Once Up A Hill Down A Mountain

Written by: Marjorie Gutierrez, Executive Contributor

Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.

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I arrived at the top of the mountain and was ready to take my first trip down the ski slope. It was exciting then suddenly. I flew up in the air and fell with one ski stuck in the snow in the upright position, which meant my leg with the boot was still connected. and the other foot still had my boot on but not my ski. I looked around and up, and there it was 2 meters away. My poles somehow survived, still around my wrists.

I was so confused about what to do next, I thought to myself. I can sit here until someone comes to rescue me and freeze in the process. Or figure out a way to get hold of my other ski, put it back on, and glide down the mountain to safety.

It took me a long time to get up, I weighed approx. 45 kilos at this time. Everything was so heavy. Finally! I was up! A Triumph! I felt like I just won the Olympics. I screamed YES! I was so happy, that I even managed to look around and take in my surroundings. It was beautiful. Breath-taking. The snow was clean, powdery, and endless.

Reality hit me again. How do I get my other ski? I don’t remember feeling sorry for myself. I was in survival mode. I was focused on figuring out what to do next.

After what felt like forever, I finally got to my other ski, I managed to put it back on and used my poles to keep me from flying off again. I was still on my own at this point. A 3-year-old just swished past me, flying. I was impressed.

• As I planned my next move on how to get to the bottom of the slope. I knew I wasn’t going to give up and wait for someone to rescue me.

• I knew there was another way to look at the situation and had to keep visualizing different scenarios. I knew there was always a way around it.

• If nothing else worked, I would walk down this mountain. It was probably 2 meter deep, but these boots were not made for walking.

Fear never crossed my mind. In life and business, there will be times when we need to move outside our comfort zone. Fear will always stop us from thinking clearly and finding solutions that might work or further teach us lessons. If we let fear or the thought of quitting overwhelm us, we succumb to mediocrity, self-doubt, shame, and guilt.

I reminded myself, that I’m a winner.

I reminded myself I always find a way.

I reminded myself no matter how many times I fall, I’m always ready to get up and try again.

I will get there in the end. It’s a knowing embedded inside me

Oh! You must be wondering what happened next. I was 16 years old and had never skied before this was my ski trip. I had just moved to Switzerland and could barely understand anyone in the group. By that time, I managed to glide to the Cable Car Station. I had the opportunity to take the cable car back down and call it a day.

But I wanted to experience that feeling again, and I wasn’t about to accept giving up. That’s because… I’m an overall winner. And I'm an example to my son and clients.

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Marjorie Gutierrez, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine

Marjorie Gutierrez is a Systems Strategist, she helps small business owners who hire her to get them out of the overwhelming chaos of feeling stuck in their business. She builds their business together from start to success. Marjorie created various businesses internationally and understands the importance of creating a solid structure. she previously worked in the Fine Art Shipping Industry between London and New York. She is the CEO of Smart Business Designs.