Louise McEvoy, a motivational speaker, Everest Summitter, and the Vice President of US Channel Sales at Trend Micro, shares her inspiring 20-year journey to summiting Mount Everest, detailing the challenges, rigorous training, and mountaineering experiences that shaped her path. She also discusses the importance of preparedness and the risks associated with high-altitude climbing, including close encounters with avalanches and witnessing fatalities.

Shifting to her professional role, Louise explains the critical landscape of cybersecurity, advising on how organizations and individuals can protect themselves from increasing threats. She touches upon the relevance of the 'Blue Ocean Strategy' book in helping businesses differentiate themselves in competitive markets. Louise concludes with career advice and reflections on managing extreme challenges alongside a demanding career. She invites listeners to follow her journey on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Takeaways:

• Build Gradually Towards Your Goals: Louise highlights that achieving big goals like summiting Everest doesn't happen overnight; it requires years of preparation, building muscle memory, and overcoming various challenges. This approach can be applied to business and personal goals.
• Prepare for Adversity: Louise's experiences emphasize the importance of being prepared for unexpected challenges, be it on mountains or in business. Always have a contingency plan and be ready to adapt.
• Stay Fit and Healthy: One controllable aspect of preparation is physical fitness. Always strive to be in the best shape possible to handle both predictable and unpredictable stress.
• Embrace Teamwork and Support: The importance of a supportive team is a recurring theme. Build relationships and support networks that can help you achieve your goals.
• Be Vigilant Against Scams: In cybersecurity, taking measures such as pausing to verify communications before taking action and setting up family passwords can protect against scams and fraud.
• Think Differently: The 'Blue Ocean Strategy' encourages thinking differently to stand out in a crowded market. Explore unique angles or approaches to solve problems or serve customers better.
• Cherish Milestone Moments: Louise regretted not fully appreciating her time at the summit of Everest. In any pursuit, especially after significant effort, take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate your achievements.

Quote of the Show:

• "Don’t project into the future thinking about your next climb. Enjoy this climb. Absorb every single moment. Even though you’ll be there for seven weeks, which sounds like a long time, it goes by so quickly."

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/llmcevoy/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theclimbingexecutive/
• Website: https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/business.html
• Book Link: “Blue Ocean Strategy” - https://a.co/d/8hYBbY4

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ghmiiaRwVtQ9kqqqvmVQY
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/built-to-finish/id1781753842
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/665cacbf-79ed-4745-8856-1d8465943c65
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/built-to-finish-5907037
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/LRAK2hxUD6U