準備攻頂

愛莉森解釋道，若沒有事先幾個月的準備，人的身體無法忍受聖母峰那高海拔的極端氣候。攀登者不能只帶上登山器具就開始爬山。身體需要許多的訓練才能準備好。

一開始要花幾個星期去爬山的第一段高度，然後回到基地的帳篷。接著登山者要爬第二階段高度，然後再回到基地帳篷。這個過程要持續不斷，直到身體適應且完全準備好去攀登這世界第一高峰的峰頂。

這個登山原則也可直接應用在工商界。就如聖母峰是許多登山者視為冒險且最高的挑戰，在職場中也有我們想要征服的「聖母峰」。那可能是一個令人興奮的點子、一個極高的目標、或一個獨特的商業觀念。不論那是什麼，要達成那目標需要計畫、訓練、準備和足夠的供應。

就如同李凡女士為攀登聖母峰所作的準備，要回到基地帳篷，有時我們的工作或事業可能似乎在撤退休息狀態。但靠著堅忍，這「往回走」的情況可能是為了攻頂所作的必要準備。

今天許多人堅持要立刻成功，欲望立刻要得到滿足，電視、網路的立即性和社群媒體的立即傳播能力使我們忘了成功常常需要花相當的時間、精力、資源和耐心。

我們常常期待幾週內，而非幾年內就得到回報。然而當我們回顧商業和企業的歷史，許多成就都是經過多年的努力、嘗試和錯誤、以及失敗後才來到。無數偉大的點子在還沒成功前就死了，因為想出那些點子的改革者缺乏決心堅持下去。他們不願繼續往前走，然後回到「基地帳篷」，接著再往前走，再回基地，直到完全準備好去衝向成功。

聖經清楚地談到這個議題。例如在新約中雅各書1章4節教導我們：「但忍耐也當成功，使你們成全、完備，毫無缺欠。」堅忍不拔不僅是忍耐一段時間，還意味著有目標在望，有計畫要進行，有承諾要完成。

在另一處類似的經文中，羅馬書5章3-5節告訴我們：「…患難生忍耐，忍耐生老練，老練生盼望；盼望不至於羞恥…」即使當我們必須撤退或遭遇挫折，我們還是堅持下去，因為我們期待有一個滿意的結果將要來到。所以若你尋求要爬上你專業的頂峰，要願意從底部開始準備。

本文版權為正直資源中心（Integrity Resource Center, Inc.）所有。本文獲得授權改編自「瑞克．博克思的正直時刻Integrity Moments with Rich Boxx」。這系列的文章是以一個基督徒的觀點評論職場的正直議題。想要更多了解正直資源中心或想要收到電子文件的「瑞克每天的正直時刻Rick”s daily Integrity Moments」系列文章，請上網www.integrityresource.org。他的書「如何生意興隆而不犧牲正直」提供人們正直地作生意的方法。

The human body, she explained, cannot tolerate the extremely high altitude and unusual atmospheric conditions of Mount Everest without first undergoing months of preparation. Climbers cannot just grab mountain climbing gear and begin the ascent. Much is needed for the body to achieve readiness.

At the beginning, it takes weeks of climbing just to the first level of the mountain and then retreating to the base camp. Then climbers proceed to the next level and climb back down again. This process continues until the body becomes acclimated and fully prepared for climbing all the way to the summit of the world”s tallest mountain.

These mountain climbing principles have direct application to the business and professional world. Just as Mount Everest represents an adventure and lofty pursuit for many who have ever engaged in mountain climbing, the work world also has “Everests” that we envision conquering. It might be an exciting idea, a lofty goal, or a unique business concept. Whatever it is, achieving it requires planning, training, preparation and sufficient provision.

Just as in Ms. Levine”s preparations for climbing Mount Everest, sometimes our work, or business, may appear to be in retreat, having to return to the base camp. But with perseverance, this “going backward” may prove to be the preparation necessary for the successful journey to the top.

Today many people insist on instant success, immediate gratification for their desires. TV, the Internet”s immediacy, and instant communication capacities of social media have caused us to forget that success often requires considerable expenditures of time, energy, resources – and patience.

Too often, we expect to be rewarded within weeks, not years. Yet as we consider the history of business and enterprise, many great achievements came only after many years of effort, trial and error, and failure. Great ideas beyond number have died, falling well short of success because their innovators lacked the determination to stick with them. They were unwilling to advance, then retreat to “base camp,” advance further and then retreat again, until they were fully prepared for the final push toward success.

The Bible clearly speaks to this issue. In the New Testament, for example, James 1:4 teaches, "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Perseverance is more than endurance, which amounts to “hanging on.” To persevere means to have a goal in sight, a plan for reaching it, and the commitment to carry it to completion.

In a similar passage, Romans 5:3-5 tells us “…suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint….” We stay with the process, even when we must retreat or encounter setbacks, because of the expectation of a satisfactory outcome. So if you seek to climb to the top of your profession, be willing to start with preparations at the bottom.

Copyright 2012, Integrity Resource Center, Inc. Adapted with permission from "Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx," a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. To learn more about Integrity Resource Center or to sign up for Rick”s daily Integrity Moments, visit www.integrityresource.org. His book, How to Prosper in Business Without Sacrificing Integrity, gives a biblical approach for doing business with integrity.