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In 2015, I hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim in a single day. About 26 miles, starting at 3 a.m. in the dark, down the North Rim, across the bottom, and up the South Rim. It's like hiking a reverse mountain. You start by going down, and the hardest part is at the end, climbing nearly seven miles of switchbacks straight up a rock face in the sun.
I had trained, but not enough. As I started the climb out, my heart rate kept redlining. I'd hike a while, stop to recover, hike again. My business partner at the time, was a faster hiker, but he chose to stay back with me. He went slower than he needed to. He encouraged me, walked with me, and essentially nursed me out of the canyon. I remember reaching the rim and getting emotional, partly from the accomplishment, but mostly because I hadn't done it alone.
The next year, I went back with my wife and a friend. About halfway up the North Rim, My friend looked at me and said, "I don't think I can make it." I told him that no one was coming to get him so he had no choice but to make it. I realized at that point I had to be for my friend what my business partner was the year before. It was time for me to be the encourager and guide out of the Canyon.
The leadership lesson is simple. Our journey is long and challenging, and sometimes beautiful, but it is always better when we're doing it with someone. The goal isn't just to be guided. The goal is to one day turn around and guide someone else.
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In 2015, I hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim in a single day. About 26 miles, starting at 3 a.m. in the dark, down the North Rim, across the bottom, and up the South Rim. It's like hiking a reverse mountain. You start by going down, and the hardest part is at the end, climbing nearly seven miles of switchbacks straight up a rock face in the sun.
The real work is learning to actually notice what’s driving you. When you take the time to strengthen the inner system that carries everything else, you can stay steady, clear-headed, and connected to your people even when the stakes are incredibly high. That is the real foundation.
Curtis Rippee joins the Decision Points podcast to discuss the Entrepreneurial Operating System, the value of understanding natural talents and unique abilities, and how EOS can help businesses address people-centered challenges and improve long-term value.
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Curtis Rippee joins The Driven Crowd Podcast to discuss his path from accounting and entrepreneurship to becoming an EOS Implementer. In the conversation, Curtis shares practical insight on business growth, leadership team alignment, solving issues, and why outside perspective can help entrepreneurs get more of what they want from their business.
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