I Drove Up the Mountain Without a Map and Found More Than a View

After a long day locked in a hotel room, furiously writing and building three major projects I believe could transform how leaders communicate, I knew I needed a break.

Not just a stretch-your-legs kind of break. Not a quick coffee run. I needed air. I needed to move. I needed to get higher. So I grabbed my keys, stepped out of that room, and drove.

No map. No destination. No Apple Maps telling me when to turn. Just a sense, deep in my gut, that I needed to go up.

The Climb Starts Before You Know It

I didn’t know where I was going. I just kept heading toward higher ground.

The roads in Northern California don’t care if you’re used to flatland. As a guy who grew up in Detroit and now lives in the pancake-flat streets of Tampa, those mountain curves hit different. The road was winding and narrow. Local drivers were zipping past me like they were in a video game. And here I was, gripping the wheel like a rookie, creeping around every curve with full-body tension.

But I wasn’t in a rush. I wasn’t there to conquer the mountain. I was there to experience it.

At every clearing, I pulled over. At every overlook, I got out. At every possible pause, I took a breath, snapped a picture, and whispered, “Maybe this is it.”

But something inside nudged me forward.

The Higher You Go, the Quieter It Gets

Eventually, I noticed something strange. My ears started popping. I rolled down the windows. The air smelled different, crisp, piney, alive. I looked up, and suddenly giant redwoods.

Towering, ancient, and silent. It felt holy. Like I was walking into a sanctuary built by time and weather and God Himself.

And then it happened.

I reached the summit of Mt. Tamalpais. The view?

Absolutely breathtaking.

Mountains in the distance. The ocean. Fog rolling off the cliffs. Light painting the horizon like a masterpiece.

And in that moment, alone, unseen, unhurried, I heard a whisper I believe every leader needs to hear:

“This is why you keep climbing.”

Leadership Lessons from the Mountain

This unplanned, uncharted drive up a mountain taught me more about leadership than most seminars ever could. So here’s what I’d tell you, leader to leader, if you feel like the road you’re on is curvy, confusing, or crushing your momentum:

1. You Don’t Always Need a Map to Move Forward

Leadership isn’t always linear. Sometimes you don’t know exactly where you're going, but you still have to move.

We get obsessed with having the perfect plan, strategy, or 10-step roadmap. But the truth? Clarity often comes after movement. Don’t wait for a blueprint before you take a step.

Some of the most transformational destinations can only be discovered by direction, not destination.

2. Progress Isn’t Straight, Trust the Winding Road

The road up that mountain wasn’t efficient. It didn’t give me the fastest route. It gave me the right one.

Tight switchbacks. Sudden turns. Moments where I couldn’t see more than ten feet ahead.

Leadership is the same. It doesn’t always go the way you expected. You’ll be tempted to measure success by speed, but trust is built on the turns.

Let others fly by. You’re not in their race. You’re not on their mountain.

Go your pace. Own your road.

3. Pause Before the Peak

I stopped often on that mountain. Not because I was lost, but because I was learning.

At every clearing, I saw beauty.

And I realized something: You don’t have to reach the top to be changed.

If you’re always chasing the summit, you’ll miss the sacred ground under your feet.

Leaders who never stop miss the transformation happening in the in-between.

4. What Feels Like the Top Might Just Be a Turnout

There were at least three times I thought, “I’ve made it.” I was wrong every time.

Each “peak” was just a pitstop. Each pause was just a preview. And every time I got back in the car, I saw there was more to climb.

That’s what leadership feels like. You hit milestones that feel final, but they’re not.

You’re not done. You’re just closer.

Don’t camp at the lookout. Keep climbing.

5. The Summit Is Worth It, But Only If You Stop Long Enough to See It

I could have rushed to the top, snapped a picture, and driven back down.

But instead, I just stood there. For a long time. Soaking in the stillness. Letting the moment teach me.

Leaders, we are terrible at this.

We build, grind, chase goals, and when we hit them? We immediately ask, “What’s next?”

But what if the mountain moment is the point? What if reaching a peak is meant to refuel your soul, not just your resume?

The summit is a reward, not a to-do list item.

You Might Be in a Tight Curve Right Now…

Maybe the road feels confusing. Maybe progress is slow. Maybe you’re gripping the wheel, questioning if this path is really taking you anywhere worthwhile.

I get it. I’ve been there. But hear me:

Keep climbing.

Your pace is not too slow. Your path is not too weird. Your purpose is not too late.

You don’t need a map. You need to move.

Because somewhere up ahead, through the trees, around the turn, past that next clearing, is a view that will remind you why you’re doing all of this in the first place.

Final Thought: Lead From the Summit

This climb taught me more than I expected, but maybe the most important reminder was this:

You were made to lead from higher ground.

Not from burnout. Not from ego. Not from reaction. But from clarity. From courage. From a view that sees beyond the moment.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just need to keep going.

So take your next step, no map required.

Your Leadership Challenge This Week:

1. Do something without a map. Trust your gut. Drive forward. Let it teach you.
   
2. Pause on the journey. Look around. Breathe. Celebrate how far you've come.
   
3. Ask yourself:
   
• Where am I assuming the top is closer than it really is?
  
• What beauty might I be rushing past?
  
• Where do I need to lead from higher ground?

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👉 And if this post resonated with you, share it with a leader who needs to be reminded: the climb is worth it.

By Jason Raitz - CEO, Speak with People  With over 25 years of experience, Jason has spoken from stages across the country, inspiring and motivating his audiences with stories, laughter, and practical tools to succeed. Book Jason for your next conference or workshop.