He Pushed a Peanut Up a Mountain with His Nose. Really.
On July 15, 2022, Bob Salem became the fourth person to push a peanut up Pikes Peak with his nose. Let that marinate for a bit. A peanut up a mountain. I’m not sure which part of the story is more surprising: that someone decided that this goal was worth the focus and practice (I’m guessing that pushing a peanut with your nose requires some forethought and practice), or that three other people did the same thing?
Regardless, the accomplishment raised some basic questions. First question: Really? Second question: Really (with head tilt)? Then there is the obligatory “why?” which none of the reporters covering the feat asked. So we’ll assume it was the same “why” as most incredulous accomplishments: “Why not?”
But what got me thinking more than Salem’s “why” was this: what is on my “to-do” list? Nowhere is there anything about a peanut or 14,000 foot mountain. So I wondered, “Should there be?” Do I need a big audacious accomplishment to work toward and test my focus or goal-orientation? Something to test my resilience?
I remembered that I once considered running from Detroit to the Mackinac Bridge, some 300 miles. That would be big and sounds like an accomplishment that would be a terrific pub conversation. But the idea faded, replaced by more conventional goals like “read 26 books this year” or “be more thankful.” Both valuable but somehow not the mountain-and-peanut variety.
Then my thoughts turned more philosophical. Is there some metaphorical lesson I should derive from this peanut vs. mountain accomplishment? What does this represent? What is the deeper meaning? Is this story a metaphor? A metaphor for… for… what? Leadership, team building, resilience, a purpose-driven life? And more specifically I pondered, “What is my metaphorical peanut?”
Or is it just a man, a peanut, and a mountain?
My conclusion? I think it’s what you think it is. If you derive some meaning from this accomplishment and you apply the lesson to your team leadership, then kudos to you. If this activates your desire to accomplish some mountain-sized accomplishment, then wonderful. Go for it. Or if this creates nothing but a chuckle or gives you a fun story to tell at your next Zoom meeting, then that’s cool, too.
We’re human and we are built to think. Sometimes too much. There can be meaning in every everyday event. Or not. Your choice. As Salem said about what’s next for him, “No plans. Maybe watch some TV.” Not much metaphorical there.
Notes:
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