What Hiking the Highest Peak in Arizona Taught Me About the Right Group

Recently, I hiked Mount Humphreys in Arizona, the highest peak in the state.

12 of us started out... 5 of us finished.

That's the reality of most things worth doing. Not everyone makes it, and that's exactly why you have to be intentional about who you're doing it with.

We split off at the saddle for the last mile and the 5 of us were determined to make it. As we passed people coming down we kept hearing the same thing. They didn't make it, it was too dangerous, and the winds were too strong.

🗣️ Ask Better Questions

We kept giving each other pep talks to keep the morale up, but the negativity coming from people heading down was starting to creep in.

So next time we crossed paths with someone I spoke first and asked a question instead of letting them tell us how bad it was up there.

"What's your number one tip for making it to the top?"

That question didn't leave room for a negative answer. It forced them to think about what worked instead of what didn't.

Asking better questions changes the whole conversation. That one small shift kept our group moving forward instead of getting talked out of it.

🤝 Nobody Hikes Alone

There were three young guys hiking near us and two of them turned around. That left one guy on his own, and up there you don't want to be alone. New terrain, bad conditions, no room for mistakes. Safer in a group, every time.

So we picked him up.

As we talked, I realized being part of the group gave him something bigger than safety. It gave him confidence, and confidence is huge when you're doing something new and hard.

That's true on a mountain, and It's true in business too.

👣 Look at the Next Step

We turned a corner and could finally see the peak... it looked impossibly far away.

One of my friends shouted, "Look at the next step, we've got this."

That one line changed the energy for a few people in our group. The whole distance felt overwhelming, but the next step? That felt possible.

Big goals paralyze people; the next step rarely does.

💨 60 Mile an Hour Winds

On the final ascent the wind picked up to over 60 miles an hour. We stayed close to each other and close to the ground and pushed through.

⛰️ Lean Forward Going Down

On the way down a few of us started comparing the hike to business. How the right group helps you move faster and safer, even when things get hard.

My 40 plus year old knees don't love downhill hiking. I mentioned something I picked up from a group I'm in, leaning forward instead of back is actually easier on your knees going downhill. Small tip, but it helped the group right there on the trail.

That's the power of the right people around you, someone always has a piece of the puzzle you don't.

🎉 The Right People Celebrate You

When we got to the base our other friends were waiting with water and hugs, ready to celebrate with us.

Nobody was jealous we made it and they didn't, they were genuinely happy for us.

 That matters more than people realize, a lot of investors don't have this at home. They don't have people who celebrate the wins without a hint of resentment.

That's exactly what we are for each other Inside Lifestyle REI.
Cheerleaders, not competitors.

Adrian's Takeaway
👉 The right group asks better questions, keeps you moving one step at a time, shares what they know, and celebrates you at the finish line. Find your people.