On a daily basis I deliver well paid training courses and keynote speeches to corporate clients across the globe.
Telling stories, sharing experiences and providing insights into increasing personal and corporate performance.
Last Friday evening after a long week and frankly wishing I could simply pour a glass of wine, The Sandstone Foundation team headed out to join Scouts Scotland in Johnstone Central, Glasgow.
We spent a couple of hours talking all things resilience, STEM and Everest.
19 young people were inquisitive and engaged. They opened up about their personal challenges and agreed to work together as a team to overcome them.
I joined the Scouts in around 1985 and a “drill” night looked very different then but the ethos of looking after each and belonging to something bigger than yourself hasn’t changed #skillsforlife.
If I’m honest, I set out on Friday evening felling like “the big man” doing my bit, almost martyr like!
The reality was that it was an absolute privilege to spend a couple of hours with a group of young people, albeit from a very different generation to me, striving to make their way in the world.
I set out to motivate and came home motivated!
Some of the quotes from the night were brilliant and have had me chucking to myself all weekend.
When I asked what might happen if a climber was to slip off the side of the Matterhorn the reply came:
“Well that would be a once in lifetime experience” Scout, aged 10.
When I asked what might be the greatest challenge you would have to overcome when climbing Mount Everest the reply came:
“Being without my phone for 3 months!” Scout, aged 13.
The current generation are different to us, they see things differently to us, they face different challenges to us.
Our job is not to change them but to guide and encourage them.
To catch them when they fall.
Our What’s Your Everest? Programme is about being a part of their journey and helping to shape all of our futures #BecauseICan.
If you or your organisation would like to be involved in this CSR programme please get in touch. Help us see how many young people we can influence and support.
Any company that books our What’s Your Everest? Resilience course for its team can nominate a school or youth group for us to go and talk to - I suggest you come with us - you might just be inspired!
The Sandstone Foundation funds all of these visits itself. They are free to all of the Schools and youth groups we visit. If you’d like to sponsor the programme or to book a visit in your area - please get in touch.