Point B'ers plan to get some fresh air and reach new heights by off-road biking, hiking, and much more in 2024. We caught up with a few folks to learn about their outdoor-focused goals and how they plan to achieve them.
Ashley Mack
Ashley Mack is a Senior Consultant in Solutions based in Phoenix, Arizona, who has high expectations – and views – of her hiking future.
How do you plan to reach new heights in 2024?
One of my goals for this year is to get outside and hike every weekend through the end of May. I’ll be hiking and backpacking the incredible Havasu Falls in Havasupai over Memorial Day weekend after 4 years of waiting due to COVID-19 closures and over-bookings. The hike is about 12 miles one way, and there’s lots of additional hiking to do once you reach the campsite, so I’m hoping hiking every weekend will prepare me for the trip.
Growth is a personal value of mine, and I’m always looking for ways I can improve. I love being able to look back on the progress I’ve made.
Ashley Mack
Senior Consultant
Why is it important to you to seek out new challenges and reach new heights?
Growth is a personal value of mine, and I’m always looking for ways I can improve. I love being able to look back on the progress I’ve made, too. So, whether it’s setting a record for a hike I’ve done 20 times or accomplishing a new and challenging hike, both are great ways to challenge myself and track my progress.
What's something that keeps you motivated when you're hiking?
I’d say this is twofold. The first is throwing on good music that gets me pumped up – some of my favorites include Hozier, Noah Kahan, Sleep Token, and Bad Omens (some very opposite genres but all great!). The second is the reward I get at the end of the views, showing exactly how far my journey took me – it makes it worth it every time!
How do you show up for yourself when reaching new heights?
One thing I’ve recently started doing once I’ve summited the trail is taking time to meditate or do some yoga. Often, we can be in a rush to get up and back down, but taking the time to just be in nature has been a great stress reliever.
Robbie Rosenthal
Robbie Rosenthal is a Managing Consultant based in Denver, Colorado, and he’s looking forward to more hikes and trying new things with his family, including his 2 young sons.
How do you plan to reach new heights in 2024?
One thing I like to do at the beginning of the year instead of coming up with resolutions is to try and answer, “What do I want my ‘end of year highlight reel’ to include?” This helps me think creatively about new places to explore, activities I want to do more of or try with my family, and how to refocus my priorities on things that’re important to me.
Why is it important to you to seek out new challenges and reach new heights?
While sometimes uncomfortable, intimidating, and challenging, there are so many benefits from seeking out challenges and stepping out of your comfort zone. It helps me gain new skills, knowledge, ideas, and can even lead to new hobbies. It also helps me expand my perspective both personally and professionally. Although it’s not always easy to get there, it’s tough to beat the feeling of accomplishment when you finally reach that new height. Lastly, as a father of 2 young boys, I also want to instill this notion of continuous learning, pushing yourself to try new things, and always putting your best foot forward. You won’t always succeed, but it’s important to never stop trying to reach new heights and learn from your experiences.
What's something that keeps you motivated when you're hiking?
You never know what lies ahead or around the corner. No hike is ever the same and there’ is always something new to experience. Whether it’s a new trail, an amazing vista, enjoying the company of others, or just being outdoors, you don’t know what you could miss out on by giving up. At the end of the day, there are never bad hikes, just some not-as-good hikes.
How do you go beyond to show up for yourself when reaching new heights?
I try to keep things in perspective and break it down into more manageable pieces. It’s easy to look at the end goal and think you’re so far away, so you might as well give up. But if you look at it from a perspective of, “How do I just do a little bit better every time,” it’s much more attainable.
Larry Chan
Larry Chan is a Senior Consultant based in Southern California and plans to spend a good portion of 2024 on the saddle of his bike, seeking new views and chasing more miles.
How do you plan to reach new heights in 2024?
I hope to explore more than I have before, as I just got a bike that can take me off-road! My hope is that this’ll lead to many new experiences and access to challenging events I’ve been looking to do for a while. The goal is to minimize falls and maximize views!
Why is it meaningful for you to seek new challenges and reach new heights?
Working toward shared goals with others has allowed me to stay connected with my oldest friends and form new genuine connections.
What's something that keeps you motivated when you're biking?
I try my best to select a destination on all my routes. Even in routes I do frequently, I try to pick out a new location to just hop off and explore.
