PEN
HADOW
Pen Hadow,
one of the
world’s
leading explorer-guides,
against seemingly
impossible
odds, has
made it possible
for people
from all walks
of life to
make ground-breaking
expeditions
to the most
remote points
on planet
Earth - the
North and
South Poles.
The secret
behind his
success has
been his exceptional
ability to
motivate individuals
and teams
to perform
at their peak
in even the
most extreme
situations.
His superbly
illustrated
presentation
reveals the
inspirational
story behind
this remarkable
leader and
polar pioneer.
Pen (aka
‘Polar
Pen’)
is a rare
breed amongst
explorers,
because he
chose to bridge
the divide
between his
professional
achievements
and the potential
he saw in
the wider
public to
undertake
substantial
polar expeditions.
He had made
a series of
progressively
bold expeditions
of his own
in the high
Arctic in
the 80’s
and 90’s,
culminating
in three extreme
solo expeditions
on the Arctic
Ocean.
Pen’s
eyes had first
been opened,
when he was
just fifteen.
He completed
a solo marathon,
long before
marathons
became a mass-participation
sport. Teachers,
coaches and
doctors had
all advised
against the
attempt. But
Pen ran it
anyway and
discovered
for himself
that the vested
interests
of experts
could create
barriers to
progress.
He encountered
the same negative
attitude again
in the polar
world …
and knew what
had to be
done. He set
up the only
specialist
guide service
in the world
- The Polar
Travel Company
- and dedicated
himself, single-handedly,
to opening
up the Arctic
and Antarctic
to everyone.
First he
had to change
a nation’s
perception
of what was
possible –
the Poles
were regarded
as the exclusive
domain of
the professional
explorer.
He also had
to create
a new market
– travel
industry experts
assuring him
that no-one
would be attracted
to high-cost,
sub-zero temperature,
expedition-style
holidays.
Then, in the
most inhospitable
conditions
on Earth,
he had to
lead novice
teams on pioneering
expeditions
to the remotest
points on
Earth. Effective
teamwork and
leadership
techniques
were critical
to each expedition’s
outcome.
The national
wake-up call
to launch
his commercial
venture was
to be dramatic,
testing his
entrepreneurial
and management
skills to
the limits.
He devised,
promoted,
and organized
the first
all-women
expedition
to the North
Pole …
and three
years later,
the internationally-acclaimed
McVitie’s
Penguin Polar
Relay reached
the North
Pole –
on schedule
to the day,
with no injuries,
and a catalogue
of ‘world
firsts’
by the team
of twenty-two.
Two years
later he supported
the high profile
British all-women
expedition
to the South
Pole –
the M&G
ISA Challenge.
Public demand
for expedition
places began
to grow rapidly.
Armed only
with a laptop,
a phone line
and a total
dedication
to success,
Pen’s
vision had
become a reality.
In May 2003,
Pen was catapulted
to international
fame when
he became
the first
person in
history to
sledge from
Canada to
the North
Geographic
Pole without
any outside
help –
a feat of
endurance
thought to
be harder
than climbing
Everest solo,
without oxygen.
It had taken
him three
attempts and
fifteen years’
dedication
to achieve
his goal.
In February
2004, Hadow
guided 63
year old international
businessman,
Simon Murray,
to the South
Pole - thereby
enabling him
to become
the oldest
person by
a decade ever
to walk to
the Pole,
while Pen
became the
first Briton
to walk without
re-supply
to both Poles,
and all inside
twelve months.
Pen’s
is an inspirational
story because
many of the
lessons he
has learned
and the skills
he now applies
on his expeditions
are of equal
importance
in the less
hazardous
environment
of the workplace.
He has come
to recognize
the real value
of vision,
preparation,
and leadership
– and
above all,
mental attitude,
the universal
key to success,
in the reaching
of one’s
chosen goal.
Pen always
leaves his
audiences
on a high,
excited, challenged
and inspired
yet contemplative
– emotionally
charged by
an experience
they will
never forget.
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