Last week, I spent several days hiking in New Hampshire and Maine.
One day in Acadia, we chose a fairly steep climb, ending at a mountaintop with a 360-degree panorama. We were carefully scaling a particularly challenging group of boulders, considering each potential foothold, when a couple sprinted past. I must have looked surprised, because another hiker explained, “They’re trying to hit five mountain peaks in one day.”
Five. In one day.
We were surrounded by stunning scenery—blue skies dotted with clouds, fascinating rock formations, serene lakes, and mountains fading into the horizon. And, along the trail, there were a number of opportunities to pause and soak in the breathtaking views. Yet this couple wasn’t slowing down to notice any of it. Their focus was on the summit. Then the next. Then the next.
It struck me how often we do that at work and in life.
We fixate on the next task, the next goal, the next achievement, the next “peak” we want to reach. And in the rush, we skip the moments that give the journey depth and joy: insights and lessons learned from unexpected challenges, serendipitous connections that build trust and collaboration, celebrations as we reach each small milestone, and our growing skills as we successfully traverse the rocks.
While the summit can be spectacular, it’s rarely the whole reward. There is often even more value in the journey: the learning, the relationships, and the accomplishments along the way.
As you climb your own mountain, take time to look around. Breathe it in. Build connections. Acknowledge progress. Honor growth. And fully experience each moment.