Moving the Business Forward (Part 4)

Consequently, Shackleton decided to risk an open-boat journey in a lifeboat to the distant South Georgia whaling station, where he knew help was available. To undertake this journey was a feat of unparalleled bravery. South Georgia was 800 miles to the northeast. It was an island that was no more than 25 miles wide at its widest point. And they only had a sextant and a map to navigate the trip. The smallest of navigational errors would mean missing the island and certain failure.

The strongest of the lifeboats, christened James Caird after the expedition's chief sponsor, was chosen for the trip. The ship's carpenter made various improvements, including raising the sides, strengthening the keel, building a makeshift deck of wood and canvas, and sealing the work with oil paint and seal blood. Shackleton chose five companions for the journey. He also refused to pack supplies for more than four weeks, knowing that if they did not reach South Georgia within that time, the boat and its crew would be lost.

The James Caird was launched on April 24th, 1916. What lay in front of them? Gales (this sea was notorious for stormy weather), 80-90’ rollers, and undoubtedly the greatest danger was ice – especially at night. One single collision with an unseen fragment could have ended the journey in a moment. Fifteen days later, on May 8th, due to Worsley's navigational skills, the cliffs of South Georgia came into sight. They were only three miles off the coast. Just as victory was in their grasp, the whole complexion of things suddenly changed. A powerful storm descended upon them. The wind blew at an estimated 80 knots. 40’ rollers buffeted them. These hurricane-force winds prevented any possibility of landing. The party was forced to ride out the storm offshore, in constant danger of being dashed against the rocks on shore. They would later learn that the same hurricane had sunk a 500-ton steamer bound for South Georgia from Buenos Aires.

Finally, on the tenth of May, 1916, they were standing on the island from which they had sailed 522 days before. They had accomplished the impossible. They had planned only on getting food and water and sail around to the other side of the island to the whaling station. But the Caird’s rudder had been lost while coming ashore. Also, they lacked the strength to haul the heavy boat on to land to make the repair. Plus, to tear apart the decking to lighten the boat would have made it useless for the journey around the island to the whaling station given the turbulent weather patterns at this time of the year.

Shackelton came to the conclusion that instead of sailing to the whaling station, three members of the party would go overland to bring help. By sea it would have been a voyage of more than 130 miles. By land it was a scant 29 miles in a straight line. The only difference between the two was that in the three-quarters of a century that men had been coming to South Georgia, not one man had ever crossed the island – for the simple reason that it could not be done. A few of the peaks on South Georgia rose to 10,000 feet which certainly is not high by mountain climbing standards, but the interior of the island has been described by mountain climbing experts as impassable. Shackleton knew this – and yet there was no choice.

Two inch screws were taken from the boat and attached to their shoes. They took food for 3 days, no sleeping bags, a single stove, two compasses, a pair of binoculars, a single carpenter’s adz for use as an ice pick, and 50 feet of rope. They left base camp a couple of hours before dawn broke.

Having no map of the island interior and needing to choose speed over reconnaissance (they were unprepared to weather a storm on the side of the mountain), they continually found themselves scaling a summit only to have to retrace their steps and try to find a different way around or over the peak due to plunging chasm’s and un-crossable crevices.

Finally, well after 4 o’clock on the first day, they again struggled to the top. The ridge was so sharp that Shackleton was able to sit astride it, one leg on either side. Though the descent was steep, it was not so bad as the others had been.

Fog began to roll in. There was no need to explain the situation. If they stayed where they were, they would freeze in a matter of hours. They had to get lower and with all possible haste. So he suggested they slide. What if they hit a rock? What if the slope did not level off? What if there was another precipice? Shackleton responded – “Could they stay where they were?”

Forming a human toboggan, they slid down the face of the mountain and dropped over 2,000 feet in a matter of a minute – plowing to a stop in a snow bank. They felt that special kind of pride of a person who in a foolish moment accepts an impossible dare – then pulls it off to perfection.

Though they had to descend another 5,000 feet, hike through the night, and jump 25 feet over a waterfall -- the difficult part of the journey was over. They made the whaling station before dusk on the second day of their climb/descent.

The first to see them were a group of children. They came running into the camp terrified. Shackelton’s group came, not from the sea, but from the interior of the island. They were heavily bearded, and their faces were almost black (from the constant burning of seal blubber and the absence of soap) except for their eyes. Their hair was as long as a woman’s and hung down almost to their shoulders. Their clothing was strange. It was not the sweaters and boots worn by seamen. Instead, they were in ragged parkas.

The first adult to greet them learned the men spoke in English. He took them to the manager of the facility who yelled: “Who the hell are you?” The man in the center stepped forward and said – “My name is Shackleton.” The manager reportedly turned and wept.

It should be noted that the next successful crossing of South Georgia on land was not until October 1955 (40 years later), by the British explorer Duncan Carse, who traveled much of the same route as Shackleton's party using modern equipment and an extensive set of supplies.

Shackleton immediately sent a boat to pick up the three men from the other side of South Georgia while he set to work to organize the rescue of the Elephant Island men. His first three attempts were foiled by sea ice, which blocked the approaches to the island. He appealed to the Chilean government, which offered the use of Yelcho, a small seagoing tug from its navy. Yelcho reached Elephant Island on August 30th, 1917, and Shackleton quickly evacuated all 22 men.

Why would I tell this story? It is because there are many parallels between Shackleton’s journey and our journey to propel the business forward.
 • Both endeavors require a firm foundation,
 • Both endeavors require a proven process of transformation, and
 • Both endeavors require a culture of innovation.
Let us briefly consider how Shackleton’s expedition instructs us in how to create of culture of innovation....