Climb the Mountain to See the World

Don't climb the mountain so the world can see you.

Most of us have been tourists on vacation standing in front of a monument or a place of interest for a brief second to capture a photo to document that "we were here or there".

Imagine instead, taking the time, not to just take the photo, but to be present.

Deliberately focused to actually see and experience & take it all in.

This is exactly what these three friends have been doing for years all across the globe.

In this podcast episode, Bart introduces three friends, Mark Ascher, Phil Becker, and Mike Burnstein, who share their adventurous stories about motorcycle trips and mountaineering.

Their adventures emphasize the importance of community, curiosity, and personal growth.

They have undertaken various challenges together, from riding dirt bikes in the trails of West Virginia to trekking in Nepal and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

They take pride in pushing their physical and mental limits.

Their adventures emphasize the importance of community, curiosity, and personal growth.

Imagine riding your motorcycle in new territory or a foreign country with your friends for 6 continuous hours with only your thoughts before being able to stop and share what you've each witnessed.

Their experiences have strengthened them as human beings and as business professionals.

They have the confidence that they CAN OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE.

This is not a fraternity nor a motorcycle club. It’s not a group of 50-plus-year-old guys facing a mid-life crisis. It doesn’t even appear to be an excuse to leave behind daily personal worries. It's an exploration of life, to EXPERIENCE LIFE.

They aren’t doing it to be seen, they are doing it TO SEE.

"Enjoy the view from the summit, don’t seek to be the view on the summit."

• "Success is best enjoyed, not displayed."
• "Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so the world can see you."
• "True achievement is in the climb, not in the applause from the peak."

Key Takeaways

I learned 9 extremely valuable lessons from this conversation.

1. The Power of Adventure & Pushing Boundaries

• These three friends continuously push themselves beyond their comfort zones through physically and mentally challenging experiences.
• Whether it's climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, riding motorcycles through the Himalayas, or enduring the harsh landscapes of Alaska, their experiences prove that age, routine, or comfort should NOT be barriers to adventure.

2. Overcoming Hardship Creates the Best Memories

• Many of their most cherished experiences do not come from ease, but instead from struggle—a broken-down motorcycle in the middle of nowhere, freezing on a mountainside at 19,300 feet, and experiences sleeping in dive motels.
• The lesson: Life’s most rewarding moments come from facing and overcoming challenges, not from comfort. 

3. Human Connection & The Power of Curiosity

• A central theme in their journeys is their curiosity about people—engaging with strangers, buying drinks in a dive bar, or learning about life in Nepal or Alaska.
• They highlight that everyone has a story, and most people don’t take the time to ask.

4. The Importance of True Friendship & Community

• Their deep camaraderie and mutual encouragement stand out. They push each other in ways they might not push themselves alone.
• Having people who challenge, support, and celebrate with you is rare—and worth finding.

5. Most People Don’t… But You Can

The episode captures the essence of "Most People Don't":

• Most people don’t take the hard road.
• Most people don’t seek discomfort to grow.
• Most people don’t push their limits.
• Most people don’t take the time to truly listen to others. But you can.

6. Perspective: Appreciating What You Have

The contrast between their experiences—witnessing extreme poverty in Nepal, talking to people struggling with addiction in Alaska, and hearing a waitress prioritize tattooed eyebrows over rent—reminds them (and us) how fortunate we are and how different priorities can be.

7. “Summit to See the World, Not to Be Seen”

One of the most powerful takeaways: Are you achieving things for validation, or for the experience itself?
This ties back to the theme of internal fulfillment vs. external recognition.

8. The Comfort Crisis – Growth Comes From Discomfort

• Inspired by the book The Comfort Crisis, they highlight how modern life is too easy, and real fulfilment comes from choosing challenge over comfort.
• Their philosophy: “Embrace the suck”—the more you struggle, the more rewarding the outcome.

9. Live Boldly & Seek Meaningful Experiences

• Adventure isn’t just about travel—it’s about engaging with life fully.
• Find your tribe, push each other, and make life memorable.
• Ask more questions. Be curious. Care.

Most People Don’t—and hopefully after listening to my podcast you will be inspired to Take action, be bold, and experience life beyond the ordinary.

Just in case you are saying I don't do those things, SO WHAT?! I’m not going to ride a motorcycle, bungee jump, or summit a mountain. How can this apply to me? What if I don’t have the chance to travel? SO WHAT?

Great question—“So what?”

Yes, these guys have done epic things, but if you’re not planning to climb mountains, race motorcycles, or bungee jump?

How can this apply to you?

1. Adventure Isn’t About Geography, It’s About Mindset

• You don’t have to go to Nepal to challenge yourself.
• The real adventure is in pushing yourself beyond what’s comfortable—mentally, emotionally, or socially.
• Their story is about breaking routine and saying yes to new experiences, no matter how big or small.

2. Most People Don’t… But You Can

• Most people don’t talk to strangers to listen & learn—but you can.
• Most people don’t go out of their way to learn about someone’s life story—but you can.
• Most people don’t try something that makes them uncomfortable—but you can.

→ It’s not about riding motorcycles; it’s about choosing to live fully, whatever that means for you.

3. Push Yourself in Your Own Way

• Maybe your “Kilimanjaro” is having a hard conversation you’ve been avoiding.
• Maybe your “motorcycle trip” is learning a new skill instead of defaulting to Netflix.
• Maybe your “bungee jump” is raising your hand for an opportunity you’re scared of.

→ Growth comes from discomfort, but that discomfort looks different for everyone.

4. The Power of Human Connection

• The most powerful part of their story isn’t the travel—it’s the people they meet.
• Most people don’t engage with strangers—but connection is what makes life meaningful.
• You don’t have to go to a dive bar in Alaska to start a conversation.

→ Try it at networking events, the office, coffee shop, or wherever you are.  Be Curious. Ask questions. Listen.

5. Community Matters More Than the Challenge

• Their adventures weren’t just about motorcycles—they were about friendship.
• Who in your life challenges you, supports you, and makes you better?
• If you don’t have those people, how can you find or build that kind of community?
• Most people don’t have a tribe—but you can.

6. The Comfort Crisis Is Real

• Today it's more possible than ever to live an easer life, especially with new technology, products & services, but easy doesn’t always mean fulfilling.
• When was the last time you did something that stretched you?
• Maybe that’s signing up for a class that teaches you a new skill, putting your phone down for a day and observing, or taking on a new challenge at work.
• Find your version of adventure.

Final Thought:

How Can You “Live More”?

• It’s not about doing exactly what they did—it’s about finding your own way to step outside the norm.
• What’s something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t?
• What’s one small way you can break routine and engage more with life?

Most people don’t… but you can,

or even better,

Most people don't...but YOU do!

Hopefully that’s how this conversation applies to you.