honestly I have a confession to make I’m a boring researcher and helps to make it
a boring researcher and helps to make it
a boring researcher and helps to make it even worse one of my interests is
even worse one of my interests is
even worse one of my interests is boredom which is kind of ironic and
boredom which is kind of ironic and
boredom which is kind of ironic and secondly when when people hear about my
secondly when when people hear about my
secondly when when people hear about my research they usually say with some kind
research they usually say with some kind
research they usually say with some kind of excitement in the voice oh are you a
of excitement in the voice oh are you a
of excitement in the voice oh are you a mountaineer as well no I’m still just a
mountaineer as well no I’m still just a
mountaineer as well no I’m still just a boring researcher I’m sorry
boring researcher I’m sorry
boring researcher I’m sorry but then again two negatives might make
but then again two negatives might make
but then again two negatives might make one positive right so speaking about
one positive right so speaking about
one positive right so speaking about mountaineering Everest
mountaineering Everest
mountaineering Everest I guess that most of us have some kind
I guess that most of us have some kind
I guess that most of us have some kind of preconception about it how hard it is
of preconception about it how hard it is
of preconception about it how hard it is how exciting it must be to be over there
how exciting it must be to be over there
how exciting it must be to be over there it looks like this and up until today
it looks like this and up until today
it looks like this and up until today 283 people have actually died because it
283 people have actually died because it
283 people have actually died because it died a guy just a lot other day
died a guy just a lot other day
died a guy just a lot other day unfortunately but if we put this into
unfortunately but if we put this into
unfortunately but if we put this into perspective the ID day it’s extreme if
perspective the ID day it’s extreme if
perspective the ID day it’s extreme if we put it into perspective because
we put it into perspective because
we put it into perspective because Everest have been summited seven
Everest have been summited seven
Everest have been summited seven thousand seven hundred times almost so
thousand seven hundred times almost so
thousand seven hundred times almost so the death verse is kind of the number of
the death verse is kind of the number of
the death verse is kind of the number of summits it’s not too bad actually and
summits it’s not too bad actually and
summits it’s not too bad actually and while I’m at it I’m gonna try to
while I’m at it I’m gonna try to
while I’m at it I’m gonna try to continue to challenge your assumptions
continue to challenge your assumptions
continue to challenge your assumptions about Everest because when I speak to
about Everest because when I speak to
about Everest because when I speak to Mountaineers when we do our observations
Mountaineers when we do our observations
Mountaineers when we do our observations about what what’s going on at an
about what what’s going on at an
about what what’s going on at an expedition what we come to realize it’s
expedition what we come to realize it’s
expedition what we come to realize it’s not necessarily their ever launched
not necessarily their ever launched
not necessarily their ever launched that’s the big danger it’s not the fall
that’s the big danger it’s not the fall
that’s the big danger it’s not the fall not even the impact that’s the big
not even the impact that’s the big
not even the impact that’s the big danger but it’s actually the process
danger but it’s actually the process
danger but it’s actually the process leading up to it and this process then
leading up to it and this process then
leading up to it and this process then Everest is boring it’s the boredom that
Everest is boring it’s the boredom that
Everest is boring it’s the boredom that actually kills people and Everest is
actually kills people and Everest is
actually kills people and Everest is boring and actually when we have looked
boring and actually when we have looked
boring and actually when we have looked at other types of organizations as well
at other types of organizations as well
at other types of organizations as well in extreme environments like this but
in extreme environments like this but
in extreme environments like this but also in ordinary organizations
also in ordinary organizations
also in ordinary organizations what we find this of course boredom is
what we find this of course boredom is
what we find this of course boredom is all around us we need to live with it we
all around us we need to live with it we
all around us we need to live with it we need to handle it and if we doesn’t do
need to handle it and if we doesn’t do
need to handle it and if we doesn’t do that then we end up with a problem and
that then we end up with a problem and
that then we end up with a problem and the problem problem is they may get us
the problem problem is they may get us
the problem problem is they may get us into trouble
into trouble
into trouble we might take too big risks or it might
we might take too big risks or it might
we might take too big risks or it might jeopardize the big goal the great wishin
jeopardize the big goal the great wishin
jeopardize the big goal the great wishin that we have so we need to manage the
that we have so we need to manage the
that we have so we need to manage the boredom somehow the upside is if we are
boredom somehow the upside is if we are
boredom somehow the upside is if we are able to manage this boredom then we’re
able to manage this boredom then we’re
able to manage this boredom then we’re going to recreate the wor rewards
going to recreate the wor rewards
going to recreate the wor rewards because it’s going to glue the
because it’s going to glue the
because it’s going to glue the organization together we’re going to
organization together we’re going to
organization together we’re going to come together as a team we’re gonna
come together as a team we’re gonna
come together as a team we’re gonna create memories we’re gonna accomplish
create memories we’re gonna accomplish
create memories we’re gonna accomplish great things and that’s s why we need to
great things and that’s s why we need to
great things and that’s s why we need to attend to boredom this is the team that
attend to boredom this is the team that
attend to boredom this is the team that we followed for two months and the
we followed for two months and the
we followed for two months and the reason why boredom is dangerous is that
reason why boredom is dangerous is that
reason why boredom is dangerous is that we we might get it paves the way for
we we might get it paves the way for
we we might get it paves the way for frustration and because things aren’t
frustration and because things aren’t
frustration and because things aren’t going according to what we expected or
going according to what we expected or
going according to what we expected or we miss the sense of meaning in the
we miss the sense of meaning in the
we miss the sense of meaning in the activities that we are doing and if we
activities that we are doing and if we
activities that we are doing and if we miss the I the reason why we are doing
miss the I the reason why we are doing
miss the I the reason why we are doing things either we start doing things that
things either we start doing things that
things either we start doing things that we shouldn’t do in order to accomplish a
we shouldn’t do in order to accomplish a
we shouldn’t do in order to accomplish a certain goal or we basically we take too
certain goal or we basically we take too
certain goal or we basically we take too big risks in order to accomplish the
big risks in order to accomplish the
big risks in order to accomplish the goal because we just want to get get it
goal because we just want to get get it
goal because we just want to get get it over and done with or third we’re gonna
over and done with or third we’re gonna
over and done with or third we’re gonna just simply quit either of those options
just simply quit either of those options
just simply quit either of those options are equally bad in order to obtain a
are equally bad in order to obtain a
are equally bad in order to obtain a great goal and this team then we follow
great goal and this team then we follow
great goal and this team then we follow them for two months and about five days
them for two months and about five days
them for two months and about five days after arriving at Basecamp
after arriving at Basecamp
after arriving at Basecamp what we could observe was that they
what we could observe was that they
what we could observe was that they started to pick a fight with each other
started to pick a fight with each other
started to pick a fight with each other they started arguing they started kind
they started arguing they started kind
they started arguing they started kind of questioning whatever they could come
of questioning whatever they could come
of questioning whatever they could come up with and soon also what we saw was
up with and soon also what we saw was
up with and soon also what we saw was that they started questioning the entire
that they started questioning the entire
that they started questioning the entire plan
plan
plan because what they could see was that
because what they could see was that
because what they could see was that about 30 other expeditions they were
about 30 other expeditions they were
about 30 other expeditions they were moving up the mountain and they knew
moving up the mountain and they knew
moving up the mountain and they knew that they had sit idle in Basecamp for
that they had sit idle in Basecamp for
that they had sit idle in Basecamp for yet a few days and of course they wanted
yet a few days and of course they wanted
yet a few days and of course they wanted to move as well they wanted to kind of
to move as well they wanted to kind of
to move as well they wanted to kind of have something to do because they didn’t
have something to do because they didn’t
have something to do because they didn’t have that much to do in Basecamp so what
have that much to do in Basecamp so what
have that much to do in Basecamp so what they did was of course they started
they did was of course they started
they did was of course they started questioned the expedition leader and the
questioned the expedition leader and the
questioned the expedition leader and the sanity of the entire plan because they
sanity of the entire plan because they
sanity of the entire plan because they wanted to get going just add just the
wanted to get going just add just the
wanted to get going just add just the next day
next day
next day of course the expedition leader in
of course the expedition leader in
of course the expedition leader in didn’t in in this situation he had to
didn’t in in this situation he had to
didn’t in in this situation he had to explain why they were doing it first of
explain why they were doing it first of
explain why they were doing it first of all it was a matter of acclimatization
all it was a matter of acclimatization
all it was a matter of acclimatization because at this altitude speed equals
because at this altitude speed equals
because at this altitude speed equals risk in many in many situations because
risk in many in many situations because
risk in many in many situations because if your body is not ready in order to
if your body is not ready in order to
if your body is not ready in order to take on the altitude you’re gonna end up
take on the altitude you’re gonna end up
take on the altitude you’re gonna end up with high-altitude sickness and trust me
with high-altitude sickness and trust me
with high-altitude sickness and trust me high altitude sickness it’s not
high altitude sickness it’s not
high altitude sickness it’s not something you won’t develop III know
something you won’t develop III know
something you won’t develop III know that from personal reasons and I this is
that from personal reasons and I this is
that from personal reasons and I this is actually me and we are on the way up to
actually me and we are on the way up to
actually me and we are on the way up to Basecamp and one of the benefits of
Basecamp and one of the benefits of
Basecamp and one of the benefits of being a researcher and an organization
being a researcher and an organization
being a researcher and an organization like nog refer is of course I get to
like nog refer is of course I get to
like nog refer is of course I get to spend time with amazing people and look
spend time with amazing people and look
spend time with amazing people and look at what they are doing the downside is
at what they are doing the downside is
at what they are doing the downside is that sometimes it really feels like
that sometimes it really feels like
that sometimes it really feels like to be honest you suffer and man I did I
to be honest you suffer and man I did I
to be honest you suffer and man I did I thought it was a lack of coffee I drink
thought it was a lack of coffee I drink
thought it was a lack of coffee I drink way too much coffee but I had this
way too much coffee but I had this
way too much coffee but I had this pounding headache and it turned out it
pounding headache and it turned out it
pounding headache and it turned out it wasn’t coffee what have happened had
wasn’t coffee what have happened had
wasn’t coffee what have happened had happened actually was that I had the
happened actually was that I had the
happened actually was that I had the altitude sickness down here at one way
altitude sickness down here at one way
altitude sickness down here at one way of measuring and seeing the signs of
of measuring and seeing the signs of
of measuring and seeing the signs of having altitude sickness is that you
having altitude sickness is that you
having altitude sickness is that you measured the blood oxygen level in him
measured the blood oxygen level in him
measured the blood oxygen level in him and here at sea level I bet that each
and here at sea level I bet that each
and here at sea level I bet that each and every one of you his guts
and every one of you his guts
and every one of you his guts 119
119
119 900 hours as low as 59 if you consult
900 hours as low as 59 if you consult
900 hours as low as 59 if you consult the health care you should be
the health care you should be
the health care you should be hospitalized if you’re below 70 trust me
hospitalized if you’re below 70 trust me
hospitalized if you’re below 70 trust me it wasn’t that fun but I can try to
it wasn’t that fun but I can try to
it wasn’t that fun but I can try to describe the feeling for you if in case
describe the feeling for you if in case
describe the feeling for you if in case you haven’t experienced the altitude
you haven’t experienced the altitude
you haven’t experienced the altitude sickness perhaps you have experienced
sickness perhaps you have experienced
sickness perhaps you have experienced this one at least and I don’t know if
this one at least and I don’t know if
this one at least and I don’t know if any one of you have had one of these
any one of you have had one of these
any one of you have had one of these really really bad hangovers and you kind
really really bad hangovers and you kind
really really bad hangovers and you kind of you pledge that you won’t touch
of you pledge that you won’t touch
of you pledge that you won’t touch another beer
another beer
another beer never ever in your life and you’re kind
never ever in your life and you’re kind
never ever in your life and you’re kind of ready to approach the closest person
of ready to approach the closest person
of ready to approach the closest person next to you and basically ask them to
next to you and basically ask them to
next to you and basically ask them to take you out of your misery this is like
take you out of your misery this is like
take you out of your misery this is like that you don’t want to eat you don’t
that you don’t want to eat you don’t
that you don’t want to eat you don’t want to sleep you don’t want to be awake
want to sleep you don’t want to be awake
want to sleep you don’t want to be awake you don’t want to exist you don’t want
you don’t want to exist you don’t want
you don’t want to exist you don’t want to do anything but the only thing to
to do anything but the only thing to
to do anything but the only thing to deal with altitude sickness is actually
deal with altitude sickness is actually
deal with altitude sickness is actually to lose altitude to go down in altitude
to lose altitude to go down in altitude
to lose altitude to go down in altitude and for obvious reasons if you are say
and for obvious reasons if you are say
and for obvious reasons if you are say on 7,000 meters it’s really really hard
on 7,000 meters it’s really really hard
on 7,000 meters it’s really really hard to move about in particularly if you
to move about in particularly if you
to move about in particularly if you have developed the kind where the brain
have developed the kind where the brain
have developed the kind where the brain swells and you get unconscious and you
swells and you get unconscious and you
swells and you get unconscious and you die
die
die but equally difficult is it if you get
but equally difficult is it if you get
but equally difficult is it if you get the other kind where your lungs fill up
the other kind where your lungs fill up
the other kind where your lungs fill up with fluid and you drown in your own
with fluid and you drown in your own
with fluid and you drown in your own fluids it’s kind of hard to move about
fluids it’s kind of hard to move about
fluids it’s kind of hard to move about move about in that case as well so the
move about in that case as well so the
move about in that case as well so the point being that was that the expedition
point being that was that the expedition
point being that was that the expedition members they didn’t really consider this
members they didn’t really consider this
members they didn’t really consider this when they were arguing against
when they were arguing against
when they were arguing against expedition leader they were bored they
expedition leader they were bored they
expedition leader they were bored they wanted to get get going but they didn’t
wanted to get get going but they didn’t
wanted to get get going but they didn’t consider the overall plan with a
consider the overall plan with a
consider the overall plan with a acclimatization and also with the
acclimatization and also with the
acclimatization and also with the overcrowding at Everest they had to wait
overcrowding at Everest they had to wait
overcrowding at Everest they had to wait in order for people to move upwards but
in order for people to move upwards but
in order for people to move upwards but also for the bodies to acclimatize so
also for the bodies to acclimatize so
also for the bodies to acclimatize so then one could ask did the expedition
then one could ask did the expedition
then one could ask did the expedition leader just let boredom flourish and
leader just let boredom flourish and
leader just let boredom flourish and kind of
kind of
kind of exist no of course not he implemented
exist no of course not he implemented
exist no of course not he implemented routines something as boring as routines
routines something as boring as routines
routines something as boring as routines worked against boredom and one of those
worked against boredom and one of those
worked against boredom and one of those routines was celebrations and imagine
routines was celebrations and imagine
routines was celebrations and imagine you have celebrations on five-and-a-half
you have celebrations on five-and-a-half
you have celebrations on five-and-a-half thousand meters and in this particular
thousand meters and in this particular
thousand meters and in this particular case then it was a wedding improvised
case then it was a wedding improvised
case then it was a wedding improvised wedding ceremony where actually two of
wedding ceremony where actually two of
wedding ceremony where actually two of their members of the expedition had come
their members of the expedition had come
their members of the expedition had come there on their honeymoon
there on their honeymoon
there on their honeymoon she was a trekker and he was to climb
she was a trekker and he was to climb
she was a trekker and he was to climb Everest and the expedition leader had
Everest and the expedition leader had
Everest and the expedition leader had heard about this and improvised a party
heard about this and improvised a party
heard about this and improvised a party and we’re on 5,000 meters and they we
and we’re on 5,000 meters and they we
and we’re on 5,000 meters and they we had had alcohol we had had food we have
had had alcohol we had had food we have
had had alcohol we had had food we have had had music and so on so imagine that
had had music and so on so imagine that
had had music and so on so imagine that you’re in five and a half thousand
you’re in five and a half thousand
you’re in five and a half thousand meters or 5,000 meters now
and the importance of this is not
and the importance of this is not perhaps the sound volume of the on the
perhaps the sound volume of the on the
perhaps the sound volume of the on the film but it really brought the team
film but it really brought the team
film but it really brought the team together one one of the clients the guys
together one one of the clients the guys
together one one of the clients the guys that was responsible of the music he
that was responsible of the music he
that was responsible of the music he still goes under the nickname DJ tour
still goes under the nickname DJ tour
still goes under the nickname DJ tour because went basically when they meet as
because went basically when they meet as
because went basically when they meet as soon as they meet they talked about DJ
soon as they meet they talked about DJ
soon as they meet they talked about DJ tour and that’s pretty pretty amazing
tour and that’s pretty pretty amazing
tour and that’s pretty pretty amazing and also when we talked to one of the
and also when we talked to one of the
and also when we talked to one of the clients what what he said was that no
clients what what he said was that no
clients what what he said was that no sorry we talked to one of the most
sorry we talked to one of the most
sorry we talked to one of the most renown expedition leaders on Everest he
renown expedition leaders on Everest he
renown expedition leaders on Everest he had been there arranging expeditions for
had been there arranging expeditions for
had been there arranging expeditions for like 25 years
like 25 years
like 25 years for 20 years and what he told us was
for 20 years and what he told us was
for 20 years and what he told us was that these parties they are so
that these parties they are so
that these parties they are so incredibly important to the scene
incredibly important to the scene
incredibly important to the scene because if they act as a safety event
because if they act as a safety event
because if they act as a safety event where people can let go of all their
where people can let go of all their
where people can let go of all their frustrations and without them four more
frustrations and without them four more
frustrations and without them four more people would die the second kind of
people would die the second kind of
people would die the second kind of routine they implemented was different
routine they implemented was different
routine they implemented was different kind of social events in order to break
kind of social events in order to break
kind of social events in order to break the monotony of being on Everest but
the monotony of being on Everest but
the monotony of being on Everest but also take people’s mind off the harsh
also take people’s mind off the harsh
also take people’s mind off the harsh environments they were in and also
environments they were in and also
environments they were in and also provide them with some kind of normality
provide them with some kind of normality
provide them with some kind of normality of things because basically they were in
of things because basically they were in
of things because basically they were in the harsh environment environment and
the harsh environment environment and
the harsh environment environment and they were far away from friends and
they were far away from friends and
they were far away from friends and family and one of the more important
family and one of the more important
family and one of the more important part of this was this guy Borat it was a
part of this was this guy Borat it was a
part of this was this guy Borat it was a movie that they looked upon over and
movie that they looked upon over and
movie that they looked upon over and over again they had bunch of movies but
over again they had bunch of movies but
over again they had bunch of movies but this one was kind of they looked upon it
this one was kind of they looked upon it
this one was kind of they looked upon it at several times it says something about
at several times it says something about
at several times it says something about her it’s a taste of film but that’s
her it’s a taste of film but that’s
her it’s a taste of film but that’s another thing and when we talked to one
another thing and when we talked to one
another thing and when we talked to one of the clients what he said was that
of the clients what he said was that
of the clients what he said was that well these movie nights it’s one of the
well these movie nights it’s one of the
well these movie nights it’s one of the things that he remembers the best
things that he remembers the best
things that he remembers the best because it kept his mind off his family
because it kept his mind off his family
because it kept his mind off his family that was back home
that was back home
that was back home the third kind of routine that they
the third kind of routine that they
the third kind of routine that they implemented was different kind of
implemented was different kind of
implemented was different kind of rituals these rituals came to act as
rituals these rituals came to act as
rituals these rituals came to act as kind of on and off time on time being
kind of on and off time on time being
kind of on and off time on time being time to focus off time to kind of okay
time to focus off time to kind of okay
time to focus off time to kind of okay we can relax take it easy for a bit and
we can relax take it easy for a bit and
we can relax take it easy for a bit and also provide good luck
also provide good luck
also provide good luck so this puja ceremony done it served
so this puja ceremony done it served
so this puja ceremony done it served even though neither of them was
even though neither of them was
even though neither of them was religious it served the purpose of
religious it served the purpose of
religious it served the purpose of blessing the climbers and their tools
blessing the climbers and their tools
blessing the climbers and their tools and also providing good luck on the
and also providing good luck on the
and also providing good luck on the mountain and this the expedition leader
mountain and this the expedition leader
mountain and this the expedition leader said well I don’t believe in this but I
said well I don’t believe in this but I
said well I don’t believe in this but I take all the luck I can get on the
take all the luck I can get on the
take all the luck I can get on the mountain because it’s dangerous business
mountain because it’s dangerous business
mountain because it’s dangerous business they are in and a day after this
they are in and a day after this
they are in and a day after this ceremony they went up so taking a step
ceremony they went up so taking a step
ceremony they went up so taking a step off from Everest and this is something
off from Everest and this is something
off from Everest and this is something that applies to any 120 team to any
that applies to any 120 team to any
that applies to any 120 team to any organization to any individual because
organization to any individual because
organization to any individual because it’s by celebrating the successes and
it’s by celebrating the successes and
it’s by celebrating the successes and providing the social arenas where we can
providing the social arenas where we can
providing the social arenas where we can meet and establishing rituals that we
meet and establishing rituals that we
meet and establishing rituals that we can achieve great things that we come
can achieve great things that we come
can achieve great things that we come together as an organization where we
together as an organization where we
together as an organization where we where we avoid rushing into things where
where we avoid rushing into things where
where we avoid rushing into things where we avoid getting killed because we are
we avoid getting killed because we are
we avoid getting killed because we are simply bored and as a leader of a team
simply bored and as a leader of a team
simply bored and as a leader of a team or our organization whatever it is we
or our organization whatever it is we
or our organization whatever it is we need to understand these dynamics and to
need to understand these dynamics and to
need to understand these dynamics and to put it really really simple what we need
put it really really simple what we need
put it really really simple what we need is more of the work we need more fika
is more of the work we need more fika
is more of the work we need more fika and we need rituals in organizations and
and we need rituals in organizations and
and we need rituals in organizations and this is not something that comes
this is not something that comes
this is not something that comes automatically by it’s something that we
automatically by it’s something that we
automatically by it’s something that we need to deal with each and every one of
need to deal with each and every one of
need to deal with each and every one of us
us
us thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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