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

In 2024, executive coach and leadership development expert 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.

From…
“There’s No Medal for Mayonnaise on Your Keyboard”
to…
“Create Kairos Time”
to…
“Suffering Is Optional”

…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.

Whether you’re leading a team, pursuing an audacious goal, navigating change, or standing at the base of your own mountain, this book will help you:

• Find purpose in hard things

• Strengthen your mindset and resilience

• Turn obstacles into teachers

• Trust your instincts

• Build courage instead of waiting for perfect conditions

Your story is written one step at a time. Start here.