You learn as much from those who have failed as from those who have succeeded.

Along with trustworthiness, consistency is the thing to look for when you surround yourself with people who can help you on your quest.

I've had to learn that not everybody does things my way. But I do expect the absolute best of everyone around me, and I'm disappointed when people don't expect that of themselves.

The only thing you can never change is your values.

One of the main techniques I used was focusing on the goal and visualising myself competing in the race before the race started.

Life is often compared to a marathon, but I think it is more like being a sprinter; long stretches of hard work punctuated by brief moments in which we are given the opportunity to perform at our best.

That first peak is the best place to pause and look back, to see if you took the easiest route, to learn the lessons from the first climb. And it is the best place to examine the terrain ahead, to change your plans and goals, to take a deep breath and begin climbing again.