
I find myself reflecting on an amazing trip our family took to the Rocky Mountains this time last year. Recently I blogged about our experience here . A highlight on our trip was taking the cog railway up to the top of Pikes Peak, over 14,000 ft. elevation and 40 degrees colder. The cog system was fascinating!
The train is uniquely equipped to navigate the steep incline. The cog system is an internal mechanism that keeps the train on the track. It keeps the train grounded, steady, and forward focused. The system is dependable and adaptable, always equipped for forward progress.
There are other ways to get up that mountain to see those amazing mountaintop vistas, one of which was driving the paved road up the mountain. The reviews clearly stated that the driver’s only focus was to drive, not take pictures or get amazed by the view--these could lead to obvious danger. What made our experience so memorable was that our family was able to travel together, we were WITH each other. One hour up, one hour down. Our focus was enjoying the moments together on a truly unforgettable journey.
It wasn’t quite that way nearly 100 years ago, when Mr. Zalmon Simmons, who first rode to the summit of Pikes Peak on a 2-day mule ride. His long journey led him to the conclusion that there must be a better way to get to the top--so birthed the idea of a cog train. Using both his influence and his finances, Simmons reached out to some international connections and secured Italian experts to build the cog railway system. This project was a cross-cultural project.
This illuminated some cross-cultural insights. I find it interesting that Simmons had to reach out to international connections. We're stronger when we reach out, especially across cultures. Many have gone before us to pave the much harder trail, forging the pathway for us to follow. I coach cross-cultural workers towards longevity. There has to be some internal system that keeps the worker on the track. I want to explore how coaching can come alongside to develop a system for workers so they don’t feel alone. They can keep focused on movement forward WITH the ones closest to them. After all, what good is it if you make it to the top, but you’re alone?
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