Born in 1970 in Mpumalanga, South Africa, Sibusiso Vilane set out to turn the stereotypical image of the white-man mountaineer on its head. He began his career as a ranger in Swaziland in 1993, and in 2003, at the age of 26, Sibusiso went on to become the first Black man to summit Mount Everest and complete the Explorers Grand Slam – a remarkable challenge that involves climbing the highest mountain on each of the world's seven continents, including the North and South Poles. His adventures have led Sibusiso guiding expeditions and giving motivational talks, keeping a strong focus on giving back to the community through his work. As a professional speaker, his message is simple: every person has their own “Everest” to climb. Whether you’re prepared for it or not, it’s there – challenging you to reach the top. And if he can do that in the most dangerous and inhospitable conditions and against all odds so, he suggests, can you.March 4th, 2021

Hugo Hoppmann: Dear Sibusiso, first of all thank you for taking the time to talk to me. It's an honor! Next to your carreer as a professional mountaineer, you also bring your message into the world through lectures and workshops with organisations, companies and schools. Could you elaborate to our readers on your message that every person has their own "Everest" to climb?

Sibusiso Vilane: Thank you, Hugo! I use mountains as a metaphor for life, meaning there is a lot of similarities that can be drawn from climbing a mountain and the challenges in our lifes. Each person has their own personal ambitions and dreams, whatever they are, they are ones “Everest”, if you will. I don’t mean that people should go climb Mount Everest, but the principles needed to succeed in general are very similar to those used for summiting Everest or any mountain for that matter. So the first question is, do you have a mountain, your own personal challenge to climb?

What are the principles needed to climb the metaphorical — and real — Mountain Everest?

Sibusiso climbing Mount Elbrus in Russia
Photo: Sibusiso Vilane Archives

Everyone wants to reach their predetermined goal in the end, but without a clear plan of execution, a time frame of completion, the action steps necessary and a team to achieve it, success becomes near impossible. Just like any other goal setting and achieving principles, climbing a mountains requires one to apply the “SMART Principles” of goal setting. Being Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Reviewable and having a Time frame. We shouldn't climb a mountain not knowing how big it is, or how long it would take, and if it actually can be climbed or not. These practices from mountain experience can be applied to anything we want to succeed in.

How crucial is the right mindset and attitude when it comes to the physical challenges you undertake?

Mindset and attitudes are extremely critical, expecially when it comes to physical challenges that can be life threatening. One has to have a clear mind, a mind that is controlled by the individual, to channel all energy towards the goal. It is your mind that keeps you going when your body had long given up. Patience, determination and resilience all happen because of a powerful mindset. There is quote that says “Your attitude determines your altitude”, it means that you go as high as you believe you can. Your attitude is how see yourself in the bigger scheme of things which ultimately determines how your respond. A positive attitude that says no matter how hard it gets, I will do it.

Is there any particular affirmation that you would like to share?

All shall pass, all shall come to an end at some point.

What can we say to ourselves when things get rough, but we need to keep going?

This is what I tell myself when my body and muscles are aching, when each day becomes a drag: I encourage myself to keep going, because when I do, I will finish the experience and be happier than giving up and feeling disappointed. I constantly remind myself Why? It is when we know why we do what we do or why are we enduring what we are dealing with. The answer to that keeps us going.

What is your preparation like?

"I want to inspire more Africans to dream of climbing big mountains."  
Photo: Sibusiso Vilane Archives

Preparation depends on the individual. For some of the expeditions I don’t even prepare. Sometimes not because I don’t want to, but because the finances don’t allow it. I never physically prepared for Everest. I relied on my normal regime, exercises, running. I am not a person who sits down and spend hours on details, I just go and see along the way. But for my ultra-marathon I train for quite some time because I don’t have to travel anywhere to train. Having said all that though, I do believe in proper preparation. It is the only way you can stand a chance to succeed.

What is your morning ritual and how do you set yourself up for a successful day?

I get up and say my prayer, read my scripture and then go for my everyday morning run, the run is between 60 and 80 minutes during the week and longer on weekends.
I decide on what I want to do and achieve on each day I live, even if it’s just sitting and reading or writing a chapter on my book or simply my morning run. I must have at least one goal to work towards. A successful day for me is a day where I gave my best to achieve what I had planned for that particular day, however big or small. If at the end of each day I feel that I did my best, then it has been a successful day for me.

"The wind was howling and it was -30°C when Sibusiso Vilane stepped on to the top of Everest at 8.30am on May 26 2003, making history as the first black man to stand on top of the world. Seen here together with his partner Robert Anderson." Photo: David Hamilton

What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned in life?

We are always vulnerable, we are never in full control of everything that happens in our lives, there will be times when things don’t go well. Life is never a straight line, it is full of twist and turns, up hills, down hills, flats and disappointments. We constantly need to review and refocus to make sure that we stay in control. Embrace acceptance of any situation and then adapt where necessary.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?

This is a tough question for me because I don’t believe in failure. People decide to give up and I have never decided to give up. But looking at failure or setbacks made me revisit my approach, plan better, prepare differently and give myself more time to try and succeed on the project. Failures have many lessons in them that can be revealed through reviewing the experience, and if you do then you notice your mistakes which you should acknowledge and then work towards improving where you feel short. Failure happens because we fell short somewhere.

Regarding the lockdown and current global health crisis: What has been the most challenging part of this experience? And was there also a posititve thing about it for you?

Having no source of income during lockdown that I earn with motivational speaking and giving lectures. I can’t do those at the moment, as much as I can’t lead expeditions to mountains. It’s all very challenging to me. A good thing was that I had time to think and to refocus and change the way I look at life!

What can you think about that really gets you excited? What drives you?

The thought that one day I’ll get to return to the mountains gets me excited even though I don’t know when it might be. I want to climb many mountains, it is my way of life. What drives me is my self-motivation. To know that all I can have will be through my own efforts.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?

Remain humble! Success does not make you!

How do you stay in the moment?

I force my mind to not wander but to stay focused. I am applying the same during the tough times of lockdown, I live each day by the minutes, hour and day. Even when I guide people in the mountains, I don’t answer a question about tomorrow.

What does being present mean to you?

Making every moment count, recognising that your life is made up of each second you breathe. Focus on the now and never dwell too much on tomorrow in order to connect fully with the present moment.

Sibusiso, thank you very much.