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SeekingTrueNorth.com is the blog of authors Tim Walther and Erick Erickson. You can search the blog entries by category at the bottom of the left-hand Sidebar to find out more about the book, the ongoing adventures of Tim and Erick, and their businesses Grand Dynamics and Erickson International. We also highly encourage you to visit our forum where you can read and add commentary about Seeking True North and the application of all the models, methods and tools! Please subscribe to the RSS feed for future updates.

Tim Walther and Erick Erickson

Here’s a great fitness test. Take the challenge!

Tests of “motor fitness” developed by T.K. Cureton and reported in a Physical Fitness Workbook, copyright 1947. All tests are pass/fail. Percentages reported in parenthesis represent failure rates.

Balance

Stand with feet about 6″ apart, arms clasped behind the back. Kneel slowly, touch both knees and get up without losing your balance at any time. Feet must remain in place and arms kept behind the back. (2.8%)

Stand on toes with heels together; hold both hands horizontally forward and together as if about to dive. Hold for 20 seconds without shifting feet or hands. (3.5%)

With hands free to aid, stand flat on one foot for ten seconds, then rise up on toes and hold for ten seconds. Weighted foot must not shift. (9.8%)

Squat with arms between knees with hands on floor in front of the knees. Rock forward to balance on the hands and maintain that balanced position for ten seconds. (52%)

Do a hand stand for ten seconds. Hand walking is allowed. (95%)

Flexibility

Lying prone on the floor with fingers laced behind the neck. Partner holds down feet and hips. Attempt to raise chin 20″ off the floor. (3%)

From a standing position (with feet 12″ apart), bend forward from the waist and touch the floor with finger tips, keeping legs absolutely straight throughout. Maintain position for ten seconds. (11.5%)

Sit on the floor, legs straight with heels 18″ apart, fingers laced behind neck. Bend trunk forward until forehead is 8″ from the floor. Maintain 2 seconds. (18.4%)

Lying prone on floor with arms extended straight overhead and with fists clenched, raise fists 8″ off the floor, keeping chin to the floor. Maintain 2 seconds. (24.7%)

Agility

From kneeling position, swing arms, jump to feet and maintain balance, (do not shift feet after landing.) (13.2%)

Hold toe or tip of shoe and jump through the loop formed without releasing toe or shoe. (39.1%)

Facing a stout bar, hold with two hands and vault over the bar without touching the bar with any part of the body. Horizontal bar is positioned at 4′ 6″. Bar must be cleared in a continuous move. (54%)

Strength

Lie supine on floor, hands on thighs, and push up to a head bridge. Hold head bridge for 60 seconds. (3.5%)

Grasp the high bar, draw legs up into a tuck then go through the arms and back to start; as in “skin the cat.” (70.7%)

Lying prone on floor with arms extended straight upward from shoulders, palms on the floor, press body (torso) up, lifting stomach 4″ off the floor. Elbows or forearms may not touch the floor. (78.2%)

Power

Standing broad jump your own height plus one foot.. (37.3%)

Medicine Ball put. With one arm, put a 6-7 pound medicine ball 35′. (43.2%)

Climb a 20″ rope using hands and feet in less than 20 seconds. (56.9%)

Vertical jump 19″ using the reach and touch technique. (61.5%)

Endurance

Lying supine on floor or mat with fingers laced behind neck. Alternate lifting legs straight over head and doing a sit up; 20 leg raises, 20 sit ups with no rest between. (21.8%)

Sitting on floor with hands on hips, hold legs rigidly straight off the floor no more than 20″ high. Maintain position for 60 seconds. (32.2%)

Perform ten chin ups (palms toward the performer). (46%)

Run a mile in seven minutes (67.8%)

Run in place for 120 seconds at 180 steps per minute, then take one deep breath and hold        that breath for 30 seconds. (94.1%)

Remember, these were physically fit people who were taking these tests back in 1947. I have a feeling the general population today is no where near as fit as they were back then. Thanks to Karl Rohnke for sharing this with me.

Tim

Last weekend was a stellar Jackson Hole Weekend. Saturday I made it back into GTNP after a long wait letting my ankle heal.  My ankle is feeling better, and this moderate route in the Tetons was perfect.  

They call it disappointment peak because it looks like it is part of the Grand Teton. When you head for the summit, you realize that there is a massive gap between the mountain you are on and the Grand Teton! 

 Yes - the BEAR!  Always fun to see our little furry friend along the way.

Adrian Foreman was my climbing partner and it was great to connect with him.   I am always happy to spend time with Adrian. He’s intelligent, insightful, adventuresome and goes with the flow. Climbing in the mountains allows you to bond and connect with people like nothing else. The nature, the walking and achieving a goal together is a great wayt o connect.

Our conversation flowed as did the entire day. This was a beautiful pitch right on the ridge. 

This climb reminded me about the concept of the false summit. Lots of times in life you charge off seeking some big goal, and you think you are on the right path. Hard work and lots of time and energy invested sometimes results in a big “disappointment.”  These things happen in life - so what can we do about it?

Consider acceptance, the reframe, and engaging the now (all found on the forum) as three tools for experiencing success in the midst of disappointment. Overall - I am happy to be back climbing again - and Disappointment peak, even though it’s not the Grand Teton, offers a stellar day in the mountains.

The Box - in Spanish - has been fueling much of my musical passion since my return from Spain in January. The cajon was invented in Peru and introduced to Spain.  The first time I saw this awesome box drum was in El Churro - in the mountains of Souther Spain, just north of Malaga.  It just so happend that the first day there, Ryan and I rolled in on the one night of the month that live music came to the mountains of El Churro. I was mesmerized and two months later, after climbing through Morocco and Spain, I had completed my search for the perfect Cajón. I bought one in Barcelona and carried it with me across the globe to share the love!  I have been playing with Tom Turiano and Valerie Seaberg, along with other special musical guests, out at various gigs.  The box drum is sweet because it has full bass sounds combined with snare action at the top-front of the box created from snare strings on the inside of the box.  The sounds are sweet!

Live music has found its way back into my life and I am loving it. I have been playing my full drum kit with another rock band - Wounded Knee - a couple nights a week as well.  Drumming fills my passion and for me is one of the many parts of the rhythm of life. When i play I experience a flow state where the sense and sounds flows through a fraction of a second before I play it, yet I play in the present moment. in a way, drimming is almost like one continuous deja vu!  Visualizing what is coming just a fraction before it does and then, boom, the synchronistic musical conjunction. I love the metaphor for being “in tune”, anticipating and realizing the flow in the creation of music.

I wonder what ways people experience the same things in life?

Tim

A couple weeks ago I went for a walk in Grand Teton Nationonal Park up to Lupine Meadows.  It was the first time back in the mountains since my fall on Mount Moran.  It was a beautiful walk and my ankle felt great. I went with Holly Baade and she had never been into the park - it was sweet to see the never-ending grin on her face.  A couple miles in is a natural spring called horsetail falls. Its called that because the hollow horsetail plant is what is used to draw the water from the spring into your bottle.  We stopped and Christian Scantelicis, a long time friend and Exum Mountain guide, was grabbing a drink after finishing up the Grand Traverse with a client. Just then a man approached with a sizable pack and he had an experienced, yet calm demeanor to him.  It’s funny, the people you run into in Jackson Hole. Jackson attracts accomplished and successful people from many walks of life. Christian introduced us and the man’s name was David Breashers. I recognized the name and knew he was a famous mountaineer and film-maker, but I couldn’t remember any other specifics.  David was on the way to climb the Grand Teton with other famous climbers Conrad Anchor and Jimmy Chin. The climb was a fund raising effort for Save Tibet and they were guiding a few notable clients including the Niece of the Daili Lama and the editor for the NY Times.

We began talking and after a few moments we all realized that our conversation was just beginning.  Insights flowed as we talked about David’s experience working with organizations and business leaders, and we interwove topics psychology, business and philosophy seamlessly. One phrase that David shared which stuck with me is the “Inner Master.” To me the Inner Master refers to internal structures which guide us in thought and action. Our inner master is the combination of our ego and internal sense of what is important and provides our interpretive interface with the world.  The greatest challenge is to know oneself - and for our Inner Master to be at peace. I wonder, what does my inner master tell me?  What inner thoughts and desires no longer serve me?  One tool I have found to help me discover those questions is The Witness. The witness is your third eye - your ability to perceive those thoughts and actions from outside yourself.  By paying attention to the continuous thoughts that flow through us we can re frame and direct our focus toward those things that serve us - and the greater good of the world. 

As time went by it came together for me and I realized that David Breashears was the man that, among other things, created the IMAX Everest Film.  In May 1996 he was on Everest when the tragic storm hit. His team stopped filming to rescue the climbers, 8 of which died on the mountain. David’s best-selling memoir High Exposure: An Enduring Passion for Everest and Unforgiving Places (Simon & Schuster) documents his life as a mountaineer and filmmaker.  You can read more about David  at http://www.davidbreashears.com/about.html 

The timing of David’s appearance was impeccable and the conversation was a delight. It was great to hear David talk about the Seeking True North model and its applicability to his experiences in life. Thanks David, for the walk - and insightful talk.

Tim

The time has finally come!  The launch of Seeking True North: The Action Seminar in Jackson Hole, Wyoming is here.  On September 26th -28th, 2008 a group of like-minded individuals will gather to celebrate the Pathway to Freedom, Beauty and Success.  Over three action packed days we’ll cover a plethora of the STN Models, Methods and Tools for personal and business success. The registrations are rolling in and thus far we have participants coming in from New York, Iowa, California, Thailand and of course, Jackson Hole!  

We have a rockin program ready for you and are offering this program at a mega-discount. I would like to thank our Sponsors - the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Spring Creek Ranch.

To REGISTER NOW, go HERE: http://www.granddynamics.com/company/seekingtruenorth.htm

or simply send an email to info@granddynamics.com and we’ll send you a registration form you can fax into us.

 Here’s the Agenda for the Program:

Seeking True North The Action Seminar

Prepare, Practice & Ignite Passion for Personal and Business Mastery

AGENDA & OVERVIEW:  

Program Opening:

Friday, September 26   Spring Creek Ranch Sage Conference Room

5:00 – 6:00 PM Welcome Arrival and Program Registration

6:00-7:00 PM    Light mixer and networking

7:00-10:00 PM  

Opening: Personal mastery “Break Through” experience

The Seeking True North Compass: Prepare, Practice and Passion

Visioning for Clarity in Values, Beliefs and Actions

Affirmations and Psychological Anchors to Build Confidence

            The Board Breaking Experience

Sat   8:00-5:00  PM   Teton Village – Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

Mastery Mountain:

A full day of adventure on the mountain integrating the models, methods and tools of Seeking True North

Wake-Up Health and Wellness

            Gondola Ride to 9000 feet at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

            Team Rock Climbing: Passion, Presence and Trust

            A challenge no matter what your experience level

Trust Building, Leadership & Team Initiatives

Emotional Fitness and Stress Management

Sat   7:00-10:00 PM Famous Cowboy Bar in Downtown Jackson Hole

Networking, Billiards and Dancing!

Sun  8:00-12:00 PM      

            Morning Meditations and Energizers

Action Planning and Transference

            Coaching and Accountability

            The Gift 

The Centurion, which unfolds each Summer in Grass Valley, California, is sort of an underground “cult” adventure workshop.  Holly Baade first mentioned the Centurion to me in April.  The details of this gathering she kept rather vague.  Now I know why.  Would you show up to a conference where there is no agenda other than at some point over four days there would be a food fight and a freezing ice plunge?  

Holly did tell me was that Karl Rhonke runs the conference with his best friend Adrian Kissler (who I hadn’t met yet) and that people like Chris Calvert and Sam Sikes would be there playing with the best of them. One tool in Seeking True North I refer to in times of decision is the Prax Factor. In this context, this means that if you want to have a certain attribute in your life, consider those that have those qualities, and SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THEM. Well, if there is any one “Grandfather” of experiential education, it would hand’s down be Karl Rhonke. I first met him in Jackson Hole some 15 years ago and he remained an icon and model for experiential learning for me.  He wrote the foundational books on experiential learning including Silver Bullets, and is a model for play as a modality for learning. http://www.karlrohnke.com/ 

Say no more - lets just show up and see what unfolds.

Well, the first “ice-breaker” activity involved me plunging into a freezing cold vat of ICE water - double emphasis on the ICE to see how long I could hold my breath. Why?  FUNN!  Functional Understanding Not Necessary. This is a favorite acronym of Karl’s.  Which says you don’t have to understand the why. 

Give yourself permission to be a little wacky sometimes.  Laughter, doing something completely different, and just because. Play. 

Well a couple hours into the conference the clippers came out and people’s heads started being shaved. I went all in and next thing you know I had a MOKAWK.  Well - its three weeks later and i still have it! Although something tells me I should shave it off for my upcoming work at Harvard and for the television appearances with Hugh Downs! 

SO - What happened?  In brief, we created, played, shared, jumped, raced, laughed, connected, tricked, supported, questioned, networked, challenged, jammed, thought and well… had FUNN! We invented new games and initiatives and yes, had a massive food fight! Playing a new dice game with Adrian and Karl was just hillarious. The love and caring energy was ever-flowing.

At the 16^th Centurion, just passed, there were nearly 25 attendees. People came from Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and from all over the US. All who came, came to give. To give of their knowing and innovation and laughter. Often times, when going to a conference, the point is to “get your money’s worth.” Not so in this workshop. This week was about “giving as much as your money’s worth,” – or perhaps giving what money cannot buy – synergy. The synergy that can emerge between people, great people, when they are all working towards a common goal. Even if the only goal they have in common - is to have FUNN.

Thanks, Holly, for the invitation!