Alex Staniforth is a record-breaking adventurer, keynote speaker, performance coach and charity founder from Chester, who is no stranger to overcoming adversity.

By 19, he had already survived the two most significant disasters in Mount Everest history. Yet his greatest mountains have been closer to home: living with epilepsy, mental ill health, a stammer, and bullying since childhood.

However, adversity has only driven Alex to push his limits and inspire others. He is the fastest person to climb all 446 mountains in England and Wales within just 45 days, and the fastest person to climb all 100 UK county tops by human power. His endurance feats have raised over £150,000 for charity, earning him a Pride of Britain award and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Chester in 2025 for his contribution to young people’s mental health.

He has spoken internationally for leading organisations like Rolls-Royce, Accenture, Samsung and Travis Perkins, and is the author of Icefall and Another Peak. In 2020 he founded the national charity, Mind Over Mountains, to restore mental health through nature.

Now based in Kendal, he is usually found running in the mountains and chasing the next challenge.

TOP TIPS

Adventure teaches us a lot about overcoming adversity and resilience. We voluntarily step into uncertain and risky environments with many factors outside of our control – from extreme weather to avalanches. Although extreme, these situations can also translate closely into the business environment: where challenges, uncertainty and setbacks can often strike unexpectedly.

Here’s my top tips for moving forward:

1. Resilience is about recharging; not enduring

We often mistake resilience for endurance; a notion of strength and toughness. However, our capability to be resilient comes from knowing when to stop, to recharge and re-energise so that we can keep moving forward. Once we know our stress signals (which may include catastrophising, snapping, not sleeping, over-working) then we can proactively take action. It’s not even about drastic life changes or weekend retreats, but small habits and behaviours that we repeat consistently every day.

2. Vulnerability is a strength

Early intervention with a challenge can save huge amounts of physical, emotional and financial resources down the line: yet we often don’t ask for help until we reach breaking point. Asking for help not only helps us – it helps others feel safe and feel like they have permission to do the same. This doesn’t mean sharing your deepest darkest insecurities but even just admitting that we don’t know the answers. It starts with leaders putting their hand up first.

3. Reframe: find the opportunity

When life doesn’t go to plan, I’ve learnt not to ask: “why me?” but “what’s the opportunity here?” It’s not about radical positivity but looking at things differently. Although not immediately obvious, sometimes a setback, rejection, failure or loss can bring opportunities to think differently, adapt and try new things. You might be surprised at the innovation that follows.

4. Think big picture – but one step at a time

To quote Stephen Covey, we need to ‘begin with the end in mind’. Keep your eyes on the summit, but attention on the next step. Thinking too long term can be overwhelming and cause procrastination, instead of focusing on the next milestone: whether that’s a step, mile, mountain or whatever is appropriate to a specific goal. Long-term vision gives direction; short term actions create momentum.

5. Don’t forget to STOP

We rarely make good decisions in the heat of the moment, when we’re tired, stressed or overwhelmed we’re more likely to make reactive, rash decisions than thoughtful, logical ones. One rule on my expeditions and endurance challenges was that I would always wait until the next morning before giving up or making big decisions. A lot can change in a day, week or year. There’s science in the old saying “sleep on it!”

6. Commitment beats motivation

Motivation isn’t a permanent state: it’s affected by a number of factors including sleep, confidence and health. Commitment keeps us going and consistent. It becomes automatic: like sending sponsorship emails daily for a year, or climbing mountains every day for 45 consecutive days. We show up because we said we would, not because we feel like it. This important distinction allows us to keep moving forward during tough times even when motivation disappears.

Written by Alex Staniforth

Please note, the views expressed by the original article author are theirs alone and do not necessarily represent those of Washingtondowling Associates Ltd or The SHE Show and therefore we take no responsibility for the content or accuracy of this post.