In 2019, Nirmal “Nims” Purja set out to climb every peak over 26,000 feet.

The previous record was seven years.

But Nims set a goal of doing it in seven months.

Everyone thought it was impossible. He couldn’t get any sponsors. He had to remortgage his house to fund the expedition.

Nims completed his climb in six months and six days.

But what does this have to do with branding?

Creating a great brand means setting bold goals.

And it isn't something that one person can do alone.

Without a team working in sync, Nims would never have set a record. And to build a great brand, everyone in the organization has to work together. Everyone has to be in sync.

Nims used five key principles to help his team do the impossible.

They all apply to building a great brand.

1. It Takes a Vision

You need an inspiring vision to reach bold goals.

And it has to be clear.

Everyone who hears the vision must know what success looks like. You can't leave it up to interpretation.

And it's one reason most brands fail before they even try to reach their goals. Their visions are vague. They have a different meaning for each person who hears them.

They do not give people a direction.

Contrast the typical vision with Microsoft's original vision: "A computer on every desk, and in every home."

Bold. Clear. Not open to interpretation.

A vision points in the direction of change. It shows your vision for the world.

Look at your vision.

Is it bold? Is it clear?

If not, how can you replace it with something that is?

2. It Takes Grit

To achieve a bold vision, you must have an unwavering belief that you will achieve it.

And enough confidence to make your team believe it, too.

Any roadblocks you run into shouldn’t make you waver from the larger vision.

Because there will always be roadblocks. Things that make you question your goals. Things that try to divert you.

You must show daring, determination, and grit.

3. It Takes Constant Improvement

You must have a strong desire to improve.

Every day. Even if it's 1% each day.

Things change. To succeed tomorrow, you need different skills than you do now.

If you don't improve, you stand still. And if you stand still, you get left behind.

This takes active effort.

Most people get stuck in the day-to-day. They don’t set aside time to improve themselves. Or their ability to get the best out of their teams.

Set aside time to learn. And time to reflect. They are hallmarks of people who succeed at what others see as impossible.

4. It Takes Compassion

In business, you’re often taught that success is a zero-sum game.

But when you're working toward a bold vision, you can’t let your ego drive you. You’ll fail.

Any bold vision is not an easy path. People will stumble. They will fall.

And sometimes you will need to pause. And help get others back on track.

Achieving a bold vision takes a team. And teams don't leave others behind.

5. It Takes a Team

You can’t achieve anything great alone.

It takes a talented team.

You need to set the vision and inspire the team. You also need to believe in the team’s value and credit all team members.

A team that feels undervalued and uninspired won't reach its full potential. It won't achieve greatness.

And if a team can’t achieve greatness, it's impossible to make a bold vision a reality.

How far can you go?

In 2021, Nims and his team became the first to summit K2 in winter.

Not because they had the best gear. But because they had a bold vision. A team in sync. And a leader who refused to give up.

That’s what it takes to build a strong brand.

If you haven’t seen 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, watch it. Then ask yourself:

What bold goal is your brand climbing toward?

Is everyone climbing it with you?

P.S. If your brand feels stuck at basecamp, let’s talk. Book a free 15-minute call and I’ll help you identify what’s holding you back and where to go next.

Notes

All of the quotes are from the Nims Purja documentary, 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible. You can watch it on Netflix.