Climbing the Mountain Within: My Journey on The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Summary: Here is an excerpt from my book “GLIMMERS TO GREATNESS: How Head, Heart, and GUT Guide YOU to WIN.” I hope this helps you see another way to look at what matters in your very precious life. Here is my journey to Machu Picchu.

Dear All,

This is a departure from my usual online response; you ask questions, and I answer them.

Instead, this is about how I made it “up the mountain” to my career in the work world.

It started as an adventure to satisfy my yearning to explore the world’s seven wonders.

To date, I have visited six of the world-designated sites, determined to visit the seventh in the coming year.

That yearning was within me as a child. I loved reading books about the mysteries of this planet.

I hope this gives you a big push to check out your bucket list of life dreams.

Let the GLIMMERS from your childhood desires point you in the right direction.

I knew I wanted to be a psychologist when I was still in high school, and that desire remained strong.

However, the work world, nah! Not my cup of tea.

Yet, those GLIMMERS led me to where I am now as an organizational and executive coach.

Over-thinking is a form of analysis paralysis and keeps the GLIMMERS hidden

I started life in a family of pragmatists, not dreamers. The primary way of making decisions was to overthink everything. It was a form of “analysis paralysis.”

In any case, I learned to navigate many twists and turns. Occasionally, an “important stranger” entered my life. That’s when I stopped fighting my intuition, where the GLIMMERS live. It took time to listen with the head, heart, and gut trio.

I hope you enjoy reading this to FIND YOUR GLIMMER!

When adventure knocks on the door, open it!

I am fascinated by ancient cultures.

The Inca civilization was no exception.

I wanted to travel the world, but my initial psychotherapist career offered little opportunity to make my mark on this planet’s continents.

To enocurage my dream, my husband Herb helped me develop the “Leaders in Action ” program to visit other culutres and to complement our retreat and online program, “Total Leadership Connections.”

A big part, I must admit, was kinda selfish about fulfilling my bucket list of adventures.

I wanted to experience the Seven Wonders of the World firsthand and share my experiences with anyone who would join me. To date, we have visited six of the seven. I will share about each in my new book.

Here goes…

Delight and excitement ran through my veins with the opportunity to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu as part of our leadership trip to Peru.

No mater what, embrace challenges to get where you want to go

There we were, twenty of us, leaders from various companies in the US and UK. We trekked for four days and stayed at The Sanctuary Lodge at the entrance to this world wonder.

Most of us saw this adventure as a type of “hike.” It was NOT that in any way. It was much more.

For example, at a pre-trip meeting, the guide discussed what to expect.

Suddenly, Charles, strong, athletic, owner of a well-known company, and seemingly fearless, looked over with concern.

“Sylvia, what the heck is wrong with you?” He said this loudly, and the whole group became silent.

“Huh?   Nothing is wrong with me. I’m excited and can’t wait until we leave in three weeks.”

He shook his head, thinking I was in denial, and demanded a better answer: “How can you be so casual about what we have to carry, you know, you know, sleeping bag, tent, food, etc.? This is a big uphill trek, not a walk in a park.”

I smiled with confidence, “Whoa, big guy. Not to worry. We have helpers, a team of porters to carry the tents, sleeping bags, and cooking utensils. They will care for us, set everything up, and prepare excellent meals. All we have to take personally are small backpacks with water and snacks.”

I joked about this being a “princess trip.”

GLIMMERS can help you prepare for your next journey up the mountain of your dreams

All things considered, I was grossly wrong about the ease of those ten days.

The story continues.

While he relaxed briefly, many more questions from the group made me realize that this leadership program would entail much more than great photo ops and post-trip cocktail stories.

At that moment, I felt a GLIMMER—that internal nameless feeling when my head, heart, and gut connected with a message: “This trip to Peru and the trek will be life-changing for me. Pay attention to details.”

While we would all have the opportunity to face our fears and keep going no matter what, I knew, at that moment, it would be both a physical challenge and a deeply personal journey.

I love facilitating work teams, and my years of experience have taught me how to handle fears and conflicts.

Somehow, this was to be more than another group to facilitate and support.

Most importantly, I sensed I, personally, would become more vulnerable and, worst of all, accept help.

After all, Herb and I were the leaders. We are the helpers, not the helped!

If you need help on your journey, accept it, don’t ignore it

It was an opportunity to connect my life’s work with nature’s wisdom, unraveling the patterns that had shaped my career and relationships.

So, we flew into Lima, spent a few days acclimating to the newness of the group. Eventually we were put into groups of five to watch out for each other and process what we were learning about another culture, especially about ourselves.

Then, we visited the beautiful city of Cuzco and, finally, the Inca Trail, which was ready to bring us closer to Machu Picchu.

The trail was rugged, winding through the Andean mountains, each step revealing a new vista of misty valleys and ancient stone paths carved by hands long gone.

As the days wore on, the altitude began to take its toll. The thin air made every breath heavy, and the steep climbs challenged everyone’s endurance.

Embrace the fear, breath, and keep going

While I sensed the fear, no one wanted to stay behind. Thus, ever determined, we pressed on.

The physical demands were intense.

Up seemed more like an elevator than an escalator. Sometimes, even standing straight, I thought my nose would touch the earth before me. This mirrored my internal journey through my years of work, helping individuals break free from their ingrained patterns—it also felt like an uphill battle.

Connecting childhood patterns with work behaviors is still a new way of looking at leadership, conflict, and collaboration.

On one particularly grueling day, as we neared a steep ascent known as “Dead Woman’s Pass,” I felt my energy waning.

The weight of my pack seemed heavier than ever, and my legs trembled with fatigue.

I heard a voice say, “Keep going; we’re almost there.”

There are those ready to help, you must simply pay attention

That soft, melodious voice was from Nancy, the group’s “elder.” She was in her late ’60s and ready to retire as CEO of her family business.

I had been reticent about saying “yes” to her joining this trip. Most of us were in our forties and early fifties and in excellent health.

While Nancy was a hiker and seemed physically fit, her age was of concern.

She called several times to convince me all would be fine. She shared that she had given so much of herself to her career she had put herself last.

Now, her grown children were ready to take over the business. As she said, her husband was not an adventurer, and she simply HAD to do this before it was too late.

She was a great salesperson, I finally said yes and prayed that she would stay healthy.

Now, here she was, cheerleading me to the top of the most challenging day of the trek.

Remember to say to yourself: You can do this and even more!

“Sylvia, this is my mantra when things get tough. Keep saying internally, “You can do this and even more.”

My thoughts turned inward, and I reflected on how often people carry invisible burdens—past traumas, fears, and doubts that weigh us down just as much as the pack on my back.

Suddenly, a thought struck me. It was another GLIMMER. At that moment, I looked at Nancy and knew I would eventually write a book. The title seemed illuminated in my head. Honestly, I heard the title GUTSY enter my mind. And Nancy was a role model for women leaders.

Many years later the book “GUTSY: How Women Leaders Make Change” became a reality. but the rewards are great if you push through the discomfort.

That realization gave me the boost I needed.

I slowed my pace, focusing on each step.

I kept reminding myself of the resilience I had built over the years.

My body was tired, but my mind was clear, and I understood that this moment of challenge was a mirror to the struggles we all face when breaking old habits and embracing new ways of being.

As I finally reached the summit of Dead Woman’s Pass, a wave of emotion overcame me.

I stood at the top, looking out over the vast Andean landscape, feeling a deep sense of accomplishment. The air was thin but invigorating, and the view breathtaking—just as I had always imagined.

No room for “analysis paralysis”, just appreciation and delight.

Every physical challenge is also a metaphor for what you still need to do

At that moment, I understood that the Inca Trail was more than a physical path.

It was a metaphor for every person’s journey to confront their past, let go of old patterns, and ascend into a higher understanding of themselves.

I had both climbed a mountain and deeper into my sense of purpose.

On the final day of the trek, the guide asked me to be the first to enter Machu PicchuI and wait for the rest of the group.

I did not ask why; at that point, I was simply following his guidance.

The morning sun shown bright as I reached the Sun Gate, where I first saw the ancient city of Machu Picchu.

Bathed in that morning light, the ruins seemed to glow with ethereal beauty.

I stood there, breathless—not from exhaustion but from awe. I had made it. The journey had been arduous, but the destination was worth every challenge.

With its stone terraces and temples, Machu Picchu felt like a fitting reward for my introspective journey. As I gazed at the ancient city, I felt a deep connection between my life’s work and the timelessness of the Inca culture.

I did as our guide instructed, sat down on the ground and just followed my breath.

Soon, I was in reverie, dreams made of soft cotton and muted colors danced in front of my eyes.

Always be ready for a surprise, a laugh, maybe even applause, as you complete parts of your journey.

Then I began to hear odd sounds, clicking sounds.

I opened my eyes to observe a group of Japanese tourists politely taking my photo. I smiled, waved to them and they bowed to me.

It was a moment suspended in time.

In that moment, I knew that this experience would forever be etched into my memory as a personal triumph and a profound reminder of the power of persistence, resilience, and transformation.

It was the perfect symbol of the journey I guided others through—climbing their mountains and trusting the GLIMMERS to discover the greatness that lay within.

Best,

Sylvia Lafair

PS. I would love to hear how your GLIMMERS have helped you lead a more fulfilling life.