Check out her story below as she chronicles her journey from the arrival in Nairobi, the ascent to the summit point, and some of her reflections about the trek.  Thanks Shigei for sharing your story! 

“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.” – Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr.

20 hours and 5 in-flight movies later, I finally arrived in Nairobi, Kenya.  I stood at the baggage claim, praying that my checked-in duffle bag would roll down the conveyor belt, as my experience has taught me that this is not a guarantee when it comes to international flights.  As I stood there, I saw a tall man donned with brand new hiking boots and an overstuffed backpack, and my intuition told me we were here for the same reason.  I turned around and asked if he had plans on climbing a mountain.  His eyes lit up and I immediately knew my intuition had served me well.  He too was a member of the 2011 Accenture-Voluntary Service Overseas Mount Kilimanjaro Corporate Challenge, and had been on my final connecting flight.

As we sat in a cab from the airport to the hotel, I tried to balance my attention between my new friend and the view from the window.  It was almost as if I had an internal chant in my head…

We are in Nairobi, Kenya.  Nairobi…Kenya.  To climb Mount Kilimanjaro.  Mount…Kilimanjaro.  We are here.  I am here.  This is happening.

Day 1 primarily consisted of getting checked into the hotel and having dinner with the trek group.  As we got to know each other, it was clear that we were quite a diverse bunch, as we represented different cities from around the world, spoke different languages, fell in different age brackets, and held different positions within the firm.  Even with all these variances, I felt a sense of harmony around the table, of compassion, competitiveness, and excitement.

The morning of Day 2, we regrouped and headed out to visit one of the projects, the Kenya Association of the Intellectually Handicapped (http://kaihid.org/) that benefited from the Mount Kilimanjaro Corporate Challenge trek.  We spent the day understanding the goals of the organization and had the opportunity to get to know some of the volunteers and beneficiaries.  The day reinforced the reasons why we were there and brought the real goal home.

Day 3, we crossed countries from Nairobi, Kenya to Marangu, Tanzania.  Between mini-naps, I noticed that the 10-hour drive exposed us to attractive forestry and plains.  We mentally prepared ourselves for the next morning where we planned to embark on our trek, beginning at the Rongai National Park gate.

Day 4 – 8, we saw both extremes of vegetation, from beautiful, lush rainforests to dry, barren desert land.  Days would begin with warm temperatures that required only t-shirts, shorts, and layers of sunscreen and would end with brutally cold nights that required at least 4 wool layers of clothes to survive in our frost coated tents.  We were left with only the most meager of resources, where the luxury of a warm shower was only a dream and nourishment was only enough to sustain us for our grueling journey.

Day 9 was the day that we would finally achieve our goal of reaching the Summit, which would have to be earned in one of the most exhausting physical and mental challenges that I have ever faced.  We left camp at 12-midnight to commence the trek up the steep scree slopes to Gillman’s Point, continuing around the rim, passed Stella Point and onto the highest point of Africa – Uhuru Point.  We experienced a snow-ice-rain storm that continued on for 36-hours.  We climbed for 8-hours in -10C degree weather and heavy snow, and quickly learned that the only way to get through it was to keep our heads down and let the light from our head torch guide the way.  Summit night included nausea, darkness, extreme cold, and a throbbing headache due to the altitude.  We focused on matching the stride of our leg to the swing of our arm with our walking pole.  All of us were pressed to our limits, and in spite of their valiant efforts, we succumbed to mountain sickness, exhaustion, and some of the many perils of our journey.  Nevertheless, the majority of us were able to reach the Summit of Kilimanjaro with the help of supportive guides and amazing porters, most of whom climbed the mountain at least 10 times.  Ridiculous.

There were 25 of us that were part of the Corporate Challenge, many of whom met their threshold on that mountain.  6 of the 25 capitulated before reaching Uhuru Point due to exhaustion or altitude sickness.  I never heard and saw so many people regurgitate.  Throughout our climb, we took 2-minute breaks to fuel our bodies with protein bars and water droplets from our frozen bottles.

As I reflect back on how I was able to reach the summit of 5,895m, I have come up with 4 reasons:

1. Charity:  I kept thinking of the volunteers and beneficiaries that we met our first full day in Nairobi
2. Friends/Family:  The generous fundraising supporters
3. Trek Group:  We looked out for each other on that mountain
4. Personal Drive:  There is no way I flew all this way, and for the last 5-consecutive days, slept on rocky slopes and stuffed myself with porridge and energy bars without reaching the top.

We spent only 15-minutes at Uhuru Peak.  We stood on the roof of Africa, and took pictures, tried to hug each other over down jackets, and just breathed – with the little oxygen that we could!  Although everyone’s hair and clothes were weighed down with ice, and our muscles screamed at us, we all felt so alive!  We were infected with excitement and a sense of achievement.  We made it.  Shortly after, we started our descent at record speed, where we were able to literally ski down the loose volcanic scree trail.  The day was a total of 11-hours of trekking.

Day 10, we set off early to trek to Marangu Gate.  It was a mixture of happiness and relief that got our exhausted bodies moving forward for our last walk.  After 5-hours of trekking, we reached the gates at Marangu, where our bus waited to take us to the hotel for a well-appreciated shower and celebratory dinner.

Day 11, we were on a bus for 10-hours, returning to Nairobi.  We spent the day recounting what we had seen and how we felt.  We looked at each other’s pictures and agreed that the entire trek was lined with panoramic views that we did our best to capture on memory cards.  As trying as the adventure was, we all felt a sense of connection to the mountain, to each other, and to the charity.  I remember the drive back being very peaceful.

It was a rewarding experience that will never be forgotten.  This epic journey reminded me that life is a marathon, not a sprint.  And, I could not have asked for a better group of people to share this journey with.  As a group, we raised almost $150K and still counting!  This certainly could not have been done without the thoughtfulness and generosity of so many friends and family members.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to climb the world’s largest free standing mountain with such amazing people in support of an incredible charity.  It still feels surreal.

One year later, this site has become more than just a hobby for me.  It has served as a platform for me to connect with people from my past and present, as well as a countless bloggers who have shared their feedback and expertise in helping the site gain visibility and recognition.

As I mentioned in my post at the Six Month Mark, I am indebted to several key bloggers who inspired me with their work. There are new bloggers that I’ve come across that I definitely need to add to the list of those who inspire me:

• David McGhee
• Peter Bregman
• Cameron Herold
• Danielle Laporte
• Noah Stephens (The People of Detroit)

My most beneficial experience as a blogger this past year was participating in the 31 Days to a Brand New Blog experience spearheaded by Rosetta Thurman. It forced me to think and complete the necessary steps to build out my blog with the intent of building my brand as a blogger. Participating alongside both veteran and novice bloggers created a network of peers I was grateful to connect with. I have to admit, it was pretty tough fitting all the assignments in, and I know there are a few I still need to complete.  But the experience definitely made me appreciate the level of discipline bloggers put into building and maintaining their web presence and their overall brand.

In addition to the bloggers, I owe a huge thanks to Pooja A. Regmi, Noah Stephens, Raven Jones, Chanda Long, Kim Brooks, and Matt Hickey for taking time out of their schedules and responding to my interview questions, even when the idea of the blog was still pretty half-baked. And I owe a special thanks to my first featured blogger, Latasha Johnson.

Also, a huge shout-out to the people: the friends, relatives, former colleagues, co-workers, and random websurfers who read, commented on, and even shared the blog with others.  In looking at the stats, it still blows me away that folks continue to read postings I wrote nearly 8 months ago.

And last but not least, I have to thank the subscribers.  Those faithful folks who trusted and believed in me enough to offer their email addresses in order to receive my postings delivered straight to their inbox.  I truly appreciate your support.

What’s Next? Similar to the start of 2010, this year begins with more baby steps toward progress.  This time, it will be in the form of an internet radio station developed and hosted in partnership with a longtime friend, Omega Supreme.

HNET Radio will pay homage to the hip-hop culture in its most authentic form.  The pilot show, Hip-Hop’s Great Expectations for 2011, will air on Friday, January 21, 2010 at 11:00pm EST on Blogtalkradio. And this is only the beginning.
Be sure to connect with HNET on both Facebook and Twitter for more details!

I am also putting the final touches on the build-out of my professional page, which will launch on January 31st.  As with 2010, I’m sure 2011 will bring plenty of unexpected victories and lessons, and I welcome them both.  After all, it definitely gives me something to blog about!

As I am wrapping up 2010, I’m reflecting on the only resolution I had this year: To Get My Voice Back.  And I am grateful for the many people: faithful friends, awesome colleagues, & loving family members who have been there along my journey.

For the past 3 years, I’ve had the following article on my bulletin board at work.  It is from the March 2007 issue of Essence, one of the last articles written by Susan L. Taylor while serving as Editor in Chief of the magazine.  The first time I read it, I was on the job hunt, becoming frustrated with the whole process. After reading the article, it helped me find the strength necessary to persist in my search not just for a job, but for a renewed sense of purpose.

As 2010 is coming to a close, I am once again reflecting on my purpose, and hoping that 2011 will provide me with more opportunities to continue reclaiming my voice through my work, my relationships, and my life experiences.  To do so, I’m not only re-reading this article, but also sharing it with others hoping that it will empower someone else to Lead The Change in their lives.  ENJOY!

It’s a great blessing to do work that is meaningful, enjoyable and so in tune with your spirit that you arise excited to greet the day.  Work is love. It’s one of the ways in which we contribute to life and grow in grace and greatness.  But look at the weary faces in your family, your workplace, and perhaps in the mirror.  We spend most of our waking hours earning a living, and many of us feel miserable doing it.  We stay in jobs that aren’t satisfying, complaining that we are undervalued, overworked and underpaid, all because we fear change.

Life is change.  Welcome it! Every unhappy day that passes without your taking steps toward reinventing your life roots you more deeply in misery. It doesnt help that so many of us, immersed in a culture of celebrity, see fame and fortune as the goal.  We even celebrate stars who behave badly, who are the poorest role models for our children.  Instead, lets lift up those who are leading change, fighting against hunger, HIV/AIDS and violence in our world.  At the end of the day, how much you’ve earned, how many homes and diamonds we’ve acquired, are no comfort.  The true source of our peace is knowing that we are exercising our power and resources to help those less fortunate, that we are using what we have at hand to be a leader for change.

Start at home.  Take the leadership role in your life and career.  This is where your strategic advantage lies — in following your heart and preparing for what is nourishing to your  spirit.  Don’t sweat where you are right now; it’s your blessed entry point. Fashion a plan to help you leap forward boldly in this rapidly changing global economy, rather than reacting after the act to events forced upon you by shrinking Social Security, health and pension benefits.

Plan now! No matter how much you believe your organization values you today, your tomorrows are vulnerable.  Pressed to increase profits every year and forevermore, the also-vulnerable, ever-changing guard at the top is forced to make shortsighted changes that will stunt the lives of unprepared workers. And yet your tomorrows are also full of promise and opportunity.  Enter into a covenant with yourself and create new streams of income, including ventures you will profit from through retirement and pass along to coming generations.  Ask yourself, Where do I want to go next? Identify what’s not working and visualize the life you want to be living by summer, at year’s end, five years from now.  Hold steady your vision, and no matter what, don’t give up.

Assemble your dream team, your supporters, your board of directors, your confidantes, who can help you build the life of your intentions: the financial mind who’ll help you up your money and put the right digits in the right columns, the mentor who’s a star in the field you want to succeed in, the retired veteran who can help you tackle the tasks, and your counselor or spiritual guide — seek and welcome their strategies and advice that are right with your soul.

Step toward your greatness as an honor to God.  Join the vanguard of visionaries who are redefining success and the purpose of work from solely making money to making a better society.  Pursue your highest aspirations, and by the power of your trust and faith, the walls will tumble and the way will open wide.  The new life you want is waiting for you.
– Susan L. Taylor
Essence, March 2007

• Walked away from my senior management position with a national nonprofit to establish my own consulting business.
• Served as the Volunteer Coordinator for TEDxFlint.
• Secured contracts with nonprofit organizations located in Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Michigan.
• Supported organizations with various projects including grant writing, strategic planning, program development, and web design.
• Broadened my client base to include for-profit companies operating in my home state Michigan; each heavily focused on creating jobs for Michiganders.

Yeah, I’m pretty jazzed about my progress over the past few months. but I need to make sure I’m also putting forth the effort to become a consistent blogger.  It is hard to believe that one month from now, this blog will be one year old.  Time flies! And just thinking about that fact sets my gears in motion to crank out a few more posts before the year is up.

It’s halftime! Time to check the stats for Work In Progress for the past 2 weeks. Because I am still maintaining a WordPress.com site, I can’t assess my site using Google Analytics.  But there are a few items I can review to see just how much progress I’ve made thus far.  Based on the stats in the chart below, it looks like I’m moving along!

But beyond the numbers, there are a couple of other things I am excited about from participating in the 31 Days to a Brand New Blog Challenge thus far:

• Opportunity to meet new bloggers and potential for collaboration on future blog posts. Looking forward to working with fellow blogger Kimberlee Stiens, author of the blog Business for Good, Not Evil.

• Build-out of my professional blog, www.tanyasimpson.com.  I’m am currently working on an editorial calendar to make sure I am posting consistently about emergent issues, useful resources, and the development of my consulting work.  Got feedback?  Email me: tanya (at) tanyasimpson.com

This has been a great experience so far, and I look forward to seeing what Rosetta has brewing for us over the next 15 days.  Stay tuned!

This Post is the assignment for Day 9: Write A ‘How To’ Post, part of the  31 Days to a Brand New Blog Challenge.

In high school, I had dreams of becoming a broadcast journalist. Following in the footsteps of Carmen Harlan, Asha Blake, Robin Roberts, and Ms. Winfrey, I believed that broadcast journalism was the ideal career for me to utilize my love for public speaking.  In fact, the reason why I chose Michigan State was because of its top-notch journalism program.  While in my first weed-out class freshman year, I barely broke the binding on the textbook before I decided to walk away from journalism.  Honestly, I wasn’t interested in the field.  I just enjoyed interviewing people, becoming inspired, and sharing their stories with the rest of the world.

It took me 15 years to rediscover my love for interviewing others through the People To Meet section of my blog, and I’m glad I did.     Over the past 7 months I’ve had the honor of interviewing some of the people in my life who have inspired me through their desire to follow their purpose.  Thus far, the People To Meet section has been the most popular part of my blog based on overall traffic, comments posted, and informal feedback.  So for me, I’m convinced that conducting blog interviews are a great strategy for me share great stories, and to help people (including me) stay inspired.

Below are a few pointers I’ve learned about conducting a  blog interview, all based on experience over the past several months.  (Sorry, no textbook jargon!  I never broke the binding on the journalism textbook, remember?)

____________________________________________________________

• Do Your Homework! Whether you are interviewing an old high school friend, or a new colleague make sure you’ve done your research on their current happenings. Show that you’ve taken a genuine interest in their story.

• Ask the questions your blog readers will want to ask, and your guests will want to answer. Your readers are looking for new insights.  Your guests want to share their perspectives with a welcoming audience.  Make sure your questions are consistent with the purpose of the blog, and are well received by both your readers and guests.  For my blog, I always ask for feedback on the questions beforehand, to make sure the guests feel comfortable responding to each question.

• Keep it Short, But Thorough. I try to ask my guests no more than 5 questions.  I would rather they provide thoughtful responses to  a few questions to ensure that readers actually read the entire post.  Of course if your interview is conducted via BlogTalkRadio, it makes sense to have more questions included.

• Use Close-Ended Questions Wisely! Guests who are used to being interviewed know how to elaborate on a close-ended question without being asked.  But to make sure you get the level of detail you need in your responses try incorporating follow-up questions if necessary.

• Don’t Forget The Links! Ideally, the interview should be a win-win for both you and your guest.  Be sure to post links to their websites  or other contact info and make sure they return the favor to you.  If they aren’t online, be sure to include information regarding any upcoming speaking engagements, publications, or other events worth mentioning.

• Include A Picture. Help your readers make a personal connection with your guests by including a picture as part of your post.  Remember, appearing on your blog should be a branding opportunity for your guest!

• Give Thanks With Stats. Show appreciation to your guests long after the interview is posted.  Since I started my blog, the posts highlighting Pooja Regmi, Kim Brooks, and Raven Jones have some of the highest views among all posts.  My busiest day on record remains Tuesday, February 23rd; the day I created the post about Kim Brooks.  I made sure I shared this information with my guests, and they appreciated receiving it.

Looking for some inspiration to start your next blog interview? Check out the book Listening is an Act of Love by StoryCorps founder Dave Isay.  This remarkable book includes the memories and historical moments of everyday Americans as they are interviewed by their friends and loved ones.  An inspiring read, it demonstrates that each of us has the ability to help capture history by sharing someone else’s story. Check it out!

So what do you think?

Feedback is much appreciated!

This post is the assignment for Day Four: Write A List Post, part of the 31 Days To A Brand New Blog Challenge.

I grew up in a family that values books. My mom, a Head Start teacher; and my dad, self taught in both linguistics and religious studies, instilled within all of their children the importance of  reading everyday as well as the proper way to take care of books.  Back in those days, very few toys could be found in the Upthegrove house, but you would be hard-pressed to find a room in the house that did not have some type of book to read.

This love for reading has always been a huge part of my life, and I’m so grateful to have a husband who enjoys reading just as much, if not more, than I do.  And just like the Upthegrove house back in the day, in every room of the Simpson’s home you will find a plethora books.  In fact, we are almost at capacity and are looking at making a donation to the local library pretty soon.

I primarily read for two reasons:  1) to become informed and 2) to become inspired.  Very rarely do I read novels or strictly for entertainment purposes. For me, I’m always on the hunt for the next book that will challenge me to grow personally or professionally. The list below represents (in no particular order) the Top 10 books that changed my life.

NOTE: I did not include the any of the books found in the Bible in this list; for me  it is in a class all its own.

SECOND NOTE: Thanks to the feedback from fellow blogger Zone Artis, I’ve added info on when I first read the book, and why it has been influential to provide some context.

Visions For Black Men, Na’Im Akbar

First Read: 1998, as a 3^rd year student at Michigan State University.  In college I seldom read the required texts for my courses, but always had my nose in a book for my personal reading pleasure.  Visions For Black Men was one such book.

Why Influential: I first heard Na’im Akbar speak as a sophomore in high school.  During his speech, he talked passionately about the need for us to rise above the limitations that others try to place upon us in order to fulfill our true purpose.  His message stuck with me for years, and when I found his book online, I had to get it.

My greatest take-away from the book was  that as I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me, I have a responsibility to empower future generations toward greatness.  I guess that’s why I consider myself to be a strong advocate for providing high-quality career experiences for Millenials.

Lanterns: A Memoir of Mentors, Marian Wright Edelman

First Read: 2001, after hearing her speak at the National Urban League Conference in Washington DC.

Why Influential:  I am a Head Start success story.  I have always been grateful for her ongoing advocacy for the Head Start program.  Learning about the mentors that influenced her life’s work helped me get a glimpse into what makes Mrs. Edelman tick.  Paying homage to her mentors helped me reflect on the mentors who helped shape my life.

Failing Forward, John C. Maxwell

First Read: 2002, right after I walked away from my first nonprofit job.

Why Influential: At the time, I was condemned and criticized by so many people about making the decision to leave.  The book helped to affirm my decision to move on from a position I had outgrown to discover a more fulfilling position within a larger organization with opportunities for advancement.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki

First Read: 2002, also while unemployed (The best time to read!)

Why Influential: I had no understanding on how to manage money before reading this book.  It helped me understand the strategy of making my money work for me rather than spending my life working for money.

30-Day Plan to Whip Your Career Into Submission, Karen Salmansohn

First Read: 2002, also while unemployed (I’m noticing a pattern…)

Why Influential: Similar to the 31 Days to A Brand New Blog Challenge, this book helped me develop habits toward taking control of my career.  It was this book that helped me realize the evil twins that tend to hold me back: perfectionism and procrastination.

Career Warfare: 10 Rules for Building A Successful Brand, and Fighting to Keep It, David D’Alessandro

First Read: 2003, after moving to Chicago to start a new gig with LISC – a Community Development Finance Institution.

Why Influential: This was the first book that exposed me to the concept of personal branding.  It helped me understand the role that your boss plays in helping to shape your brand, and how your day to day interactions with others can make or break the brand you seeking to build. My favorite rule: #5 – Kenny Rogers was Right, which is based his famous song, ‘The Gambler’.

The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

First Read: 2006, during my first year of marriage and living overseas in Vientiane, Laos, and working on my first project as a consultant to World Vision Laos.

Why Influential: Santiago’s travels to find the buried treasure in Egypt reminded me of the journey each of us is given, but few are brave enough to leave our comfort zones to pursue our passion.

The Four Agreements, don Miguel Ruiz

First Read: 2005.  My husband gave it to me before we got married.

Why Influential: Agreement #2 — Don’t take anything personal.  This is the toughest one for me to master of the 4.  Whether good or bad, in the workplace or on the homefront, staying mindful of this agreement helps me keep every situation in its proper perspective.

Have A Little Faith, Mitch Albom

First Read: 2010, When I first started my blog January 9^th.

Why Influential:  I have admired Mitch Albom’s writing since the early 90’s during the Fab Five era.  He was the reason that I started keeping a journal as a teenager. His latest book challenges you to see beyond the cultural and religious differences that tend to divide us, and focus more on the common threads of faith, hope, and love that bind us together as human beings.

The Janitor, Todd Hopkins and Ray Hilbert

First Read: 2010, visiting the husband in Dubai

Why Influential: Through the unexpected friendship between a CEO and a Janitor, it offers six directives which help you live a life of fulfillment by staying centered on what’s most important to you.

SO….What about you? What books have been the most influential in your life??

This post is the assignment for Day 2: Write A Purpose Statement For Your Blog

Why do I blog?

To inspire others to live on purpose.

I believe that everyone is just one moment away from greatness. Within each of us there lies the passion, drive, and determination to live our dreams, but most of us are afraid to show it to others. Why? Because you never know when you are in the midst of a dream-wrecker. Maybe it was the high school English teacher who said you couldn’t become a great writer because English was not your first language. Or maybe it is your current boss who is intimidated by your bright ideas and consistently tries to curtail your creativity. Or maybe it’s you. So many of us are not living on purpose because we don’t give ourselves the room to explore the possibilities of our greatness.

My blog was developed to help others create that room.

I was once told that there are two things that have the power to change your life: the books you read, and the people you meet. Since its inception, my purpose for Work In Progress has been to profile the books to read and the people to meet that can inform and inspire others to live on purpose. Through the books, I offer resources, tools and strategies that may be useful in charting a course toward living your dreams. Through the stories of people, I highlight shining examples of those who understand that regardless how messy their process, living on purpose makes them a work in progress.

Through my blog, I would like to be known as a connector for helping others become and stay empowered. I rely heavily on the books and people profiled on the blog to do most of the empowering; my job (as well as the guest bloggers) is to make sure the content is timely, relevant, and informative. I expect for the site to be more than just a ‘feel-good blog’. I want my viewers and subscribers to be become empowered to action; taking steps (no matter how small) daily toward living their purpose.

Because the blog has been a hybrid of both personal and career-related content, focusing in on a target audience has been challenging. Which is why I know I need to start a second blog that is more focused on my brand as a nonprofit professional. As I am working to build out a consulting practice, I need a site for referring potential clients, partners, and other individuals who are interested in learning more about my perspective, experience, and useful resources. While this will be separate from Work In Progress, it will take a similar format: highlighting both books and people but more tailored for those interested in impacting society for the greater good.

And so, my work during the 31 Days To A Brand New Blog is now twofold: 1) to refine Work In Progress to become a more action-oriented blog, and 2) to build out a separate blog for my brand as a nonprofit professional.

Lots of work ahead!