best part of the trip can often be found in the evenings sitting around the camp fire as you review the accomplishments of the days journey. It is always a joy to hearing from each young man as they express what their unique experience of the day was. Although the route was the same for all, more often then not, the journey for each person was unique. For some it was difficult for others it was easy, some noticed the wild life and others the wild flowers. However at the end of each day all felt a sense of accomplishment, all had an opportunity to witness the view and all gained life long memories and new experiences.
Your comments help remind us of what is truly important in life. We need to apply these lessons to every day life in the work place and at home. The key is to find joy in the journey.
Thanks for sharing this.
Rise above the news of the day. Dismiss all reference to our business woes with too many muttering “It’s the economy stupid.”
WRONG, It’s the Journey Stupid!
Tim, your post is a great reminder and a brilliant example of what I try to make my life’s credo… Learn, Apply, Repeat.
Many thanks for the post and your efforts to live the four things that matter. As I examine your four things I am smiling thinking how you applied the same credo. You learned from many masters, I have seen the many ways you have applied these life lessons, but the JOURNEY to learn IS what we must all Repeat!
Keep learning!
As a boy and a young scout, I was another shadow in the dark beside campfires like the one described here, listening to those older and wiser pushing out words through the smoke, words whose power would only become clear decades later. I found this tale touching.
I’ve had several colleagues at the U.S. EPA ask, “You work for the government, why are you pursuing an MBA?” I tell them I plan to apply business strategies and skills to a career in public service. To me, that means more than working for Uncle Sam or a non-profit organization. Any professional who strives to live with integrity, competence, higher purpose, and service to others is already providing an invaluable service to his community and country. I take inspiration from my father, with whom I’ve been fortunate enough to share a lifetime of Inspiration Points.