I started rock climbing just about two years. Oddly enough, I actually learned in a very unlikely city gym during a bitter Chicago winter. The first time I went-I sucked. While I have always been an active person climbing was a challenge that wasn’t quickly overcome by my natural athletic talent.

Two years later and one move across the country I am now living in Berkeley and have found myself really embracing the climbing lifestyle and philosophy. Climbing is far from just an exercise-if you truly call yourself a “climber” you recognize the mental and spiritual components and the implication of this new perspective and set of values in your everyday life. You in essence become fully entrenched in the climbing way.

A month ago, I packed up my Subaru and headed to Bishop, CA with friends for an epic weekend of bouldering. “Boudlering” is climbing without ropes on large boulders and was introduced by legend John Gill back in the 1960s as training for traditional climbing. It has quickly earned a separate categorization in the sport and has experienced explosive growth. Bishop is a world-class climbing area about seven hours from Berkeley.

Our second day out I found myself standing at the bottom of a 50 foot boulder (what climbers term a “highball”) feeling excited, yet nervous. “Well, are you going to have at it?” my friend asked. I put my climbing shoes on and felt my stomach twist up in a knot. We all decided I could safety climb about twenty feet up and then make a decision to go the distance or jump down to the stack of crashpads and spotters. My dad always used to say “Go or get off the pot.” So, with his simple (and perhaps crude) wisdom echoing in my head-I walked towards the rock and headed up.

As I was climbing each move required total concentration, from bottom to top. The notion of looking up or down more than to find your next hold was silly. I had already spent a good ten minutes examining the direction of the route from the ground. Focusing on the now was necessary for a safe completion.

I got to the twenty-foot mark and kept going. The nerves grew stronger as I got higher. I kept telling myself-just breath, relax, and focus. I had made a mental decision to commit to the rock and failing was not even a thought in my head. The only way was up. As quickly as I started I reached the finish and pulled myself over the top. I walked to the middle of the boulder and looked out on the Sierra Mountains feeling more alive than I ever had before (figuratively and literally).

Okay, okay, so I know you are thinking This is great Sarah, but what the heck does this have to do with building online community or authenticity? My answer: More than you think. I mentioned before climbing is a lifestyle, and I have always been a firm believer that it holds many important life lessons that can be utilized personally and professionally.

So…here it goes:

The Climbing Truths
A set of truths found in climbing but applicable to community and business.

• Fully Commit
All good climbers know the minute you step on the rock has to be the same minute you commit fully to the climb. The same principles should be at work when you start a community. By fully committing you become 100% vested in the outcome. Therefore you start to take a holistic approach towards how community is integrated into other business processes and practices (i.e. product development, customer service, marketing). Further you become in tune to how community isn’t just an online property, but rather speaks to a larger philosophy around engaging and conversing with your consumers.

• See the Vision, but Focus on the Now
Spend the time upfront understanding your goals and creating a vision to get there. In climbing this is called visualization and in business it’s called strategy. Once you have crafted your strategy internalize it (and sell it to everyone involved), so each step of the way it’s embedded in your actions. Once you begin focus on where you are in the community cycle and work to make each move conducive to your environment while simultaneously working towards your end vision. It’s okay to readjust the strategy as you move forward, heck-you need to be flexible, but your high-level goal should remain what roots you in the ground. Don’t waste time by not having truly done the work upfront.

• Don’t Be Reckless
Be honest with yourself about your limitations and ability. Don’t be afraid to take risks, but do so with caution and confidence. Climbers who act recklessly get hurt. Managers who act recklessly fail. By evaluating your resources, knowledge, and environment you are able to make decisions that work towards creating value for your organization and community. Finding “mentors” who know what you don’t is a smart idea. Leverage your networks to gain the experience you lack. Walk to the starting line with the right gear and honesty to set you up for success.

• Stay in Touch with Your Instinct
Don’t underestimate your gut instincts, they can prove to be more valuable and accurate than people tend to think. This doesn’t mean to act on a whim, but rather to stay grounded in order to keep things on track and growing appropriately. This is also about the notion of keeping it simple and not building complexity for the sake of complexity. If you haven’t heard this before people are busy, overworked and bombarded constantly—stick to the point without spin, fluff, or hyper process. Bottom-line, don’t get carried away, keep it real, and plant your feet on the ground with your consumers.


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Truths in Action....

Commit:
Lego is an excellent example of being fully committed to their community of followers by totally involving them in product development and innovation on a regular and visible basis. Listen to a great interview from their social media expert.

Have a Vision:
When Armen started ExperienceProject he had a vision to become the encyclopedia and largest archive for human experiences. Three years later there is well over one million life experiences documented. The success came from having a clear vision and executing in a way aligned with that goal.

Find Knowledge:
Become an expert and learn from others by visiting resources like the Word of Mouth Marketing Associations’ website.

Stay in Touch:
Twitter is an excellent example of a mechanism brands are using to stay in touch with their consumers in a very direct and real way. It allows you to capture the "pulse" of your community.