Sharing Insights : Conrad Dickinson

Conrad is a successful businessman in the northeast of England and has also become a highly successful British polar explorer with an impressive portfolio of achievements that include the 'Polar Grand Slam' - skiing unsupported to the South Pole, North Pole and across Greenland. Conrad is the first Briton to achieve this feat! Here's what Conrad had to say about motivation and risk.

Your polar journeys are truly inspiring and show that the seemingly impossible is possible. What is it that motivates you day after day on your journeys?

CD:
If you stopped and looked at the big picture, you would never start! it's just too overwhelming. The trick is to break it into bite size chunks...one step, one two hour march, lunch break and the end of one day. At the end of the day you then say "well I got through today, so I'm sure i can manage tomorrow" and so on

Your polar journeys are particularly high risk endeavors. How do you approach risk?

CD:
I minimise risk by exceptional detailed planning and research into all aspects of the expedition, after that you rely on the phrase coined by Rune Gjeldnes - "guttsing it" - it basically means you attack something you are scared to do, but all the planning and reasoning tells you it will work out in the end...and mostly it does!

To explore more on Conrad visit:
http://www.northpoleclassic.com