Paul Piana

One of the World's Most Accomplished 
Big Wall Free Climbers

"Climb as if There Is No Tomorrow. A good plan executed with determination NOW is better than a perfect plan next week."

Paul Piana is a product of the most technically difficult mountain climbs in the world. From his earliest days, Paul was drawn to explore the blank spots on the map. He discovered that the most forbidding and untrodden places on our planet are the soaring rocks walls of the world's great mountain ranges.

Within the climbing world, conventional wisdom flatly states that these giant precipices are impossible to free climb. Yet, on these very mountains, the greatest risks and the greatest opportunities stand side by side. With his team, drawing on their shared vision, pooling their courage, feeding off their commitment, and by struggling upward through unimaginable difficulties and storms, they have achieved their greatest successes.

Paul's Presentation, Higher Aspirations, is a stunning, Emmy-award-winning projected video. Combined with Paul Piana's compelling live narration, it carries you upward as a climbing team member during the historic first free ascent of the 4,000-foot west face of Ulamertorsuaq at Cape Farewell, Greenland. Some themes that are explored in Paul's presentation are:

• Maintain Conviction in the Face of Improbably Odds - audacious perseverance is the key to success. The team's unwavering belief in the "summit" is more important than the exact path.
  
  

• The Mountain Makes the Team - success isn't assured by climbing talent but rather by the growing spirit and determination created by feeding off the challenge of the mountain.
  
  

• Climb as if There Is No Tomorrow - a good plan executed with determination NOW is better than a perfect plan next week.
  
  

• If It's Scary Looking Down, Then You Are Making Progress - - the longer you spend above increasingly higher comfort zones, the more comfortable and normal each zone becomes.
  
  

• Dare to Fall - Falls are certain on extreme climbs. Learn from mistakes and immediately apply the new lessons. Remember, the only chance you get is the chance you take.
  
  

• The View from the Summit - Capitalize on lesson learned. The taller, steeper mountain just over the horizon is the next and greatest opportunity.

"I was really lucky to have Paul Piana speak to my association. The story of his climb was unique, exciting, motivational, and uplifting. I can't wait to invite him to another Association meeting. I know it will be a big hit."

- Association of Service and Computer Dealers International