Magnus visits Alex in Las Vegas, expecting to hit a climbing gym. Instead, Alex takes him freestyling—climbing a cliff with no ropes, just hands, feet, and chalk to make sure gravity doesn’t harvest him.

Magnus, an elite climber himself, struggles. The climb forces him to confront fear, stay present, and move deliberately—three essential lessons that apply just as much to business as they do to scaling a mountain.

1. Calm Yourself

Magnus, despite his skill, panics at times. Fear creeps in. Alex reassures him: “When you panic on the wall, your body tenses, and that makes climbing harder. The harder you grip, the more strength you lose.”

That’s business, too—stress clouds judgment. Panic wastes energy. When challenges arise—pitching a high-stakes deal, firing a problematic employee, or making a bold move—grounding yourself gives you access to clarity and insight.

Climbers use resting positions to shake out tension and reset. In business, that’s stepping back to recalibrate before making a move. It might be a quiet moment before a crucial decision or scheduling intentional time to strategize.

The biggest advantage? Perspective. When you calm yourself, you stop reacting and start seeing the bigger picture.

BIG TAKEAWAY: A settled mind makes better decisions.

2. Be Very Present

Alex’s advice is simple: “Focus on the hold you’re on, not the one you think you need next.” That’s how you stay alive while climbing. It’s also how you stay sane while running a business.

Magnus embraces this approach mid-climb: “I feel like I’m just going with the flow, and it’ll all be fine.”

That’s presence. Worrying about the past or future drains energy from what actually matters—right now.

In business and climbing, route reading is crucial. You plan ahead, but you also adapt. The crux—the hardest part of a climb—is where your full attention is needed. If you let distractions pull you away, you risk falling—whether that means missing an opportunity or making a costly mistake.

Example: Say you’re pitching investors. You might be consumed by financial projections, competitor analysis, or worst-case scenarios. But the crux of that moment? Building trust. If you’re not fully present, you’ll miss your shot.

BIG TAKEAWAY: When you focus only on what’s in front of you, overwhelm disappears.

3. Be Patient

“Rushing up the wall gets you pumped out,” Alex warns. “Take time to breathe, adjust your grip, and plan your next move.”

Impatience in business leads to burnout and bad decisions. We push too hard, chase results too fast, and make moves we’re not ready for. But slow, deliberate progress wins in the long run.

Flagging is a climbing technique where you extend a leg to balance yourself before making a move. In business, that might look like waiting to launch a product until it’s truly ready or taking an extra month to refine your offer.

Brendon Burchard puts it well: “Often, the difference between good and great is an extra two to four weeks of effort.”

BIG TAKEAWAY: Slow is smooth. And smooth is fast.

The Value of Coaching

Even an elite climber like Magnus struggled—but Alex’s presence made the climb possible.

Magnus: “It really helps having you above me, talking to me. I didn’t think it would help; I thought it might distract me more.”
Alex: “It makes it more relaxed. You’re with someone, having fun, taking your time.”
Magnus: “If I were alone, this would be way too scary.”

This is exactly what my client, Wayne Courreges III, a Texas-based real estate developer, realized about coaching:

“I struggled with not having someone to talk to through business challenges and stresses. When I started working with Risa, I quickly realized how much clarity and calm I could gain. One of the biggest shifts has been learning to control my thoughts and emotions—particularly my anxiety.”

Just like Magnus needed Alex’s guidance, business owners need someone to help them navigate challenges.

If you’re ready to gain clarity, calm, and confidence in scaling your business, schedule a complimentary coaching call with me. Let’s get you to your next level—one solid move at a time.