Why Not?

Once in a while, someone will ask me to do an interview for their website or podcast or radio show. I’m always happy to oblige, and in the last two years, I’ve probably done more than 100.

At some point during each one of them, the interviewer will want to talk about the 1% Club, and almost everyone asks, “Why do you do these challenges?”

I’ve had hundreds of opportunities to answer this question, and after two years, I still haven’t found an answer that’s very satisfying to anyone else.

If you’re working on something big in your life, “Why?” is a very important question to ask, but the answer is not necessarily relevant.

When I ask myself why I climb mountains or run marathons or jump out of airplanes or do any of the other strange things I do, the best answer I can come up with is usually, “Because I’m driven to.”

I do the things I do because I can’t not do them. At least, I can’t exclude them from my life and still feel satisfied. When a news reporter famously asked George Mallory why he wanted to climb Mt. Everest, he answered, “Because it is there.”

This is good enough for me, but it’s rarely good enough for anyone else. People want some type of deeper meaning, some elaborate explanation, and they’re often disappointed when I can’t offer one.

When you’re working on something meaningful to you, no one else’s disappointment is a good enough reason to stop.

I choose adventure for adventure’s sake. Because without it, something’s missing—even if I don’t know what it is.

You’re not responsible to satisfy someone else’s expectations of you. If you’re happy with your life, consider yourself lucky; and try not to over think it.

And the next time someone asks you why you do the things you do? Perhaps you should channel the spirit of Mr. Mallory and answer, “Why not?”

It won’t be good enough for them, but it might be all the convincing you need.

Question for you: Do you have a default response for people when they ask why you do what you do? Share it in the comments.

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Image by: daryl_mitchell