Shaking our cobwebbed minds free of the oxygen-deprived ramblings of those around us, we attempted to remain focused on the next phase of the climb.  With heavy hands we put on our press badges, strapped into our gear and made ready to tackle the Summit.  It was a clear morning, but a storm was brewing and we had to move swiftly to avoid certain cerebral death.

Strapping into the line outside our tent, my group was immediately pulled skyward by Scott Fleming, President of dinnerware company Replacements Ltd.  Scott leapt crevasses of corporate bias with his support of the GLBT community, war-torn immigrants and the formally incarcerated.  We learned about fully paid domestic partner benefits, gastric bypass surgery, pets at work, onsite nurse care and limos to encourage mammograms.  His ice axes shattered preconceived notions and we ascended with ease.  Scott left with tremendous gratitude from our group, his parting words ringing with truth:

“The rewards of doing the right thing far outweigh the challenge of doing so.” – Scott Fleming, Replacements Ltd.

And then reality set back in.  Our smiles quickly turned sour as it started to snow.  Heavy, wet, putrid, condescending snow.  It seemed to be emitting from the gaping jaw of a speaker self-appointed from on high.  Our entire climbing group unconsciously stepped backward, resisted, and then fell back further.  Entire paragraphs of content were read, the size 6 font clouding our vision.  With covered faces, we turned inward so as to slow the mind-numbing cold of ten-year-old “advice”.  Disoriented, we saw another group of five vanish into the abyss.  I was certain this was the end.

This sensory assault made me recall that I had encouraged others to Summit with me.  I had promoted this nightmare on my web site, in my blog and to my friends.  And how could I possibly make up for my lapse in judgement, my naiveté?  If they (and I) survived, I vowed to offer any of my fellow climbers two times their price of entry in free consulting.  I must make amends and….must….stay….awake.

Then I heard the helicopter, rotors spinning wildly and clearly challenged in the thinning air.  We were going to get plucked from the frozen grasp of mediocrity and live to tell the tale.  The rope ladder slapped against the Summit and the few of us who remained grasped blindly for a rung.  And suddenly we were airborne, lifted into the sky and pulled free.  The pilot, we learned later, was Nicole Ganier-Cosme, President of Magic Workforce Solutions.  She inspired confidence in overcoming urban unemployment, created opportunities for minorities, leveraged tax credits and executed all with grace and enthusiasm.  I remembered Scott’s quote from earlier in the climb and saw it embodied in a bright and driven executive.

We landed and laughed with the nervous joy of those who had survived a near tragedy.  With negative lessons well outweighing the benefits, we walked away wiser than when we arrived.  We told stories, compared notes and promised to never forget our two days at the Summit.  

In all seriousness though, we must do better as an industry.  We cannot cajole ourselves into believing that HR’s journey will be completed by simply passively attending conferences and jotting down catch-phrases for corporate regurgitation.  We must be challenging, innovative and relentless in our pursuit of excellence.  And once you’ve done it?   Talk about it, share it, and help your peers rise with you.  And with that thought, I’ll leave you with a quote from someone I admire greatly, and hope we’ll continue to keep the conversation going.

“No matter how much you pay, even with all the assistance the [conference organizers] and the guides provide, it’s still an incredible amount of work. No one can haul you up Everest. You can’t just buy the summit. You’ve got pay with sweat and puke and maybe with your life. That is worth some grudging respect.” – Jon Krakauer, Into Thin Air

We are just over ten days away from the 11th Annual Talent Management Summit and host IQPC has extended a final incentive to Inflexion Point readers.  Simply mention code “TMIP04” and you’ll receive $400 off the main conference (a 20% discount) or the all-access pass for $2,599 (a $1,000 savings).  

With the overwhelming coverage of the economic crisis, I’m certain you will benefit from the wisdom of your peers and colleagues.  All are experiencing similar challenges, but many view today’s climate as a fantastic opportunity to upgrade your talent.  Learn from some of the best and brightest in the talent management industry and come home brimming with ideas and confidence for those emergency executive meetings.

Plus, you’ll get a chance to meet and greet some of our most talented and innovative HR bloggers!  In addition to myself, I’ll be joined by HR Wench (aka Jenn Barnes), Laurie Ruettimann of Punk Rock HR and the elusive and lime-green HR Minion.  We’ll all be covering the conference live via Twitter and our respective blogs.  I hope you’ll join us and help keep the conversation going.