Sam Elias really needs no introduction. He's one of America's top sport climbers, so it's likely you've heard of him. While some climbers cultivate an image that is extremely shallow and limited, it's not so with Sam. He wears his heart on his sleeve - as well as his ruminations with that fact. It's been fascinating to watch Sam openly mature in both his climbing and his approach to life, and it's no coincidence that his climbing has continued to elevate as a result. 

Part of Sam’s process on his recent send of Shadowboxing (5.14d) was to not only break the route down into parts mentally, but also to create a checklist with those pieces as goals unto themselves. This is a tool I believe to be hugely beneficial on several levels. One, you remain entrenched in the process, rather than looking too far out at the ultimate goal and losing sight of the task at hand. Two, you get to check boxes. Everyone loves to check boxes. For some, it’s all the motivation needed to stay the course, and a tangible way to see progress.

There’s a lot more to learn from Sam, and I’m looking forward to the next time we can sit down and chat.