March 22, 2010 Matt Morris -
Written By Matt Morris -

Climbing Over Adversity

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Motivational Monday #20

Despite losing his vision at the age of 13, Erik Weihenmayer has become an accomplished mountain climber, paraglider, and skier, never allowing his blindness to interfere with his passion for life.

On May 25, 2001, Erik became the first blind man to summit Mount Everest. And on September 5, 2002, when he stood atop Mt. Kosciusko in Australia, he completed a 7-year quest to climb the Seven Summits — the highest mountains on each of the seven continents — joining only 100 others who have accomplished that feat.

Erik Weihenmayer and Mark Wellman are living proof that true leaders find a way to win not despite adversity, but because of it…

To really acheive greatness, we must face adversity head on. By understanding and harnessing the opportunities that are revealed during times of struggle, we often discover the fuel that will enable us to reach goals we never even imagined reaching.

Mark wellman created a solution that turned the impossible to the possible. I’m so amazed that he climbed all 3,000 feet of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park by pulling himself up 6 inches at a time! His decision to invent equipment that would allow him to continue climbing is extremely inspiring to me.

How did Mark and Erik’s story motivate you? I’d love to hear your answer in the comments section below!

P.S. If you missed last week’s Motivational Monday, Lessons on Dancing and Leadership, watch it right here: Motivational Monday #19.

  • http://www.JohnnyWimbrey.com/ Johnny Wimbrey

    WOW… just… WOW!

  • Debbie Spurlock

    That is one eye opener. God gives us so much that I (we) take for granted. This is so awesome for words.

  • pnixonuk

    Fantastic video Matt, people like Mark wellman show us that we can achieve anything, no matter what your circumstances.
    Decide what you REALLY REALLY want to do, and move forward with love, compassion and a burning desire to achieve your goal and you can be do or have anything that you want.

    To Your Continued Success
    Paul

  • JanieAcutt

    Like Johnny says, WOW!! In our own world sometimes we are overwhelmed with the simple things in life; then we hear a story like this and everything is put into perspective. THANK YOU for sharing. Today my goals and action plans now seem a whole lot easier.

  • Sandra E

    The power of focusing on Things you have Control over is amazing, this allows you to channel your positive energy accordingly. Since discovering this principle and leaving by it, I am at a point where i think its possible for me to move mountains, i have much time left to spend doing other things I love doing, and this was the time I was using focusing on circumstances I couldnt change.
    Adversity has allowed me to unleash my hidden talent/s and now I am helping the youth in my country to do the same.

  • http://howtomakemoneyinrecession.com/blog/ Thomas Hoi

    This is awesome….

    To sum it up…..

    “Adversity causes some to break and others went on to
    become record breakers”
    - Johnny Wimbrey

  • michellezimvu

    Wow….. I'm speechless!!It's amazing how the people who society views as 'disadvantaged' actually have a fire that burns inside of them that can never be extinguished!I truly am inspired to reconsider the purpose of adversities in my life.

    Michélle

  • gemsclub

    Adversity bring opportunity, perfect example!

  • http://dominatemlmtoday.blogspot.com/ arlen madsen

    Love the video Matt… It so true people make up reasons they cant do things, wins make up reasons they can do things! “Use the things that hold you back to Drive you to greatness!” A quote from Arlen Madsen Feel free to drop by my Blog and say hello some time!

  • lloydmwentworth

    By understanding and harnessing the opportunities that are revealed during times of struggle, we often discover the fuel that will enable us to reach goals we never even imagined reaching. I came from a very poor environment. I was the oldest child and was responsible for everything that my siblings did. We had little food to eat for the seventeen years I lived with my siblings. My training came mostly from the U. S. Marine Corps. When I was sent to Hawaii I had many senior officers to guide me and get me to University of Hawaii classes. I attended classes at night for over four and a half years until it was time to leave Hawaii. The Marine Corps sent me to Spokane, Washington where the temperture dropped to -20 degrees (it was never supposted to drop below 20 degrees). With little money and hugh fuel bills it was not what I had expected. However, the Marine Corps sent me to the Warrant Officer Course. I was enlisted and struggled through everything for only six weeks. Then I was appointed to Warrant Officer status and had ten weeks of rest and learning. I admire Mark and Erik's motivation. My wife Gayle used to work with the blind people in Hawaii. Yes, I know adversity and I would normally find that God would get me through it. Today my wife and I go to church in Hawaii just about every week. On friday of any week I would be down on myself. But, on Monday God had put many positive events that pulled me through another week.

  • Aneil

    Makes you realise that what we deem as adversity may only be our own made obstacles.

  • http://bodymagicbody.blogspot.com/ Yvonne

    I thought while reading this extraordinary story what is my problem? I have my sight yet at times I fail to see the opportunities that right in front of me! It's time out for excuses of why I don't do what I say I want to do! There is just NO excuse!!

  • http://www.highlightsphoto.net/ Kim

    A great article to motivate us to keep on and realize we need each other to cheer each other on! Great job!

  • mwakaisio

    Great video! How true…I have used adversity before to my advantage, and I have absolutely no doubt that I shall use it even more in future. It fuelled my creativity which fed on itself and grew and grew. I saw new horizons…I had never dreamed I could handle a single assignment rewarded me the way I was, and I did it because of the hunger and creativity that adversity generated in me.

  • linda mkhabela(johannesburg)

    Hi Matt, I really am lost for words just reading about the man. I'm almost ashamed considering how he can achieve so much from such a disadvantaged background and yet his achievements can put to shame people from all walks of life.What a hero!!!

  • September Pierce

    A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!!!!!! As usual…..Thanks for the continued Inspirations, Matt!

  • http://www.callapranichealer.com/ Christian Long

    Thank you for the inspiration. I am going through my own tornado of adversity called apathy. I have just moved ’6 inches’ closer my goals.

  • David

    This story has really motivated me to realise how much I have been procastinating and now need to take a stance and go full throttle for my dreams. Thank you so much for the twitter follow. P.S. Have a great week.

  • David.

    Gracias por compartir estos videos que te inspiran la esperanza.

  • http://www.EliminatingStress.org/ Eliminating Stress

    What a powerful video. I liked the point about how for thousands of years our main quest was to make our lives more comfortable. Yet what we need now (in order to grow) is to SEEK OUT opportunities to move out of our comfort zone. Thank you for a very inspiring post.

  • http://myworldofwarcraftonline.com zygor guides

    This was a triumph over adversity. I now savor the triumph as well as the adversity and hope my future climbs!

  • http://myworldofwarcraftonline.com zygor guides

    This was a triumph over adversity. I now savor the triumph as well as the adversity and hope my future climbs!

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