This book is written by the Erling Kagge, the Norwegian explorer, author, art collector, entrepreneur, lawyer and politician, who was the first person in the world to reach the North Pole, South Pole and the summit of Mount Everest on foot. This book was first published, in Norwegian, in 2005, and is thus not new. But the Penguin edition came out only in 2021.
The book consists of 16 relatively short chapters, each giving lessons by the author for surviving in extreme conditions. Most of these principles do indeed have much broader applications, so as to guide many of us in living more successful lives. There are many implications for entrepreneurs also. It should be noted that Mr. Kagge has built up his own successful publishing house from scratch!
It is no wonder that this book is praised so highly by so many. Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the world-famous British explorer (as well as writer and poet) says, “as an explorer, Erling Kagge is world class; as a writer he is equally gifted.”
Mr. Kagge’s expeditions have taken him to the limits of the earth. Human endurance is the main thread that runs through all of this. The book is indeed positive, and full of optimism, fulfillment and success, as reflected in each of the 16 chapters and throughout his “messages”. Here is a brief recap of each chapter:
In chapter one, Set Your Own Compass, the author stresses that key choices must be taken by oneself, based on opportunities as one sees them, and not to worry about potential obstacles. One should follow one’s own dream. There might be great work in setting targets. This is all in line with a key dictum that I have personally often predicted: “strategy means choice”.
Get Up Early, the next “principle” is key, of course. This has a lot to do with discipline, i.e., not to put things off.
Next, Train Yourself in Optimism, is key also. This may call for philosophizing to push for an optimistic angle. It may also call for being better prepared, through a positive attitude.
Many of us simply fail to relish in the strengths we have, and we are in effect often making excuses for these! The author takes a dramatically different view, namely, not to undervalue ourselves, Don’t Fear Your Own Greatness. This “can-do” attitude is fundamental, and it is not about bragging. The author claims that to think this way may also make it easier for many of us to acknowledge the greatness in others, i.e., not to “talk others down”.
There is a difference between what is completely impossible and what is merely impossible, according to the late philosopher and mountain climber Arne Naess. The author has labelled this Don’t Mistake Probability for Possibility!
However, Don’t Take Stupid Risks either. Be courageous, but not reckless! It may be more brave in the end, to withdraw from activities that are turning out to be entirely off limits.
One should not give up too easily. When giving up, one always shall Have Something to Lose. While we all have needs for challenges, we should also be prepared to say stop, although never until absolutely necessary!
The author now turns to philosophizing about life. A good life is about using one’s senses, seeking knowledge, living in fellowship with others, and being engaged. It encompasses finding variety in meanings of life. Yet this must come about naturally, not through frantic activities or even panic. Don’t Choose Happiness, Let It Choose You.
To Learn to Be Alone is a central feature when it comes to this. While many of us have the need for togetherness and to have recognition from others, this being perhaps part of the human condition, we might all nevertheless benefit from the realization that we might be able to cope alone, and not only this, but also that we can prosper in this way. The author certainly had to cope with this theme during his solo trip to the South Pole.
That trip taught him to value small pleasures, such as formations of snow and ice, different shades of white, and so on. Enjoy Small Helpings, the author says. Less is more! Closeness to nature can often manifest this, observing and appreciating many of these “small wonders” that can be found in nature.
The author now takes a turn to discuss failure. Accept Failure. Success and failure are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Sometimes an early failure might open up for a successful path at a later stage. Humility, respect and acknowledging the value of experience are all central here. While some success might be good, too much of it, perhaps coming too fast and/or too easily may indeed lead to dysunctionality. We see that in many settings – so-called “early bloomers” might typically have a hard time following up.
Responsibility is the critical factor to a freer life, the author claims. Find Freedom in Responsibility. Only this is the consistent path for success be achievable, in contrast to a “make it easy for myself” attitude.
Make Flexibility A Habit is of course also central here. While routine may be good, in the sense that this might help us to free up time, which we might then make better use of, routine should not be taken too far, the author says. If it is routine, then there is little left to take responsibility for. While habits and routines are indeed necessary, they must not become “resting pillows”.
The author now meanders back to the issue of luck, claiming that to try hard, to make thorough preparations might also increase one’s luck. Don’t Leave Luck to Chance! Preparations to achieve systematic luck entails doing the homework, foreseeing difficulties, and thinking positively. While unforeseen difficult situations shall almost always arise, the question is whether you have been prepared beforehand to cope with such events.
Our real goals are the ones that are constantly in the background. Allow Your Goals to Pursue You, the author says. For him, becoming an explorer was like following a predestined path.
After achieving what might be seen as success, the question that may arise is “so, what’s next?”, the so-called “Champion’s Dilemma”. The author discusses how to Reset Your Compass here, having experienced success after success, and always having been able to come back! It is not a matter of fulfillment of single goals as something finite, but to learn from a success, so as to be able to pursue another one.
The book’s finale is then to push for things. First, be kind. Second, leave one’s campsite in the same condition or better, relative to what it was when arriving. These two issues are of course key. But to this reviewer they come across more as perhaps some sort of add-on, rather than being part of the book’s main messages. However, this is a small point. What is paramount are the following considerations:
This book has several important implications. While most of us might not be inclined to pursue extreme targets to explore, in line with the author – extreme conditions arising from the cold, icy and windy climatic realities in the far north, south or heights, ocean storms, and so on, we may nevertheless learn a great deal when it comes to slightly less extreme undertakings that we embark on, such as being well prepared when we hike, ski, sail, for instance. However, the book has a much broader application than to address prospective explorers, or the rest of us embarking on expeditions somewhat less adventurous. Most of us are struggling with how to find more happiness in life. For instance, we may feel lonely, even though there are many people around us. To observe nature, to set realistic ambitions, to acknowledge that a so-called failure is nothing more than a license to learn more, and to be content with even the small things are insights that the author offers us. As he says, these, and other insights “came about” while he was undertaking his extreme struggles in hostile conditions.
For me there is another set of implications that might be seen as even more fundamental, namely for how family-owned firms, with entrepreneurs in charge, might learn from the book. I have stated in many places that non-listed firms, especially family-owned ones, seem to perform better than their publicly owned counterparts. Why? They are able to take a longer-term focus, and to reinvest in the firm, rather than pay dividends. But this assumes that the top management in such firms are competent and wise. They need to be driven and motivated. But how? The stock market, with its call for steady, quarterly dividends, is not there. So, what drives the executives that are leading privately owned firms? Mr. Kagge has an answer: to go for some risk, calculated gambles, recognize that by failing there might be a lot of learn. For me, this “inner drive” that the author is calling for seems to be absolutely essential when it comes to being in charge of successful family businesses.
Conclusion
This short book is inspirational. For me, it helped to better understand what drives successful leaders in the all-important private business sector – there are no pressures from the stock market here! Mr. Kagge has helped me to find the solution – inner drive! For all of you in leadership circles of non-public firms, this book is a must!