Extreme inspiration

Surviving the world's harshest terrains and exploring remote territories is what Sir Ranulph Fiennes does best.

The 64-year-old has endured scorching heat in the Sahara, discovered Ptolemy's long-lost city of Ubar in Dhofar and completed seven marathons across seven continents in as many days - this last feat just four months after heart surgery.

As Fiennes pointed out when speaking to CEO Middle East, such a lifestyle is far removed from anything most people, including business executives, will ever experience.

Nevertheless, he insists his regular forays into unforgiving landscapes have many parallels with running a business.

In hot terrains, Fiennes could make mistakes without suffering major repercussions when still an exploration novice. But any errors in the polar conditions he later tackled may have been fatal. He believes the same principle applies to business leaders, advising them to gain experience on smaller, more forgiving projects before building up to the crucial, make-or-break challenges.

Such advice, coupled with his daring lifestyle, has made Fiennes a popular figure at global corporate events. He is also a bestselling author, industriously penning books between expeditions. Middle East executives attending next month's Leaders in Dubai conference will be able to hear Fiennes' tales first-hand.

Whether he inspires them to adopt a more adventurous approach to life remains to be seen. But judging by his comments on running businesses, chief executives in this region should at least acquire some useful tips.

Rob Morris is the deputy editor of CEO Middle East.

Life on the edge
Even at 64, nothing will persuade Sir Ranulph Fiennes to settle down behind a desk, as Arabian Business found.

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