One mountain. Fifteen ascents. A year that changed everything.

In 2024, executive coach and Mirrorbox leadership consultant Matthew Spence signed up for the 29029 Everesting Challenge - an ultra-endurance hiking event where participants attempt to climb the vertical equivalent of Mt. Everest (29,029 feet) in a single weekend. The twist? You hike 2,000 feet up a ski run, take the gondola down, and repeat the climb 15 times with 36 hours on the clock to get it done.

On ascent twelve, 28 hours in, Matthew strained his hamstring on a brutal stretch known as “The Wall,” unsure if he could take another step. But this isn’t a book about mountain climbing. It’s a book about what happens when you deliberately put something hard on the calendar, and pay attention to what it teaches you.

In LESSONS FROM THE WALL: 15 Things I Learned About Leadership & Life By Doing Something Really Hard, Matthew distills his Everesting experience into fifteen practical lessons on leadership, resilience, mindset, grit, goal setting, and personal growth. Drawing from endurance training, corporate leadership, executive coaching, fatherhood, and a year of deep self-reflection, each chapter blends storytelling with actionable insight. Every lesson includes reflection and action prompts designed to help readers examine their choices, elevate their leadership, and build sustainable high performance.

What began as a physical challenge became a powerful exploration of purpose, mental toughness, recovery, community, and reinvention.

For more information about Matthew and his journey please visit his author website - https://www.lessonsfromthewall.com/

To purchase the book use this link