Jason Caldwell - Navigating the Impossible: Build Extraordinary Teams and Shatter Expectations

Jason is a wonderful storyteller and brings you along on his journeyswhat he has learned, how he reflects on that, and what it means for his ability to be successful as a team. A great storyteller who inspires his audiences with his lessons learned. Wow!

Pepijn Rijvers, Senior Vice President of Accommodation, Booking.com

I know Jason from my involvement with Muhammad bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development, the center established by His Highness Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAEs vice president and prime minister, ruler of Dubai, for the purpose of grooming young leaders to sustain the high speed of growth of the UAE. Jason has unique knowledge and hands-on experience in building record-setting teams. He has learned, through resilience and making it from defeat to being on the top of the podium, what is required to have the most impactful team structure and how to lead such a team to victory.

Farhan Al Bastaki, CEO, Sharaf HQ Investment, and author of
Emotional Intelligence in the Life of Muhammad

Having worked with Jason for over a decade, I have witnessed his consummate ability to take what he has learned as a world-class performer and teach others how to accomplish goals they believed to be unobtainable. He inspires because he has mastered the brutally tough physical, emotional, and intellectual capabilities required to motivate and effectuate peak performance.

John F. Cady, PhD, Professor and Executive Director for Executive Development, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University

Jason Caldwell drove and delivered a truly memorable event for my team and me. He was a compelling, insightful, and fully engaging presenter, and I know that the thought-provoking and inspiring experience that he gave us all has certainly influenced our ongoing behavior in a really positive way.

Melanie Gallop, President, Calvin Klein/Tommy Hilfiger Europe, Underwear/Swimwear/Sport

Jason Caldwell has a God-given prowess to unlock confidence and self-belief in those who need it most. His ability to distill the meaningful from the meaningless, quietly and confidently leading high performance teams to do better, believe more, and ultimately win, is a gift that demands attention.

Ian Hogg, former CEO, FremantleMedia Asia Pacific

You dont have to be embarking on a world-record-setting adventure to benefit from the incredible teachings of Jason Caldwell. His ability to translate his extraordinary experiences into meaningful everyday leadership and teamwork lessons is unparalleled, leaving audiences inspired and ready to show up as leaders in everyday situations.

Anne Rooney, Executive Director, Graduate Programs, Neeley School of Business, Texas Christian University

With incredible insight and noteworthy humility, Jason Caldwell distills his daunting experiences into compelling and impactful lessons for leaders in todays complex and volatile world. His stories and the meaningful morals they relate will uplift and equip anyone to better navigate ones own turbulent teams and leadership challenges.

Peter Ronayne, PhD, Senior Faculty, Center for Creative Leadership

Jason Caldwells lessons in leadership were exactly what our organization needed to hear. Extremely inspiring and motivating. Our organization has benefitted greatly from the gift of his adventures, and I am very grateful for his contribution. I highly recommend his book.

Garry Spence, Senior Vice President, Lincoln Financial Group

Capturing experience and distilling it into concrete thoughts and actions is the essential fuel of high performing leaders and teams. Jason has an immense talent that allows him to translate the world he lives in as an adventurer to the issues that face people and organizations. Amazingly, I am as impressed by his intellect and leadership expertise as I am by his physical accomplishments.

J. B. Kurish, Senior Associate Dean for Executive Education and Professor in the Practice of Finance, Goizueta Business School, Emory University

Damn, thats one hell of a story. Youre the f*cking man! Will you sign my arm?

Dennis, drunk guy at a bar in Montana

NAVIGATING
THE
IMPOSSIBLE

Copyright 2019 by Jason Caldwell
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

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First Edition

Paperback print edition ISBN 978-1-5230-8671-9

PDF e-book ISBN 978-1-5230-8672-6

IDPF e-book ISBN 978-1-5230-8673-3

Digital audio ISBN 978-1-5230-8675-7

2019-1

Book producer: BookMatters, Berkeley; Text designer: BookMatters, Berkeley; Cover designer: Wes Youssi, M.80 Design; Copyeditor: Mike Mollett; Proofer: Janet Reed Blake; Indexer: Leonard Rosenbaum

For Amelia
the one who gives meaning to my adventures
and everything else.

EPILOGUE
The Process of Processing

Far and away the number one question I receive with regard to the adventures and world records I have undertaken is Why? Why do you do them? Why do you put yourself through that? What do you get out of these adventures that keeps you going back, pushing boundaries, and testing your limits?

For the first few years of adventuring and training, I didnt have an answer to this question. After some years had gone by and I matured in my ability to process my adventures, I formulated a partial answer. While I couldnt say exactly why I continued to challenge the limits of this world, I had become distinctly aware that whatever it was that I was receiving out there, I was unable to replicate it in my everyday life back home. Not that I have an unhappy home life. I am happily married, with a robust social network and plenty to do. I am never bored and never tired.