In the May 22nd edition of USA Today, it was reported that three climbers tragically died and two more were reported missing while descending from Mount Everest. Experts believe that exhaustion and altitude sickness in a place called the “death zone” were the causes.
For leaders, I think it is important to look at WHEN and WHY they perished.
These individuals passed away shortly after reaching the summit. It was after their mountaintop experience that they were most susceptible.  Along with many leaders, I have suffered some of my greatest defeats immediately after great victories. It is counter-intuitive but Andy Stanley is right when he says, “The greatest enemy to future success is past success.”
The following are just some of the reason I have failed after great success:
- Like the climbers, I suffered from absolute exhaustion. I was burnt out. It took so much to reach the summit, I simply had nothing left.
- Like the climbers, I reached an altitude I was not prepared for. I lacked the maturity for that level of notoriety and success.
- I became arrogant. I was “on top of the world.”
- I was overconfident.  I felt I no longer needed to prepare as well as I did previously.
- I had a faulty view of success. I forgot that it was not me but rather the team around me that was the reason for my success.
- I was not alert. I got blind-sided.
- Pride. I did not think I needed God’s help anymore.
- And let’s be honest, whether it was exhaustion, arrogance, overconfidence, faulty thinking, or pride, Satan knew exactly where I was weak and how best to attack me.
Leaders, you have a “death zone” as well. It too is right after a mountaintop experience. So rather than the attitudes I demonstrated above, be aggressive about practicing these behaviors so you will have sustained success:
- Watch your health. Get proper rest and exercise.
- Be humble.
- Focus on the fundamentals and prepare well. Do not wing it.
- Invest in others.
- Give credit to others.
- Practice generosity rather than selfishness.
- Earnestly seek God and pray.
- Guard your heart.
Leaders, am I alone on this? Have you also experienced great failure shortly after experiencing great success?
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