Daily Lessons from Life 02 June 2009

"Tue, Jun 02, 2009 my paper - Everest conquerors return to a rousing welcome

MEMBERS of the Natas Singapore Women's Everest Team returned last night from their successful expedition in Nepal to a rousing welcome.


The team's patron, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, was present at the airport to welcome them home.

The return marked a successful national mountaineering expedition which put five out of the six members on the top of Mount Everest. It also made them the first Singaporean women to stand on the world's highest peak at 8,850m.

The team's two-prong strategy paid off when the first summit team, comprising Ms Lee Lihui, Ms Esther Tan and Ms Jane Lee, reached the top of Mount Everest on May 20.


Two days later, team members Joanne Soo and Lee Peh Gee joined them at the top.

Team co-leader Sim Yihui did not make the ascent due to recurring chest pains.

Natas-Swet was formed in 2004 with the aim of sending the first team of Singaporean women to the world's highest peak"

Congratulation to the 1st Singapore Women Mount Everest Expedition Team who made it to the top of the world's highest mountain after almost 5 years of hard work! I extend my congratulation to the co-leader, Ms Sim, who did not made it due to recurring chest pains.

Lessons for me are:

1. to be the 1st in anything is not easy. Sacrifices have to be made and hard work put in! Determination and perseverance are 2 endearing qualities that normally see us through;

2. clarify of the objective help in keeping one focused on the ultimate goal while ignoring the short term set back and hard knocks that come our way in the route to success;

3. when you are working hard on your goal, it can be lonely. When you succeeded, you suddenly have more supporters and friends. Be gracious. Do not begrudged them. Appreciate your sincerest and honest supporters while lightly accept the congratulation of those who were indifferent to your original quest. Everyone loves a winner. ;-)

As a 7e Way of Leaders practitioner, I could not help but to add this comment: you have realized your original vision. What next? Also, be gracious and be aware of the danger of getting too big an ego that one has achieved something quite incredible for the 1st batch of Singaporean women, it is really nothing to shout about as ascending Mount Everest in recent times with help is no longer as big a deal as it used to be!