Sir Ernest Shackleton’s big dream was to cross the Antarctic continent on foot. In 1914 he set out with a team of 28 men to do just that. I believe that would qualify as a big stinking dream.
They did NOT…
Make it that is. What they did, however, was survive. Amazingly all 28 made it out alive. You’ve got to read their story and you can find it covered in a ton of books. I’ve not found one yet that is a home run, so I’ll refrain from recommending at this point. Here though are the nums to watch.
The expeditions ship Endurance had threading its way though the Weddell Sea before becoming trapped in ice. The year was 1914. WWI was underway. Miles and many moons away, Shackleton and his team were stuck. For 10 months they were carried by their ice “captors” until Shackleton ordered the team to abandon ship in October of 1915.
For 5 months they would walk, dragging their small boats, back toward the open sea. Yea baby, for 5 months. Amazingly, nobody went nuts and nobody died.
Yet.
Once they finally made their way to the open water, it was 3 days until they would set foot on Elephant Island. Exhausted and nearly out of provisions, they would survive on birds and fish while regaining their strength. But the journey wasn’t over. Elephant Island was in the middle of nowhere and nobody was going to find them there. Soooo…
Shackleton and five others set sail for South Georgia, an Island that was 680 miles away. After 17 days through gales, snow squalls, and heavy seas they finally reached their target: the whaling station at South Georgia. But, not so fast. They couldn’t land their little boats on the whaling station side of the island due to the fact that they were landing there in the middle of a HURRICANE. Are you kidding me?
Nope.
Exhausted, famished, and parched they lapped up rain water on the beach like wild beasts. Now they had to cross overland a distance of about 24 miles as the crow flies, across South Georgia’s mountainous interior. Twice on the mountain they literally took a “leap of faith” into the fog not knowing if they were jumping off a cliff or a couple feet. Both times they landed in snow in less than 100 yards without incident. Finally after 1 full 24 hour walk across the mountain range, they made it into the whaling station. They had survived 10 5 3 17 1 and now they were done.
BTW, the other survivors were back on Elephant Island, waiting. Shackleton sent a rescue squad for them. They all made it out alive. All 28 survived. This story just amazes me. Everytime I’m starting to feel a little down, a little worn out, a little dejected, a little out of sorts, and a little “woe is me,” I remind myself…
10 5 3 17 1 and done…
What numbers get you down?
What numbers get you going?
What are you letting stop you from your big dreams?
I hope these nums remind you that whatever you’re going through, at this very moment, it’s been “done so” before. AND, you can get it “done so” now. Very cool.
BUILT TO LEAD 