Shackletons 7 Survival Skills

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Shackletons 7 Survival Skills

• Presented by Jim Priest

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The Incredible Story of Sir Ernest Shackleton

• Shackleton, the persistent explorer, finds
  success elusive and is frustrated
• He strikes upon a plan to cross the Antarctic--he
  must raise money men
• The world is on the cusp of WWI, benefactors are
  few and naysayers abound

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How about you?

• Do you feel frustrated by ever elusive success?
• Are your benefactors few?
• Are you hearing discouraging words from
  naysayers?
• What are you going to do about it?

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What did Shackleton do?

• He launched his mission and began putting
  together
• The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
• The Pole has already been discovered roared
  Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, What is
  the point of another expedition?

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He recruited men

• Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small
  wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete
  darkness. Constant danger. Safe return
  doubtful.
• Honor and recognition in case of success
• Ernest Shackleton

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He raised money

• From Dudley Docker, James Caird and Miss Janet
  Stancomb Wills.
• From selling, in advance, the photos and story
  rights
• By raising donations through public pleas and the
  Royal Geographic Society

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The Journey of the Endurance

• August 1914, just as WWI breaks out 27 men set
  sail for Antarctica
• Before they even reach land fall, their ship is
  beset by ice
• Eventually, the ship is crushed and they must
  abandon it to live on an ice flow
• They make a desperate boat trip to Elephant
  Island and a few men sail on to South Georgia
  island. All are saved

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What can we learn from Shackleton?

• For scientific leadership, give me Scott. For
  swift and efficient travel, Amundsen but when
  you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems
  no way out, get down on your knees and pray for
  Shackleton!

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Shackletons 7 survival skills

• Civility
• Putting others first
• Optimism
• Patience
• Encouragement
• Mission
• Risk taking

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Civility

• When men are as tired as we were, their nerves
  are on edge and it is necessary for each man to
  take pains not to irritate the others. On this
  march we treated each other with a good deal more
  consideration than we should have done in normal
  circumstances. Never is etiquette and god form
  observed more carefully than by experienced
  travelers when they find themselves in a tight
  place.
• Frank Worsley

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Putting others first

• Early in his career, Shackleton became known as
  a leader who put his men first.
• I do not suppose that anyone else in the world
  can thoroughly realize how much generosity and
  sympathy was shown by this, wrote Frank Wild.
  I DO BY GOD and I shall never forget it!

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Optimism

• Never for me the lowered banner, never the
  last endeavor!
• Shackletons dogged optimism was the cornerstone
  of his character. For Shackleton, life would
  always offer more chanceshe was not distracted
  by the demons of regret or fear of failure.
• Caroline Alexander
  

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Patience

• Chippy McNishs rebellion
• Patience is defined as the ability to bear
  suffering with calmness and self control. It is
  endurance without complaint, perseverance without
  grumbling, steadfastness in performance.

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Encouragement

• Can you sing? Shackleton asked Jimmy James, who
  aspired to be included in the expedition. Oh I
  dont mean any Caruso stuff, but I suppose you
  can shout abit with the boys?
• Shaved heads, winter routine, sports, provisions,
  giving up his cabin for the sick

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Mission

• Victor Frankl in Mans Search for Meaning wrote
  If a man has a why he can endure any how.
• Shackleton told Worsley It looks like we shant
  cross the Antarctic continent after all. Its a
  pity, but it cannot be helped. It is the men
  that we have to think about.

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Risk taking

• The Chinese character for risk is a combination
  of danger and opportunity
• I dont like our position at all, said
  Shackleton. Weve got to take a risk. Are you
  game?

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Shackeltons 7 Survival Skills

• Civility
• Putting others first
• Optimism
• Patience
• Encouragement
• Mission
• Risk taking

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The Skills are in your hands

• I will pay more for the ability to get along
  with other people, than any other ability a man
  may possess.
• John D. Rockefeller