We spent a few days in Aviemore recently. I’ve never done any climbing, but I was reading an interview with a mountaineer who was asked ‘When do you get disheartened?’ His reply was, ‘When bad weather sets in’. But it wasn’t because the climb gets harder or more dangerous, it was because, ‘That’s when you lose sight of the peak’.

So in the midst of what might be an arduous climb he didn’t get disheartened because the conditions had got worse, it was because he had lost sight of his goal. He couldn’t clearly see the thing he was aiming for.

If you’re in the midst of climbing the career ladder and things seem tough, maybe it’s because you’ve lost sight of the goal you’re aiming for. Recreate it clearly and vividly. Use images, or write something down using descriptive language – use the senses and bring it to life.

That way when the career equivalent of bad weather sets in, you’ll still be able to see what you’re aiming for.