Lessons From The Seven Summits Challenge w/Mark Pattison | Ep. 003

🏔️ Former NFL player Mark Pattison offers his inspiring story, turning his Life around and engaging in the Seven Summits Challenge.

From Denali, Alaska to Elbrus, Russia, the former Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver tells his bone-chilling mountaineering (mis)adventures.

🏈 Wanna know more about Mark ? Check his website out: https://www.markpattisonnfl.com/

🎧 DESCRIPTION

NFL alumni and successful entrepreneur Mark Pattison recalls the state his life was in when he decided to take on the Seven Summits challenge, a 10-year endeavour which includes the climb of Mt. Everest. Growing up in the Seattle area, Mark Pattison was inspired by the sight of Mount Rainier and local mountaineers, such as Lou and Peter Whittaker.

Mark Pattison, now an executive at Sports Illustrated, remembers the beginning of his long-term undertaking in Africa, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, during which he learned that the unpredictability of Mother Nature is a crucial factor in mountaineering. Consequently, Mark faced such weather impediments while attempting to summit Mt. Denali.

Mark recalls persevering on the climb of Mt. Elbrus in Russia, the most prominent peak in Europe, despite lighting strikes that had unfortunately caused a casualty in another crew, quick weather changes and the presence dangerous glaciers.

Supporting the NFL Waterboys efforts in providing clean water to communities in need, Mark Pattison insists that preparation is fundamental in succeeding one’s mountainous expeditions: proper equipment, specific training, altitude acclimatization and relevant nutrition strategy are some of the elements any aspiring mountaineer should seriously focus on.

With “only” Mt. Everest left on his list of the Seven, Mark Pattison discusses the emotional control and rational wisdom it takes to admit an expedition’s failure in real time, especially when you have to turn back near the summit. Despite all the time, money and effort invested in achieving an important climb, Pattison wisely suggests to put one’s competitive nature aside and consider the human cost of pushing too hard.

💡3 tips to help you conquer your own summits.

1️⃣ | Sensei says: Step into the fear.

Inspirationally, Mark Pattison advises to face our fear of the unknown, to walk towards it, to conquer it and to remember that every journey begins with step one. For the former NFL player, taking on the Seven Summits challenge despite the unknown it represented, pushed him to travel alone in foreign countries, surpass his own physical limits and realize climbs he never thought he could accomplish.

2️⃣ | Sensei says: Live with purpose.

Mark Pattison undertook his long-term endeavour of climbing each continent’s highest summit as a way to refocus his life after a series of personal and professional obstacles. He suggests that living with a purpose brings empowerment and an improved capacity at dealing with adversity. Consequently, Mark is dedicating his Mt. Everest expedition to his daughter Emilia, who is courageously climbing her own Everest through her battle against epilepsy. You may join donations made by the NFL and the Las Vegas Raiders to the Higher Ground organization, which takes care of therapeutic recreational activities for people with a variety of conditions (including epilepsy), here.

3️⃣ | Sensei says: Love the process

Taking on difficult or complex challenges require dedication, perseverance and hard effort. However, Mark Pattison recommends a shift in focus from the obsession of the end result to the enjoyment of the whole process to get there. Appreciating every single step on your way to the top (sometimes, literally), makes the experience that much worthwhile.

What did you learn through my convo with Mark ? Let me know in the comments ! ⬇️

Osu ! - Sensei Pascal 🥋🙏

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🎙️ WHO AM I ?

I’m Sensei Pascal, former radio personality on XM Satellite Radio, passionate martial artist, relentless entrepreneur, enthusiastic adventurer, inspired essayist (Oxford Brookes University), motivated fitness coach, aspiring comedian and insatiable student of the human experience.

Master of Kenpo Karate, WKC World Championships silver medallist and survivor of multiple extreme endurance races, I dedicate myself to the betterment of others. My humble vocation is to support and guide people on their path to self realization.

Read my full bio here: https://senseisays.link/sensei

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