The Business of Adventure

The greatest gift of a long career is the relationships formed along the journey. So much of our time and energy is given to the pursuit of business, and if that pursuit does not include building valued connections, it can feel like a selfish, empty endeavor in the end.

For years I looked for a way to deepen relationships built through business beyond the usual dinners, conference golf, canned team-building, or sporting events. I wanted shared experiences that forged deeper bonds, stories, and memories outside the lines of work. Eventually I realized the answer was simple—invite people along for the activities I love.

Many people aren’t outdoorsy, but when I’m not working, outside is the only place I want to be: hiking a trail, paddling a river, climbing a mountain, or stemming a canyon wall. When I shared these experiences, people often said, “I’d like to do that.” So I began inviting them along. Better yet, we turned our adventures into mini-business summits: one or two meetings followed by the day’s activities.

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I call our adventure events “summits.” A summit usually includes a colleague and me with two or more members of a business partner’s team. The idea is to take them on an adventure they’ve never had—or to a place they’ve never been—and give them an experience they’ll want to share with everyone.

The best part: during the adventure, friendship often grows.

Jobs and companies change, but relationships can outlast those changes and bring deeper meaning to life—for the people you serve and for yourself.

Your chosen adventure can be extreme or casual; the point is to share it.

I have clients and partners who never thought they could reach the top of a Colorado 14,000-foot peak. Yet over the years I’ve stood on summits with dozens of people on their first ascent. Photos from those moments end up on the credenza behind their desks or as Facebook profile pictures. Rafting Class III and IV rapids has given me a wealth of laughs and storytelling with several clients. Once, a partner grabbed me as they started to fall out of the raft—they didn’t want to go into the whitewater alone. A moment of concern turned into a story we still joke about at dinners. I’ve taken partners into Blue John Canyon of 127 Hours fame, where we rappelled hundreds of feet, straddled rocks over rattlesnakes, and pushed each other for hours as we chimneyed back up to the canyon rim.

We’ve woken early to watch the sunrise over Mesa Arch, scrambled over granite in the Adirondacks to watch a full moon rise, and sweated through afternoon desert rides in the Franklin Mountains of West Texas.

And each time I see these wonderful people, we revisit shared moments and obstacles overcome.

Inviting people into your adventures and hobbies enhances your professional journey. Your career becomes not an endless count of office days and forgettable meetings, but a vehicle to live out what you love. I’ve never found a way to make money hiking. Posting my hiking photos on Instagram hasn’t built a following or revenue stream, but each hike with business partners has revealed new opportunities and deeper connection. Work and play combine to make the enterprise a joy.

It’s important to say: don’t invite people merely to close a deal, grow revenue, or reduce costs. Invite them to share your love for something, to discover something new, and because you are genuinely interested in their lives and stories. Business matters, but the desire to cultivate friendship should be your purpose.

We’re often told to keep our personal and professional lives separate. Nonsense. If we want to live now and live well, the two are intertwined. If your aims are noble and honorable, there’s no reason for division. John D. Rockefeller once said, “A friendship founded on business is better than a business founded on friendship.” Clients, vendors, partners, associates, bosses, and peers are all people—often in search of adventure and friendship.

Your company may not immediately see the value in the time and expense of such adventures. Make the case. Whether the adventure is small or grand, start somewhere—even if you cover the costs yourself or share them with a business associate.

Pursuing your passions seldom means getting paid to do them, but you can combine your industry and your passions to create an exciting life—and, more importantly, treasured relationships.

If you’re doing this under your organization’s umbrella, you’ll need to define the business purpose. Highlight the value of the individuals involved—what they’ve done for the company, what they’re doing now, and what a long-term relationship could bring.

Next, invite people into your adventures or hobbies. Choose something they show interest in or something unfamiliar—a story they don’t yet have.

Make the arrangements. Personalize the experience and, as much as possible, cover the costs. If your hobby requires gear, provide it.

Ensure accommodations work for everyone. Give people space when they need solitude, and avoid situations that could make anyone uncomfortable.

Set aside time to discuss business—an hour or two for updates, project reviews, or vision. Outside that window, keep the conversation focused on learning about one another.

Lead the adventure. Go to places you know that they don’t, teach as you go, and share freely.

Take pictures and chronicle the adventure—photos, a short video. If possible, provide a memento of the summit: a t-shirt, a cap, or another meaningful item.

I’ve found that after many of these adventures, people want to return with their families and friends. Be a resource when they ask for guidance.

Above all, enjoy sharing what you love with others. Most of the time, you’ll end up with stronger relationships—and more great memories of your own.