05/14/2026
Don’t Be Afraid of Doing Hard Things
I recently made the climb up the Manitou Incline—2,780 steps at a 45–68% incline.
To say it was harder than expected would be the understatement of the year.
As my wife and I stood at the bottom looking up those stairs, it almost felt like we were staring into the heavens. The people at the top looked so small—like looking out of an airplane window, only more intimidating.
My mind started racing and asking me questions:
Am I really in as good shape as I think I am?
What if I can't make it?
What happens to people who can't make it? Is there an elevator somewhere?
It's not like you can just quit. One way or another, you still have to come back down. And then it hit me—even if I made it to the top, I still had a 3.5-mile hike back down.
I'll admit it—I'm stubborn.
I had wanted to do this for two years, and I knew if I didn't do it now, I might never do it. The fear was real and understandable. I'm 61 years old, not in my best shape, and I'm clumsy.
Not the ideal combination for a 68% incline and climbing up small steps.
But instead of focusing on the fear, I focused on the beauty around me.
Manitou Springs is a beautiful place. Sitting at the base of Pikes Peak, surrounded by mountains, it reminded me of why I love hiking in the first place.
So—I made the climb.
And honestly? If I had known going in just how hard it would be, I probably would have talked myself out of it.
Life can feel the same way.
Sometimes the challenge in front of us looks just like that incline—steep, overwhelming, and intimidating.
The questions come fast:
Do I have what it takes?
Can I really do this?
What happens if I fail?
Halfway up, I thought the same thing:
What if I can't make it?
How embarrassing would that be?
Maybe this was a stupid idea.
But then I realized something:
If I never tried, I would never be able to say I made it to the top.
That's the hard part about life.
Whether it's your career, a relationship, starting a business, or stepping into a new opportunity—you have to make the climb to find out what's possible.
I'm not saying you should climb every mountain. There are some hikes I know I shouldn't take.
But don't let fear of hard things keep you standing at the bottom.
Because sometimes, the best view in life is only visible from the top.