From Nimsdai Purja (record-holder mountaineer) and Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO) Is there really a scary truth behind every summit?
Both the world’s tallest mountain and the fierce business world teach us the same truth: reaching the top is only half the battle. But there is a harsh truth that only those who have experienced it understand – why do 90% of successful people fail right after achieving their biggest goals? The answer lies in the interesting intersection of mountain climbing and business.
WHEN THE TOP IS NOT THE DESTINATION
Nimsdai Purja (record-holder mountaineer) – once stood on the top of Everest on a gloomy morning. No joy of victory, only obsession: “Now I have to come down”.
Meanwhile, Satya Nadella (CEO of Microsoft) when taking over Microsoft in 2014 also realized the same truth: Bringing the company from “out of date” back to the throne is just the first step. Maintaining that position is the real battle.
Both mountain climbing and business share the same paradox: Reaching the top is easier than staying at the top.
LESSONS OF LIFE AND DEATH FROM THE SLOPES
Nimsdai said:
“In 2019, during the ‘Project Possible’ project to conquer the world’s 14 highest peaks in 7 months, I almost died on Kangchenjunga. Not when climbing, but when descending. Exhaustion, dehydration, and the ‘I’ve done it’ mentality made me lose focus.”
Satya analyzed:
“The same happened to Microsoft in the 2000s. After dominating the PC, we fell asleep on Windows. We climbed so well to the top that we didn’t see the clouds coming – and almost became the ‘dinosaur’ of the technology industry.”
→ Meeting point: Both paid a high price for the “mission accomplished” mindset
3 RULES OF SURVIVAL
1. Always wear a mental ‘seatbelt’
- Mountaineer: Whether you reach the top or not, 50% of your energy must be spent on the journey down.
- CEO: Even if you achieve KPIs, 50% of your budget must be invested in innovation.
2. Success is your worst enemy
- Purja has seen many colleagues die because they were too confident in their past experiences.
- Nadella also admitted: “The ‘we know it all’ culture almost killed Microsoft.”
3. Know when to give up
- In 2021, Purja canceled his Everest climb despite spending 2 years preparing due to bad weather.
- In 2017, Microsoft gave up on Windows Phone despite spending $7 billion.
THE GREAT MOVES DOWN THE MOUNTAIN
Case study 1:
Ed Viesturs – the only person to climb the 14 highest peaks without using bottled oxygen – refused to climb Lhotse when it was only 300m because it was dark. “I want to climb mountains for the rest of my life, not just once” – the same philosophy as Jeff Bezos when Amazon constantly reinvests profits instead of celebrating.
Case study 2:
In 2020, when Microsoft reached a market capitalization of $1,000 billion, Nadella asked the team: “Act like we just went bankrupt”. This way of thinking is similar to mountaineering teams that always check their parachute cords even after 100 safe uses.
CONCLUSION: THE TOP-BOTTOM PHILOSOPHY
Both Purja and Nadella agree:
- The most dangerous peak is when you think you have won
- The greatest lesson comes not from climbing, but from deciding to come down
- True greatness lies in the ability to climb many mountains, not just stand on the top once
On the Fortune 500, the average company lifespan has dropped from 60 years (1958) to 15 years (2024). In the Himalayas, 80% of accidents occur on descent.
Do you want to be a ‘one-hit wonder’ brand or a survivor of many storms? The question that both mountaineers and CEOs must answer every day.
References:
- Book “Beyond Possible” – Nimsdai Purja
- Book “Hit Refresh” – Satya Nadella
- Innosight’s “Corporate Longevity” Report
- Statistical data from the International Mountaineering Association
- This article is compiled from public sources and expert analysis, not direct interviews.
