World Record Skier Shares 3 Takeaways From Epic 27 Day Challenge for Saint Francis Hospice

James Dick started 2024 with an epic challenge - to ski in 30 countries in 30 days. In fact, he achieved his goal in just 27 days, raising over £16,000 for two charities close to his heart - Saint Francis Hospice and the National Brain Appeal. James also achieved a new Guinness World Record!  Here James shares what he learned along the way.

Guinness World Record achieved!  30 countries in 27 days, 22 flights, 30,000 km, erupting volcanoes, 90mph gales, pneumonia, and countless challenges - all conquered for two amazing charities Saint Francis Hospice and The National Brain Appeal. Here are my three key takeaways:

Micro-goals conquer mountains:

My initial ‘30-in-30’ plan hit snags facing serious setbacks by day 4. Croatia had no snow, and I was refused entry to Bosnia and other Schengen countries. Landing at '23-in-30' didn't quite have the same ring! Adapting to a "one country at a time" strategy, with small wins fuelling progress, allowed me to break the current record of 17 before regrouping and focusing on the remaining 12 countries. This strategy is key for any large goal in business or life.

As Robert Collier said, "Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day-in and day-out.”

Together, we go further:

An African proverb says, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go as a team." After skiing 16 countries in 11 days, my challenges multiplied tenfold.

I was required to accomplish the World Record solo. Yet, friends, colleagues and family went above and beyond to help where they were allowed. From charity donations and plane tickets to organising national TV and radio coverage and raising awareness for the charities, the support was endless and incredible.

This experience was an invaluable reminder of the importance of teamwork in achieving goals, both in personal adventures and in business endeavours.

Embrace the pivot:

As Mike Tyson said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face." The universe throws curveballs, and the Guinness World Record journey reminded me of the importance of adaptability. Sometimes we have to take the long road to reach our final destination and along the way we might need a pivot to get there.

Trust that detours can lead to even greater success. Adapting quickly to new circumstances can make all the difference in business and life.