In this venturesome episode, Jennifer Drummond, Owner of Jenn Drummond, shares the lessons she learned climbing the tallest mountains (yes plural) in the world how she inspires her clients to live meaningful lives while becoming significant business leaders.
You will discover:
- How to find joy in every moment no matter how hard it is
- Why turning back and quitting aren’t the same
- The best way you can lead your team starting today
Episode Transcript
Scott Ritzheimer
Hello, hello and welcome. Welcome once again to the secrets of the high demand coach. And I am here with Jen Drummond, who after a car accident in 2018, was she realized that you don’t get to choose when you leave this life, but you do get to choose how you live it. And so she was inspired to climb a mountain for her birthday, then her son raises the stakes by suggesting Mount Everest. Now, during her training, a coach upped the ante and proposed that she go for a Guinness World Record and become the first woman to climb the seven second summits. Today, Jen is a world record holder who elevates others to master their own summit and life. She’s also an international speaker and author and host of the seek your next summit podcast, who’s focused on inspiring others to go beyond success to live a life of significance. Well, Jen, I’m so excited to have you here. First off, wow. But tell what happened in 2018. And how did that lead to where you are today?
Jennifer Drummond
Yes so 2018, I was in a horrific car crash at the police rebuilt the accident about 50 different times, and they could not build a scenario where I lived. Fast forward a couple of weeks after my crash, one of my good girlfriends was running on a trail. It was wet out, she slipped, hit her head on a rock and never came home. So I had this horrific crash that I survived. She did something healthy that she never got to come home. And it was metabolizing. Those two extreme events that I realized, we don’t get to choose when we live. Or I’m sorry, we don’t get to choose when we die when we sure get to choose how we live. And I wasn’t really liberated. Right? I was going through the motions of life just thinking like, Oh, I’ll get to it later, I’ll get to him, my kids will launch I’ll get to it with whatever excuse I had in a way. And that really, really made me realize like, I’m the only one who’s limiting me and what I’m doing. So 2019 became this big year of the bucket list. Like if I was to die in the next decade. What do I want to do? What do I want to see? What are all the things I want to experience? Before that happens? And on that list was climb a mountain in 2020? I was turning 40. So I thought oh, I’ll climb a mountain for my 40th birthday.
Scott Ritzheimer
So you didn’t just climb one mountain though. You climbed the seven second summit. So this was new to me. I didn’t know what the sevens eigen summits were. But tell us what are the seven second summit?
Jennifer Drummond
Yeah, so the seven I didn’t know what they were either. When my coach brought it up, I’ll be honest with you. I’m like what sounds like a tongue twister. You guys, they’re the second highest point on each of the seven continents. They have only been done by one male I just became the first female to do the pursuit. It’s actually harder than the first seven. So a k two is harder than aborist. Mon Tyree is harder than Mount Vinson, Mount Kenya is harder than Kilimanjaro. And so a lot of them logistically are challenging to get to, but technically, they’re a little bit more challenging. Two took me two and a half years.
Scott Ritzheimer
Wow. Well, now, one of the things this is a little bit of a weird question was the first one that popped into my mind. And I think it’s gonna be helpful for how much time did you spend training versus actually climbing?
Jennifer Drummond
Oh, my goodness, well, here’s like a foot like not funny story, but a realization. What I was on the top of Everest, right? So abris is the highest mountain in the world. I used it to grade for k two. And what happened was, when I got to the top, we had bad weather. So we couldn’t be up there for long. So we were on the top of Everest for 10 minutes, I calculated that I had trained 1232 hours to be on the top of that summit. And it was one of those things. I’m like, man, there’s so much of our lives, or we’re chasing the destination, or we’re chasing the summit worth reading and like how little time we actually spend in that space. Yeah. The is in the journey, and the pursuing and the becoming in the creating, and if you can’t figure out a way to enjoy that journey, man. So a lot of sacrifice for 10 minutes.
Scott Ritzheimer
Sure is. It sure is. And how what what did that look like for you? How did you go about enjoying the journey?
Jennifer Drummond
Yeah. Well, it’s really easy to enjoy the journey when you almost don’t have any journey anymore. Right? So like when my I remember getting a phone call from the principal’s office for one of my boys. And he’s like, Hey, I just wanted to let you know your son was kind of acting up in class today, blah, blah, blah. And I’m like, Okay, thanks for calling. And he’s like, are you okay? Like, Yeah, I’m okay. Because I just thought maybe you’d have a little bit different response. Like, I know, I probably should be a little angry or that my son was not behaving. But the reality is, is like I almost wasn’t here to have this phone call. So I just So grateful for this moment, because I’d rather be here having a moment of hard than not being here at all, with the moments that I want to collect with my children. And so I think every day, if you remember, like it’s a privilege to be alive, it’s a privilege to have choice and be able to show up and do things that we want to do. And if you have a life that you’re not excited to wake up to, that’s a sign, that’s a sign say, Hey, listen, what do I need to add into this day? So that I’m happy. And I’m excited to wake up? Because I promise you once you face that, you are like magnetic every day and you could get we’re good. We’re good. We’re good.
Scott Ritzheimer
That’s true. So on the back of that, what would you say? Again, quite the feat. What was the proudest moment of that whole process for you?
Jennifer Drummond
Oh, you know, here’s a moment I was I failed k two, the first time I went to climate, so I had to come home, I actually had to bury a teammate. Another one lost his hand to frostbite. So there was a whole bunch of really bad things that happened on my first expedition. And it made me really concerned about going back, right, like what you don’t know you don’t know. And all sudden, you’re walking back into an environment that was not favorable the last time you were there. And I got a phone call a few weeks before it was time to head back. And it was a person that had helped me exit the country the year before. And he was interested in climbing but didn’t quite have the resources to make it happen is that hey, I can help with that. So I brought over some stuff, and I paid for some things when I got there. And I summited k two. And then a little bit later, he summited k two, and when you get to be a part of somebody else’s success, yeah, now this person is going to have a job for life. He has a great reputation and mountaineering, this is going to change the trajectory of his life. It kind of gave a little bit more. Okay nest about the failure the year before. And I think a lot of us forget that sometimes things fall apart. So better things can come together. And I truly feel that once we hit the summit, the real Summit, or the real significance comes from helping somebody else, get there easier or change the trajectory of their lives.
Scott Ritzheimer
Yeah. So I just processing through maybe failure, the potential for failure, you can kind of always like you’ve already shown there’s, there’s another side to a lot of these things. But when you’re on the side of a mountain, and the weather’s kicking up, like the decision to move forward or go back has some real consequences. How do you know? And how do you process when it’s actually time to go back?
Jennifer Drummond
Yeah, um, I turned around on two mountains. Okay, so one mountain, I had a teammate die. And I had the choice to go up with another team or go down with my team. And I’m a firm believer and people over peaks. So I wanted to be there for my team, I know that mountain will always be there available to climb. I truly believe that who we show up as people is way more important than what we achieve. And so I really wanted to live that motto. So I went down and took care of my team. The other climb was we were on the mountain, we were in terrible weather, it was in Canada, so mount Logan’s a second highest point for North America. And it was colder and more terrible weather than any other place had been on the planet. Okay, I’ve been on the highest peak, the second highest peak Antarctica, all those things, my logon is brutal. The airplane that was the rescue airplane had something go wrong with it. So then we were turned over to Parks Canada. So if something happened, we’d have to call national parks to get picked up. National Parks was watching the weather. And they’re like, we’re gonna have two weeks where we don’t know if you’re gonna be able to thaw water. And so we’re picking you up just to make sure everything’s safe. And so they I mean, they had a huge role in that, obviously, right? Like, I’m like, like, can we quick slide up the ball and and then you pick us up? Do we really need to be picked up right now? We’re two days from the summit. Right? And that’s a couple week climb. And you’re sitting there like, Oh, come on, you’re like, please, and we cut it. So they picked us up and we had to come back? It’s a 23. Yeah, yeah. So of climbing is you have these teams, right? And everybody’s looking out for everybody. And everybody’s putting their weight in with their decision to help make safe choices for yourself. And for anybody that’s listening, that’s building a business or doing things like you need people on your team that are keeping an eye out for you so that you can stay in the game doing your thing. And then when they make a call that affects you, you trust them and succumb to that call, even if it’s not in your favor.
Scott Ritzheimer
Yeah. Yeah, and so are the next question that I had is how did this the adventure as a whole whole the 1000 experiences that led up to it. How did they shape you as a leader? And even as a mom at home?
Jennifer Drummond
Oh, yeah, I think the biggest takeaway for me was big mountains take big teams. So if we have a big goal that we’re trying to achieve, take a big team to make that goal happen. Yeah. Right. I think so many of us believe that we can do it by ourselves, or we’ll just muscle through or just a little bit longer mean, life short, if it’s a big load that you need to carry up a big mountain, have people along on the journey with you, it’s so much more enjoyable, you’re going to go farther, you’re going to have more fun, like all the pieces are gonna just feel easier.
Scott Ritzheimer
Yeah. Yeah. And, and as you’re, you’re coming back, you speak about this all over the country in the world? What would what would you say are some of the the second summits if you will, of business and life? What does this translate into our world?
Jennifer Drummond
Yeah, you know, I think the first thing for me now, when I run into a roadblock, or an obstacle or a setback, I don’t view that as a sign to stop. I view that as the climatized thing, Oh, I hit a spot that is past my abilities. Right. Now, I need to come back to the drawing board, just like you come back to base camp. And you say, Okay, what’s working, what’s not working? How do I better go forward, knowing what I know now. And when you acclimatized down a mountain, you go to a point of failure, you come back to base camp, your body physiologically changes, so it produces more red blood cells, so you can go higher up them out. And I think that metaphor for me, has allowed so much more room for other options to show up along the pursuit.
Scott Ritzheimer
Yeah, yeah, that is, it’s done it one. It’s stunning how our bodies adapt. But too, I love that idea of you just a climate, like you’re moving to I know, you’re, I think you’re from Utah, if I remember correctly, I just flew through Utah once and I couldn’t walk through the airport. So like I had my respect for, for both the freezing cold and also the just the elevation is remarkable. But I like this idea, it’s not a sign that you failed, it’s not a sign that you have to go all the way back, right, but that you take a step back to where you can get back to a place of support acclimatized and move forward. What, um, what that just from that, what would you hope that other leaders could learn from your story?
Jennifer Drummond
Yeah, I think, to wave their flag along their pursuit would be a great lesson for all of us, it’s really fun to wave our flag at the top of the mountain, because like, hey, we made it, here we are. But the more we can learn to wave our flag along the entire pursuit. So at the beginning, in the messy middle, and the setbacks and the move, and the comebacks and all those pieces, we share our story, and it allows others to find themselves in it. And we just encourage each other, we help each other when I’m waving my flag, I let you know, here’s what I’m trying to achieve. Here’s what I need. And here’s how I can help. And the more that we all do that and signal to each other allows us to help one another on our path forward.
Scott Ritzheimer
Yeah, yeah. So you’ve climbed the seven second, you’ve done one of the hardest feats. We like to use the metaphor like you’ve you’ve conquered this hill now the next, but literally, literally and figuratively. What’s the next hill look like for you? What’s the next challenge for you as a leader and and how are you going to overcome it?
Jennifer Drummond
Yeah, you know, I think our society really focuses on what’s next. And I actually am trying to get out of that rat race of always needing to have something else. And so since I just did this for huge pursuit, I’m starting to practice what is like what is now what can I be grateful for? How can I practice presence, and then when I’m one year after the school, so I summited June 1 2023. I’m giving myself an entire year to just be what is and kind of recharge the batteries and not be pursuing something. And then in June, I hope to have something lined up that really feels good to me that I want to pursue forward.
Scott Ritzheimer
Yeah, yeah, I love that. It’s similar. One of the best things I think you can do if you sell a business is to take 12 months and not do anything else. Write it again, if you can afford it, because it’s so similar. It’s like, we get sucked into this, it’s gotta be bigger and better. And if you try and go into something new expecting it to be bigger than and better than something that was mature enough, you know, to sell or transition out of, it’s gonna, it’s gonna leave you feeling empty and hollow, right? It you’ve got to have that time to again, using your principal from before to acclimatized. It’s a different environment. I love it. I could go on and on and on about this forever. But we’ve got some exciting news and your book is coming out. So tell us about the book. Where can we find it? And what can we expect in his pages?
Jennifer Drummond
Yes, definitely. So I wrote the book, break proof, seven strategies to build resilience and achieve your life goals. When I was halfway through the climate project, I went out to lunch with a friend who’s an author. And he’s like, You need to write a book. I don’t even like mountaineering, and I’m fascinated with these stories. It’s amazing how much they apply to business principles in everyday life. And I didn’t really think about who that message was coming from an author who writes daily, and that’s like his lifestyle. To me who’s a climber. That’d be like SEO like you should go climb Everest because it’s really fun. It’s saying yes to taking it on. So I said yes. Unbeknownst to me of that challenge, it’s been a challenge. I’m grateful for it now that I’m on the other side. But it is I take the reader to each mountain, I take you into the nitty gritty details of what’s going on. And then I highlight a lesson that helps you build resilience in your life. And hopefully, you can apply it to your life so that you can continue on your path forward and be the best that you can be because we each are here with a specific calling specific likes, dislikes, ways of doing life. And so I think the more each of us can live our story to its end, the better off we all are.
Scott Ritzheimer
Yeah, yeah. And so we can get on Amazon and normal places
Jennifer Drummond
Yes, you go to my website, jenndrummond.com and get a hyperlink otherwise order on Amazon. If you order in pre-sales, we have a whole bunch of fun bonuses that are definitely worth it.
Scott Ritzheimer
Jen, thank you so much for your time. It’s just an absolute honor and privilege having you on an unbelievable story that I can’t wait to share as far and wide as possible. So thank you again. And for those of you listening, watching, you know, your attention means the world to us. I hope you got as much out of this conversation as I know I did, and I cannot wait to see you next time. Take care.
Contact Jennifer Drummond
A car accident in 2018 made Jenn Drummond realize you don’t get to choose when you leave this life, but you sure can choose how you live it. Inspired to climb a mountain for her birthday, her son raised the stakes by suggesting Mount Everest. During her training, her coach upped the ante and proposed that she go for a Guinness World Record and become the first woman to climb the 7 Second Summits. Today, Jenn is a world record holder who elevates others to master their own summit in life. She’s also an international speaker, an author, and Host of the Seek Your Next Summit podcast, who’s focused on inspiring others to go beyond success to a life of significance.
Want to learn more about Jennifer Drummond’s work at Jenn Drummond? Check out her website at https://jenndrummond.com/
Podcast Booking Status: Open
We are looking for podcast guests, and we want to share your story.
Are you a coach, consultant, or advisor for entrepreneurial organizations? If so, let’s do a great show together – and we can promote you to our audience on all our social media channels, website, and email list.
Guest requirements:
- As a coach, you should be experiencing some very good momentum AND be grossing $100K or more annually. We’ll be talking about how you help your clients achieve extraordinary results.
- Consider yourself as equally people and results-oriented in your mission.
- High-authority expert management and independent coaches who work with founder-led entrepreneurial organizations of 40 or more employees. We also encourage guests that are operations/strategy and culture consultants, advisors, and leadership coaches to be guests (no specialties in marketing, branding, sales, or IT, please
- Please, no new coaches (under 3 years), published authors, non-independent coaches, or non-business coaches/consultants.