Reaching the highest point of the Earth is one of the greatest expeditions of mankind. It made Edmund Hillary famous. After reading Hillary’s ‘View from the Summit’ Gijs van Wulfen shares ten innovation lessons on being 1st on Mount Everest.

1. 10
INNOVATION
Lessons
from Mount Everest

2. 1. Urgency
Pick the right moment
In 1952 the British heard that in 1954 the
French had been given permission to
attempt Everest. They just had to be first
un 1953. The expedition could not fail
again.

3. 2. Initiative
Take action
Hillary read in a newspaper that the
British were taking an expedition to the
south side of Mount Everest. He wrote a
letter to expedition leader suggesting
members of a New Zealand climbing
expedition could make a contribution to
the team.

4. 3. Luck
Luck will be on your side
With so many possible setbacks you also need some
luck. As New Zealander Hillary was lucky to be
classified as a British subject and was therefore
invited by the British.

5. 4. Passion
Do what you dream
As a youngster, Hillary was a great
dreamer. He read many adventure books
and walked many miles with his head in
the clouds.

6. 5. Choices
Make clear choices
The British Himalayan Committee replaced the 1951
expedition leader Eric Shipton by Colonel John Hunt, a
climber. After eight failed attempts on Everest they
needed someone to get them on the top in 1953,
before the French had their chance.

7. 6. Overcome Setbacks
Shit happens: continue
Along the way there are always major setbacks. After
the reconnaissance expedition of 1951, when they
found a new route up Everest, the British heard that
the Swiss had obtained permission for two attempts on
Everest the following year. The only thing they could do
was wait and see if the Swiss would succeed.

8. 7. Test
Test-Test-Test-Test-Test…….
On the reconnaissance expedition of 1951 team
members tested oxygen equipment and did research
on high-altitude physiology. The results of both studies
were important deciding on the right approach for
Everest in 1953.

9. 8. Teamwork
Make sacrifices for each other
Hillary wrote: “John Hunt and D Namgyal’s lift to the
depot on the South-East Ridge; George Low, Alf
Gregory and Ang Nyima with their superb support at
Camp IX; and the pioneer effort by Charles Evans and
Tom Bourdillon to the South Summit. Their
contribution had enabled us to make such good
progress”.

10. 9. Competition
A little internal competition boosts results
Who would be the top teams? Expedition leader Hunt
proposed that Evans and Bourdillon should use the
closed circuit oxygen equipment to reach the South
Summit and Norgay and Hillary would push to the top
with the open-circuit oxygen. Hillary describes the
terms first – and second assault team as completely
misleading.

11. 10. Courage
Continue your quest
At 7.800 metres Hillary wrote in his diary “Even
wearing all my down clothing I found the icy breath
from outside penetrating through my bones. A terrible
sense of fear and loneliness dominated my thoughts.
What is the sense of this all? I asked myself”

12. Inspired by famous explorers like Hillary and
Tenzing, I developed an innovation map to jump -
start innovation projects.

13. Download the
innovation map
forth-innovation.com
Gijs van Wulfen
Founder FORTH innovation method
The Netherlands
gijs@forth-innovation.com
+31651483575