Putting Panic in Panoramic
We planned, prepared, practiced, packed, and only briefly panicked. We had a guide that was with us the whole way who provided suggestions and feedback.
This past weekend I did something I’ve never done before… I climbed a volcano.
Me and 8 friends here in Panama decided to climb to the highest point in the country, Volcán Barú, an “active stratovolcano” that stands 3,474 metres (11,398 ft) high in the province of Chiriqui.
Wait a second, did Wikipedia say it was active?
Hold on, I need to do some research.
Okay, let’s start with what active means in the context of volcanoes. From the US Geological Survey (USGS) it says:
“Volcanologists [Drew note: cool job title] would say that a volcano that has erupted within the Holocene (the current geologic epoch, which began ~11,650 years ago) or that has the potential to erupt again in the future, should be considered ‘active.’”
That’s not so bad, it just means it erupted “somewhat” recently. Wait, what was that last line again?
“...that has the potential to erupt again in the future…”
Right, okay, could erupt. But probably won't, right? I mean if we just look at how recently it’s erupted versus how often it erupts, that should give us a sense of how soon it might erupt again…
From a USGS report specifically about Volcán Barú, we find:
“The volcano has had four eruptive episodes during the past 1,600 years…”
I don’t know volcanoes but I do know math so that means that there’s an eruption every 400 years on average, so as long as the last eruption was more recent than that, we’re probably fine.
“The most recent eruption [was] about 400-500 years ago.”
Well crap. But wait, that type of math is just Gambler’s Fallacy, so I’m probably way wrong, right USGS?
“Given this history, Volcán Barú likely will erupt again in the near or distant future.”
WHY DID I AGREE TO GO ON THAT HIKE?!?
I clearly didn’t do my research until just now… but to be honest, I’m glad I didn’t do it before because I might have decided not to go, and then I would have missed out on an incredible experience with some great friends.
During last month’s Virtual Happy Hour, we talked about “taking a leap,” (it took place on Leap Day, so of course I had to turn it into wordplay.)
We defined a “leap” as committing to something outside of your comfort zone. Though it could be something small (like trying to have one conversation in a foreign language you’re learning) we focused on BHAGs – Big Hairy Audacious Goals (like becoming fluent in that language).
BHAGS, first defined by Jim Collins in Built to Last, are “meant to pull people out of a slump and energize them to implement a big-picture-type plan that could take a longer time frame to complete.”
That means they should be a combination of both incredibly exciting and slightly terrifying. They aren’t small step-changes, they’re big jumps in something you want to do.
Now I’m not suggesting that everyone quit their jobs and follow their passions of poetry, pizza-making, or punning. I’m also not suggesting you follow any impulse you have in the spirit of “doing something big.”
I’m too much of an engineer to suggest everyone should “follow their dreams.” Because, to be honest, your dreams could be short-sighted, unrealistic, or just a “flash-in-the-pan” and not a true calling.
It’s true, I hiked up Volcán Barú without knowing a ton about the volcano itself. But it didn’t happen on a whim.
We planned, prepared, practiced, packed, and only briefly panicked. We had a guide that was with us the whole way who provided suggestions and feedback.
I even sent my packing list beforehand to see if there was anything I was missing.
Taking a leap doesn’t mean jumping without a net. It means committing to jumping and then putting yourself in position to do so successfully.
That’s why the big leaps that I’ve taken in the past didn’t feel like huge risks. When I left P&G 12 years ago to focus on Humor That Works full-time, I had already proven to myself that I could build a business because I had been working on it as a side hustle.
When I put all of my stuff in storage and became a nomad traveling to all 50 US states in a year, I had already created a plan for what I’d do if I hated it and needed to move somewhere (shout out to Mom for letting me know I always had a place to stay with her).
When we decided to move to Panama, I knew that no matter what happened or what it was like, I’d be doing it with Pretzel (my wife).
That doesn’t mean you aren’t going to be intimidated or scared by the leap. I’d argue that if you aren’t at least a little nervous about it, it’s probably not a leap at all. But that also doesn’t mean it’s haphazard or foolish.
At the happy hour, we talked about the two things that will help you take that leap: a purpose and a plan. Your purpose is the WHY behind the leap you want to take. Your plan is HOW you’re going to do it.
For me, to go up the volcano, my WHY was three-fold. First, to challenge myself physically. As a meme I saw so wisely put it, “Exercise is a celebration of what the body can do.”
Second, to see more of this beautiful country where Pretzel and I spend a good chunk of our time and our daughter was born.
And third, to do it with new(er) friends. I’m not much of a drinker, so a 13-hour hike seems way more fun than tossing a kegger (is that an expression?).
As for my HOW, it was mostly hiking then resting, hiking then resting, hiking then resting, resting, resting, hiking. Plus a whole bunch of water, snacks, gummies (the electrolyte kind), and taking some gorgeous pictures.
All in all, it was an incredible weekend.
But in the grand scheme of things, hiking up Volcán Barú wasn’t that big of a leap. It was easily the longest (and hardest) hike I’ve ever done, but it’s not the big leap I want to take this year.
That’s something else… but it’s still a bit too intimidating to share because I don’t yet have the plan (I do have the purpose though).
Although if I were to follow my own advice (something that is sometimes surprisingly hard to do), I’d commit to the leap a bit sooner than I may feel 100% ready for… More to come soon.
Until next time,
=Drew
PS. If you’re thinking about a big leap and want to get a bit of feedback on it, sign up for a free clarity call.
PPS. If you're struggling with any of the things I've written in this email, I offer help in one of three ways:
* you can join the Humor That Works community
* attend my free monthly happy hour, schedule here
* or you can book a coaching call
What about you?
Hiked any mountains recently?