Alex Harris
At 25 years of age, Alex Harris was the youngest person ever to lead an expedition to Mount Everest. Later in his climbing career, Alex Harris became the first South African to climb on all seven continents and has climbed the seven summits, the highest mountain on each of the continents. Alex uses his fifteen years of international experience as a mountaineer and expedition leader to give us insight into how we can overcome our personal challenges and succeed, especially the "Big One".
Alex's talk is accompanied with fantastic slides and focuses on the following:
• Passion
• Planning
• Purpose
Alex Harris draws parallels between his ten year quest to climb the seven summits and the problems business teams have to deal with every day. Alex's talk is both relevant and exciting taking delegates from the comfort of their chairs to the perils of high altitude mountaineering and the death zone. Breathe deeply, because where Alex Harris is going to take you, the air is thin.
What clients say:
"Your presentation was the perfect opener for our Alumni function...they found it very exciting and inspirational." - Andrew Waller, Partner in charge - Deloitte & Touche
"The majority feedback from our staff is that they feel you are a fantastic speaker, you kept our attention and certainly I am sure you have inspired some of our staff to follow through on their own dreams, be it work or personal and aspire to their own heights." - Sulveigh Ho, Intravel Manager - Flight Centre
"Alex Harris was extremely professional, passionate about his experiences and very motivational in his presentation. Our members found him interesting to listen to and were very impressed with his attitude towards the achieving of success." - Richard Saxby, Managing Director - Murray and Roberts Civils
More about Alex
Alex Harris was born in the relatively flat city ofJohannesburg.
After joining the Mountain Club of South Africa in 1992, he started to fulfill his desire to climb some of the world's highest mountains. In 1996, Alex Harris became the youngest person ever, at the age of 25, to lead an expedition toMount Everest. In 1998 he became the first South African to have climbed on all seven continents, further fuelling his dream to climb the elusive "Seven Summits". Alex Harris is an established speaker on the school and corporate circuit. He is also a keen caver and always seeks adventure in faraway places. When he isn't at the top of a peak, deep underground or sharing his story on stage, you are sure to find him tearing along a stretch of tar on his beloved Trek road bike, preparing for his next journey.
Business Experience
Alex started his business career with The Hospitality Group International, and within the first year, became the number one salesman for Southern Africa. By 1996, with a chance to go toMount Everest, he resigned and turned his passion for the mountains into a profession, by starting Adventure Dynamics International. Through ADI he has not only guided people up some of the world's highest mountains, but has also motivated schools and organisations - through speaking and writing about his experiences.
Alex has retained his flair for entrepreneurial endeavors and started Southern Sales, an E-bay business. He combines his experiences in business and the mountains to draw life-changing and relevant parallels to both organisational teams and individuals. His experience is varied, interesting and unique.
Climbing Experience
Alex has been climbing and mountaineering around the world since 1989 and is South Africa's most experienced and respected high altitude mountaineer. Alex's easy-going nature and deep understanding of human potential has made him the first choice as expedition leader on some of the most significant South African mountaineering achievements.
He has led more than 25 expeditions, which have taken him to all seven continents and the furthest corners of the world ... from the jungles of Borneo, through the arid plains ofTibet, to the frozen wastelands ofAntarctica.
He finds in mountains a sense of purpose and destiny that give his life meaning and inspire those around him.
Some of Alex's more note-worthy achievements are:
* June 2005 - reached the summit of Everest from the North side
* June 2005 - completed the seven summits, the highest mountain on all seven continents
* April 2003 - Led the Discovery Everest expedition to the South side of Everest
* May 2002 - Led the Discovery expedition to North America's highest mountain, Denali (MountMcKinley) (6192m)
* April 2001 - Guided the first South African expedition toCho Oyu(8201m)
* April 2000 - Led the first South African expedition to climbAustralasia's highest peak: Carstensz Pyramid (4894m)
* September 1999 - Led the first South African expedition to the North side of Everest - the youngest person to ever lead an Everest expedition
* January 1999 - First South African to climb on all seven continents
* December 1998 - Led the first South African expedition to climbAntarctica's highest mountain:
Mount Vinson (4897m)
* July 1994 - First South African ascent of a 7 000m peak: Mt Lenin inUzbekistan(7134m)
* 7 Ascents of Kilimanjaro (5895m) by four different routes
* 3 ascents of South America's highest mountain:Aconcagua(6960m)
* 3 Ascents ofMount Kenya(5199m)
His other Passions
Alex began track cycling in 2005. Alex had never been on a track bike but after five months of hard work, Alex became the new South African Track Champion for the 1000m Time Trial and the 1500m in his 35 to 39 yrs category! Five months later he won a silver and a bronze medal at the World Masters Track Cycling Championships inManchester.
THE LONG WHITE NIGHT
On the 17th of January 2008, Alex Harris became the first South African to walk unsupported and unassisted to the South Pole. It was a journey that took 65 days and covered almost 1200km. It was, in Alex's words, ‘the hardest thing he had ever done'.
Since Alex was a child he has been exploring the hills and valleys of his neighborhood, and then later, the mountains and remote corners of the world. In January of 1996, Alex resigned from a career in sales, and followed his passion for exploration. Alex is best known for his numerous expeditions to Everest and his climbing of the seven summits, the highest mountain on all seven continents. However, Alex was not content to just climb mountains. ‘The long white night' is Alex's account of walking to the South Pole.
This was a journey in the same league as Shackleton's or Scotts expeditions. No expedition to the South Pole is easy, however, to do it unsupported and unassisted meant undertaking what is arguably the most grueling thing a human could do.
For 65 days Alex endured winds of up to 80 km/hr and temperatures of -40 C. Carrying sleds of 130kgs, Alex and his partner had to cover 20 kilometers every day if they were to stand any chance of reaching the Pole before their food ran out. To further complicate this already daunting task, Alex broke one of his skis on day 6. Alex also had the inside of his left thigh frostbitten by high winds. Finally, just when they thought they were on top of things, the largest front of the century settled overAntarctica and it snowed for 9 days. Whiteout conditions prevailed, where visibility was zero and thick snow made it almost impossible to achieve their daily distance. Yet somehow they managed to stick it through and arrive safely at the South Pole. Tough journeys are a part of everyone's life, whether it's a trip up Kilimanjaro, a seemingly unattainable sales target, or uncertainly in our careers. We all face them, and we all have the ability to come through them. But it takes intention and a set of characteristics that require hard work and don't come about by chance.
Alex's talk looks at the fundamental need to plan and prepare. To fully understand the environment you are going to operate in. Alex discusses the critical need to set realistic goals. 1200km on skis seemed an impossible journey, but when it was broken down into degrees of latitude, days and a time, and even one hour to the next, it became possible. It's the same for all of us. Sometimes the goal is so daunting that it wears us down just thinking about it. The trick is to distract yourself with the manageable tasks that occur daily, but to understand the power in these seemingly insignificant steps. We only got to the Pole by taking it one step at a time, and then combining them day after day after day.
Finally, Alex talks about the need to have a sense of purpose in our lives. One of the most profound sensations after getting to the Pole, was the flight back. For six hours Alex stared out the window at the snow below, trying to see some trace of their passing or a sign of how they had suffered. But there was nothing. Their tracks had been blown away by the wind or covered over with snow. In a sense, this can be our lives if we are not intentional, gone like a vapor.
Alex closes by discussing the deep and profound need all of us have to make a mark. To feel like our lives have counted for something. This is where purpose comes in. When we begin to have a sense of purpose in our lives, we become more intentional and consequently more effective. Not only do our lives benefit, but our teams do and so do our organizations.
Effective people make excellent people, and all of us were made with the capacity to be excellent!
At 25 years of age, Alex Harris was the youngest person ever to lead an expedition to Mount Everest. Later in his climbing career, Alex Harris became the first South African to climb on all seven continents and has climbed the seven summits, the highest mountain on each of the continents. Alex uses his fifteen years of international experience as a mountaineer and expedition leader to give us insight into how we can overcome our personal challenges and succeed, especially the "Big One".
Alex's talk is accompanied with fantastic slides and focuses on the following:
• Passion
• Planning
• Purpose
Alex Harris draws parallels between his ten year quest to climb the seven summits and the problems business teams have to deal with every day. Alex's talk is both relevant and exciting taking delegates from the comfort of their chairs to the perils of high altitude mountaineering and the death zone. Breathe deeply, because where Alex Harris is going to take you, the air is thin.
What clients say:
"Your presentation was the perfect opener for our Alumni function...they found it very exciting and inspirational." - Andrew Waller, Partner in charge - Deloitte & Touche
"The majority feedback from our staff is that they feel you are a fantastic speaker, you kept our attention and certainly I am sure you have inspired some of our staff to follow through on their own dreams, be it work or personal and aspire to their own heights." - Sulveigh Ho, Intravel Manager - Flight Centre
"Alex Harris was extremely professional, passionate about his experiences and very motivational in his presentation. Our members found him interesting to listen to and were very impressed with his attitude towards the achieving of success." - Richard Saxby, Managing Director - Murray and Roberts Civils
More about Alex
Alex Harris was born in the relatively flat city ofJohannesburg.
After joining the Mountain Club of South Africa in 1992, he started to fulfill his desire to climb some of the world's highest mountains. In 1996, Alex Harris became the youngest person ever, at the age of 25, to lead an expedition toMount Everest. In 1998 he became the first South African to have climbed on all seven continents, further fuelling his dream to climb the elusive "Seven Summits". Alex Harris is an established speaker on the school and corporate circuit. He is also a keen caver and always seeks adventure in faraway places. When he isn't at the top of a peak, deep underground or sharing his story on stage, you are sure to find him tearing along a stretch of tar on his beloved Trek road bike, preparing for his next journey.
Business Experience
Alex started his business career with The Hospitality Group International, and within the first year, became the number one salesman for Southern Africa. By 1996, with a chance to go toMount Everest, he resigned and turned his passion for the mountains into a profession, by starting Adventure Dynamics International. Through ADI he has not only guided people up some of the world's highest mountains, but has also motivated schools and organisations - through speaking and writing about his experiences.
Alex has retained his flair for entrepreneurial endeavors and started Southern Sales, an E-bay business. He combines his experiences in business and the mountains to draw life-changing and relevant parallels to both organisational teams and individuals. His experience is varied, interesting and unique.
Climbing Experience
Alex has been climbing and mountaineering around the world since 1989 and is South Africa's most experienced and respected high altitude mountaineer. Alex's easy-going nature and deep understanding of human potential has made him the first choice as expedition leader on some of the most significant South African mountaineering achievements.
He has led more than 25 expeditions, which have taken him to all seven continents and the furthest corners of the world ... from the jungles of Borneo, through the arid plains ofTibet, to the frozen wastelands ofAntarctica.
He finds in mountains a sense of purpose and destiny that give his life meaning and inspire those around him.
Some of Alex's more note-worthy achievements are:
* June 2005 - reached the summit of Everest from the North side
* June 2005 - completed the seven summits, the highest mountain on all seven continents
* April 2003 - Led the Discovery Everest expedition to the South side of Everest
* May 2002 - Led the Discovery expedition to North America's highest mountain, Denali (MountMcKinley) (6192m)
* April 2001 - Guided the first South African expedition toCho Oyu(8201m)
* April 2000 - Led the first South African expedition to climbAustralasia's highest peak: Carstensz Pyramid (4894m)
* September 1999 - Led the first South African expedition to the North side of Everest - the youngest person to ever lead an Everest expedition
* January 1999 - First South African to climb on all seven continents
* December 1998 - Led the first South African expedition to climbAntarctica's highest mountain:
Mount Vinson (4897m)
* July 1994 - First South African ascent of a 7 000m peak: Mt Lenin inUzbekistan(7134m)
* 7 Ascents of Kilimanjaro (5895m) by four different routes
* 3 ascents of South America's highest mountain:Aconcagua(6960m)
* 3 Ascents ofMount Kenya(5199m)
His other Passions
Alex began track cycling in 2005. Alex had never been on a track bike but after five months of hard work, Alex became the new South African Track Champion for the 1000m Time Trial and the 1500m in his 35 to 39 yrs category! Five months later he won a silver and a bronze medal at the World Masters Track Cycling Championships inManchester.
THE LONG WHITE NIGHT
On the 17th of January 2008, Alex Harris became the first South African to walk unsupported and unassisted to the South Pole. It was a journey that took 65 days and covered almost 1200km. It was, in Alex's words, ‘the hardest thing he had ever done'.
Since Alex was a child he has been exploring the hills and valleys of his neighborhood, and then later, the mountains and remote corners of the world. In January of 1996, Alex resigned from a career in sales, and followed his passion for exploration. Alex is best known for his numerous expeditions to Everest and his climbing of the seven summits, the highest mountain on all seven continents. However, Alex was not content to just climb mountains. ‘The long white night' is Alex's account of walking to the South Pole.
This was a journey in the same league as Shackleton's or Scotts expeditions. No expedition to the South Pole is easy, however, to do it unsupported and unassisted meant undertaking what is arguably the most grueling thing a human could do.
For 65 days Alex endured winds of up to 80 km/hr and temperatures of -40 C. Carrying sleds of 130kgs, Alex and his partner had to cover 20 kilometers every day if they were to stand any chance of reaching the Pole before their food ran out. To further complicate this already daunting task, Alex broke one of his skis on day 6. Alex also had the inside of his left thigh frostbitten by high winds. Finally, just when they thought they were on top of things, the largest front of the century settled overAntarctica and it snowed for 9 days. Whiteout conditions prevailed, where visibility was zero and thick snow made it almost impossible to achieve their daily distance. Yet somehow they managed to stick it through and arrive safely at the South Pole. Tough journeys are a part of everyone's life, whether it's a trip up Kilimanjaro, a seemingly unattainable sales target, or uncertainly in our careers. We all face them, and we all have the ability to come through them. But it takes intention and a set of characteristics that require hard work and don't come about by chance.
Alex's talk looks at the fundamental need to plan and prepare. To fully understand the environment you are going to operate in. Alex discusses the critical need to set realistic goals. 1200km on skis seemed an impossible journey, but when it was broken down into degrees of latitude, days and a time, and even one hour to the next, it became possible. It's the same for all of us. Sometimes the goal is so daunting that it wears us down just thinking about it. The trick is to distract yourself with the manageable tasks that occur daily, but to understand the power in these seemingly insignificant steps. We only got to the Pole by taking it one step at a time, and then combining them day after day after day.
Finally, Alex talks about the need to have a sense of purpose in our lives. One of the most profound sensations after getting to the Pole, was the flight back. For six hours Alex stared out the window at the snow below, trying to see some trace of their passing or a sign of how they had suffered. But there was nothing. Their tracks had been blown away by the wind or covered over with snow. In a sense, this can be our lives if we are not intentional, gone like a vapor.
Alex closes by discussing the deep and profound need all of us have to make a mark. To feel like our lives have counted for something. This is where purpose comes in. When we begin to have a sense of purpose in our lives, we become more intentional and consequently more effective. Not only do our lives benefit, but our teams do and so do our organizations.
Effective people make excellent people, and all of us were made with the capacity to be excellent!
