What this summit taught me about truly getting things done and boosting efficiency – proven over years in the mountains.

Last week's climb up the Grand Teton with my longtime climbing partner, his wife, and a co-worker wasn't just any ol’ adventure. It revealed key principles for any high-stakes adventure. These principles were honed over years in the Tetons, by always returning to the first principles of what's essential. This approach allowed me to consistently lighten my load, become sharper, and thus, more effective. If you want smoother teams and better project results, hear me out:

On the Grand, I constantly focused on First Principles Thinking: breaking any challenge down to its absolute core – its bare bones essence – and really questioning the fundamentals. We constantly asked: What are the essential components for the climb? What exactly needs to happen to move forward safely and efficiently? Every step on the mountain yielded new insight, revealing what it truly took to move forward.