In every potential sponsor’s eyes, I was a nobody. And soon I had notched up more rejection letters than is healthy for any one man to receive.

<b>19. Don’t Assume</b>

It’s good training for the rest of your life, too. If something is important, always check - never assume. <b>You might look a little foolish if you always ask the basic questions, but better a fool than an ass!</b>

It’s usually ego that stops us from asking the ‘silly’ questions, but I know a lot of ‘smart’ people on expeditions who have tripped over their egos and fallen flat on their faces.

When it comes to navigating on an expedition, this ability to be clear and un-‘assuming’ is especially important.

All of us have, at times, when navigating from A to B, had a few moments of doubt. ‘Are we here or here?’ we ask. The stubborn press on, ‘hoping’, ‘assuming’ all will be clearer in a mile or two. It rarely works like that.

Too many times, if you don’t act fast, a small error in judgement can become a big error with desperate consequences - and that applies to navigating through life as well as through mountains.

A good rule with navigating is that if there is doubt, then stop, reassess, ask others for help if you need to. Trust me, a stitch in time saves nine.

We would all prefer to be asked than for the leader to get us lost.

Besides, I have also learnt that people generally like to help and love to be asked for their advice. <b>So put your ego aside and let people help you.</b> Anyone who succeeds is really standing on many other people’s shoulders - the shoulders of those who have helped them along the way.

<b>Assume nothing, be humble, and don’t be afraid to ask for that little bit of help when you need it.</b>

Many great people over the centuries have depended on their faith- it is a sign of great strength to need Jesus in your life.