Meet my alter ego: I've taught 50+ avalanche courses to skiers.
A story about loss, and what the mountains teach you about risk in business:
A story about loss, and what the mountains teach you about risk in business:
On April 24th, 2016, I got a phone call that changed my life.
The kind of call you hope to only have in a nightmare.
Until you have it for real.
One of my best friends, mentors, and adventure partners was killed in an avalanche.
The kind of call you hope to only have in a nightmare.
Until you have it for real.
One of my best friends, mentors, and adventure partners was killed in an avalanche.
While dealing with the loss, I realized it was killing the thing that bonded us.
I was losing my love for the mountains.
Skiing. Kayaking. Climbing.
Adventures in remote places.
Joy was replaced by fear.
I was losing my love for the mountains.
Skiing. Kayaking. Climbing.
Adventures in remote places.
Joy was replaced by fear.
I'm a rational guy, so I did what rational guys do.
Study. Learn. Find data.
Come up with 100 logical reasons why I should continue to ski.
But it wasn't working.
My therapist was clear: I had to expose myself to it.
And that took an interesting turn...
Study. Learn. Find data.
Come up with 100 logical reasons why I should continue to ski.
But it wasn't working.
My therapist was clear: I had to expose myself to it.
And that took an interesting turn...
Years before the accident, I did an avalanche course.
It taught me how to deal with risk and was a great experience.
Deep down inside me, I'm a teacher.
And when I met the owner of the company through a mutual friend, it clicked.
It taught me how to deal with risk and was a great experience.
Deep down inside me, I'm a teacher.
And when I met the owner of the company through a mutual friend, it clicked.
Teaching others to enjoy the mountains safely, forced me to expose myself.
Face my fears, while tapping into my enthusiasm.
The initial training and the first season were rough, but it's been an incredible experience ever since.
And the smiles on clients' faces are priceless.
Face my fears, while tapping into my enthusiasm.
The initial training and the first season were rough, but it's been an incredible experience ever since.
And the smiles on clients' faces are priceless.
Back at the office, no one understood it.
Taking time off to work to shovel snow in bad weather.
But apart from helping me mentally, it has shaped my relationship with risk.
And that's become a differentiator in how I lead teams & projects.
Taking time off to work to shovel snow in bad weather.
But apart from helping me mentally, it has shaped my relationship with risk.
And that's become a differentiator in how I lead teams & projects.
Clients, both in my company and in the mountains, wonder what they can do about risk.
To frame our options, I use the TAME framework:
- Transfer
- Accept
- Mitigate
- Eliminate
Here's how it works:
To frame our options, I use the TAME framework:
- Transfer
- Accept
- Mitigate
- Eliminate
Here's how it works:
Transfer risk
What's high risk for you, might be low risk for me.
Maybe I have better skills, tools, or more knowledge.
Examples:
- Hire a mountain guide
- Outsource a project to a consultant
What's high risk for you, might be low risk for me.
Maybe I have better skills, tools, or more knowledge.
Examples:
- Hire a mountain guide
- Outsource a project to a consultant
Accept risk
Nothing is risk-free, and you'll have to accept that.
The amount of residual risk you are comfortable with is different for every person and organization.
Find it, and you'll sleep better.
Example:
- A medical trial has lower risk tolerance than a gaming startup
Nothing is risk-free, and you'll have to accept that.
The amount of residual risk you are comfortable with is different for every person and organization.
Find it, and you'll sleep better.
Example:
- A medical trial has lower risk tolerance than a gaming startup
Mitigate risk
You can take action to lower either the probability of something happening or the impact if it happens.
Example:
- Procedures, tests & controls lower the probability
- Time buffers and avalanche transceivers lower the impact
You can take action to lower either the probability of something happening or the impact if it happens.
Example:
- Procedures, tests & controls lower the probability
- Time buffers and avalanche transceivers lower the impact
Eliminate risk
You might be able to completely eliminate a risk.
While this sounds attractive, it's often unpractical or expensive.
Explore all options before you eliminate.
Example:
- Change project scope or redesign a process
- Not ski on days with extreme avalanche danger
You might be able to completely eliminate a risk.
While this sounds attractive, it's often unpractical or expensive.
Explore all options before you eliminate.
Example:
- Change project scope or redesign a process
- Not ski on days with extreme avalanche danger
Bonus: stacking TAME
Experienced operators stack different elements of the TAME framework.
They mitigate to lower the probability & impact, accept some residual risk, and insure themselves against a worst-case scenario.
I bet you're doing this at home already:
Experienced operators stack different elements of the TAME framework.
They mitigate to lower the probability & impact, accept some residual risk, and insure themselves against a worst-case scenario.
I bet you're doing this at home already:
You don't leave the fireplace on when you leave.
You have a smoke alarm & a fire extinguisher.
And you've insured your home, just in case.
You have a smoke alarm & a fire extinguisher.
And you've insured your home, just in case.
That's how you stay safe in the mountains, and in business.
If you enjoyed that, you might enjoy my newsletter too.
Every Tuesday, you'll learn a concept from the intersection of project management and leadership.
Read the issue about risk & join here:
minimumviableproject.beehiiv.com
If you enjoyed that, you might enjoy my newsletter too.
Every Tuesday, you'll learn a concept from the intersection of project management and leadership.
Read the issue about risk & join here:
minimumviableproject.beehiiv.com
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