JacPod When Shift Happens

The inner climb: Louis Carstens on why failure matters more than success

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Failure teaches you more than success ever will.
In this episode of When Shift Happens, Saray Khumalo speaks with Louis Carstens, psychologist, mountaineer and executive, about the lessons that come from being turned back and choosing to go again.
From multiple attempts on Lhotse, the world’s fourth-highest mountain in the Himalayas, to navigating major career shifts, Louis reflects on resilience, ownership and why the most important decisions in your life cannot be outsourced.
“In life, you’ve got to own your life. You’ve got to take accountability. You can’t outsource critical decisions to other people.”
It’s a conversation about what it really takes to keep moving forward when things do not go to plan.

New episodes drop every Monday at 5am.
Listen first on jacarandafm.com under JacPod, or wherever you get your favourite podcasts including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Chapters
  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:40 Meet Louis Carstens
  • 05:33 Lhotse Mountain Setbacks
  • 07:37 Big Goals Pay Off
  • 09:37 Aconcagua Accountability
  • 12:00 Turning Back Wisely
  • 14:06 Scaling Up Corporate
  • 18:49 Pressure Prep Compassion
  • 22:56 Leading By Example
  • 23:55 Lead From Trenches
  • 24:47 Finding Purpose at Work
  • 27:16 Impact Over Power
  • 28:48 Resilience From Childhood
  • 30:30 Don’t Outsource Life
  • 31:07 Letting Go as a Parent
  • 36:15 Responding to Sudden Change
  • 38:21 Resilient and Fearless
  • 41:41 Final Takeaways and Farewell
22 Mar English South Africa Management · Self-Improvement

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