{"id":1152,"date":"2024-05-14T09:46:34","date_gmt":"2024-05-14T09:46:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/?page_id=1152"},"modified":"2024-05-17T12:04:00","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T12:04:00","slug":"my-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/my-story\/","title":{"rendered":"MY STORY"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1152\" class=\"elementor elementor-1152\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d4ffd3e e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d4ffd3e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ea27d59 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ea27d59\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a992522 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a992522\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"835\" height=\"931\" src=\"https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Lee_Header_Expanded_DE_2.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1813\" alt=\"Lee den Hond - Inspirational Speaker, Author, Philanthropist, Adventurer\" srcset=\"https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Lee_Header_Expanded_DE_2.png 835w, https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Lee_Header_Expanded_DE_2-269x300.png 269w, https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Lee_Header_Expanded_DE_2-768x856.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 835px) 100vw, 835px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4392a26 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4392a26\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ee61dc elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2ee61dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;zoomIn&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"163\" data-src=\"https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/hi-i-am-lee-1024x163.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-971 lazyload\" alt=\"Lee den Hond \u2013 Inspirational Speaker, Athlete, Author, Adventurer, Entrepreneur\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/hi-i-am-lee-1024x163.png 1024w, https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/hi-i-am-lee-300x48.png 300w, https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/hi-i-am-lee-768x123.png 768w, https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/hi-i-am-lee.png 1410w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/163;\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-02439d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"02439d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Welcome to my world of inspiration and empowerment. As a businesswoman, extreme sportswoman, adventurer, motivational speaker, philanthropist, and optimist, I am dedicated to pushing the boundaries and helping others unlock their full potential.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cbf36fd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cbf36fd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>JOIN ME AS WE EMBARK ON A JOURNEY OF GROWTH, RESILIENCE, AND BOUNDLESS OPTIMISTM.<br \/><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b16a514 e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b16a514\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-786d843 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"786d843\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-276cd24 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"276cd24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2833\" height=\"314\" data-src=\"https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/never-give-up.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1158 lazyload\" alt=\"Never Give Up - Lee den Hond\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/never-give-up.png 2833w, https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/never-give-up-300x33.png 300w, https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/never-give-up-1024x113.png 1024w, https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/never-give-up-768x85.png 768w, https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/never-give-up-1536x170.png 1536w, https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/never-give-up-2048x227.png 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 2833px) 100vw, 2833px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 2833px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 2833\/314;\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-941d64f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"941d64f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Quitting is not an option. When you think it is not going to get harder, think again. It is.<br \/><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e78aa16 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e78aa16\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0c1309 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e0c1309\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af34af0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"af34af0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>THE JOURNEY<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-184db34 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"184db34\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>There is a well-known expression in life<br \/><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9619599 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9619599\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>&#8220;Start with the end in mind&#8221;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d35af8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2d35af8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>I would like to encourage you to change that to<br \/><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d674ee1 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d674ee1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>&#8220;Start with the journey in mind&#8221;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-181e1e3 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"181e1e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0852b0b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0852b0b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>This is the reason why&#8230;<\/strong><br \/>In 2012, when making the decision to climb Mount Everest, I had to consider that this personal adventure would take me as long as two months which is an extensive amount of time when running a company which required an intensive hands-on-approach in a highly competitive industry.<\/p><p>I looked at my life thinking that if I grew to the wonderful age of 75 years, taking 8 weeks from this life time seemed nothing in the big scheme of things.<\/p><p>This 8 week journey would essentially change my life forever. Climbing Mount Everest was the hardest thing that I have ever done and it proved to be my greatest gift.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-737ac25 elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"737ac25\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0da27fd e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0da27fd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18cc5cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"18cc5cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">LESSONS LEARNT ON MY JOURNEY...<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51226d3 e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"51226d3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01ef9a9 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"01ef9a9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ea5a7b elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5ea5a7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"392\" height=\"319\" data-src=\"https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/number-1-outline.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1210 lazyload\" alt=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/number-1-outline.png 392w, https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/number-1-outline-300x244.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 392px) 100vw, 392px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 392px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 392\/319;\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b15090 e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7b15090\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-92c5993 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"92c5993\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">MANAGE THE SITUATION ON YOUR JOURNEY. DON'T LET IT MANAGE YOU.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3d089b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b3d089b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>One of the greatest challenges on the mountain was the cold and one of my greatest challenges in running in the desert was the intense heat.<\/p><p>The temperatures in the Sahara desert peaked at 53 degrees.<\/p><p>On my both these journeys , I would step into a place on controlling the situation before the situation would control me.<\/p><p>On Everest , I would say to myself <span style=\"color: #c0d632;\"><strong>\u201cLee, manage the cold , don\u2019t let the cold manage you!\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p>In the Sahara , I would say <span style=\"color: #c0d632;\"><strong>\u201cLee, manage the heat , don\u2019t let the heat manage you!\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p>In all of the journeys we choose, there will always be challenging situations .<\/p><p>I encourage to manage the situation by taking control of it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f7d00b e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5f7d00b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07f71d8 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"07f71d8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4888a7c elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4888a7c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"463\" height=\"319\" data-src=\"https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/number-2-outline.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1214 lazyload\" alt=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/number-2-outline.png 463w, https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/number-2-outline-300x207.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 463px) 100vw, 463px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 463px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 463\/319;\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-026142e e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"026142e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d66bb69 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d66bb69\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">GRATITUDE<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b6a09b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5b6a09b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It would have been very easy for me to focus on what I did not have when facing this massive expedition. I did not have the seriously needed experience to climb the highest mountain in the world.<\/p><p>The majority of climbers on Everest have summited all the highest peaks and Everest was the last one for them , their ultimate pinnacle of success. I did not have the experience of the incredible cold and icy temperatures which went as low as minus 34 degrees. Living in South Africa , I had not experienced ice , snow or avalanches.<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #9e005d;\"><strong>In order to succeed in my journey , I focused on what I did have!<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p>I had a phenomenal leader who had a vision for the team , he called it \u201cOne Team , One Dream!\u201d His commitment and leadership skills contributed to a group of novices successfully summiting the highest mountain in the world.<\/p><p>I had a wonderful team, we really cared about one another. I was part of a highly experienced expedition company who had been in the mountaineering industry for nearly two decades.<\/p><p>There was so much to be grateful for.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a4a3e3 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4a4a3e3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d98444 e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2d98444\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b57938 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8b57938\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>SUCCESS OR SIGNIFICANCE<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2450fda elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"2450fda\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bfaa8a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bfaa8a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Many journeys in life are successful.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0beb096 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0beb096\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Reaching the summit of Mount Everest and running across the finish line of a race known as the toughest foot race in the world both represented success.<\/p><p>However, I challenge you to ask yourself if the journeys you take represent success or significance.<\/p><p>If you can answer the following questions at the end of your journey:<\/p><ul><li>Did I impact someone\u2019s life by my journey?<\/li><li>Did I make a positive difference in the world, or someone\u2019s world by my journey?<\/li><\/ul><p>I encourage you to make bold decisions, make decisions that count and take journeys that are unforgettable in the lives of others and your own.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd4354a e-con-full e-flex wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fd4354a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-332a1e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"332a1e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"921\" height=\"1024\" data-src=\"https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/my-story-collage-921x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1221 lazyload\" alt=\"Lee den Hond - Image Collage\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/my-story-collage-921x1024.jpg 921w, https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/my-story-collage-270x300.jpg 270w, https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/my-story-collage-768x853.jpg 768w, https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/my-story-collage-1382x1536.jpg 1382w, https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/my-story-collage-1843x2048.jpg 1843w, https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/my-story-collage.jpg 1860w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 921px) 100vw, 921px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 921px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 921\/1024;\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to my world of inspiration and empowerment. As a businesswoman, extreme sportswoman, adventurer, motivational speaker, philanthropist, and optimist, I am dedicated to pushing the boundaries and helping others unlock their full potential. JOIN ME AS WE EMBARK ON A JOURNEY OF GROWTH, RESILIENCE, AND BOUNDLESS OPTIMISTM. Quitting is not an option. When you think it is not going to get harder, think again. It is. THE JOURNEY There is a well-known expression in life &#8220;Start with the end in mind&#8221; I would like to encourage you to change that to &#8220;Start with the journey in mind&#8221; This is the reason why&#8230;In 2012, when making the decision to climb Mount Everest, I had to consider that this personal adventure would take me as long as two months which is an extensive amount of time when running a company which required an intensive hands-on-approach in a highly competitive industry. I looked at my life thinking that if I grew to the wonderful age of 75 years, taking 8 weeks from this life time seemed nothing in the big scheme of things. This 8 week journey would essentially change my life forever. Climbing Mount Everest was the hardest thing that I have ever done and it proved to be my greatest gift. LESSONS LEARNT ON MY JOURNEY&#8230; MANAGE THE SITUATION ON YOUR JOURNEY. DON&#8217;T LET IT MANAGE YOU. One of the greatest challenges on the mountain was the cold and one of my greatest challenges in running in the desert was the intense heat. The temperatures in the Sahara desert peaked at 53 degrees. On my both these journeys , I would step into a place on controlling the situation before the situation would control me. On Everest , I would say to myself \u201cLee, manage the cold , don\u2019t let the cold manage you!\u201d In the Sahara , I would say \u201cLee, manage the heat , don\u2019t let the heat manage you!\u201d In all of the journeys we choose, there will always be challenging situations . I encourage to manage the situation by taking control of it. GRATITUDE It would have been very easy for me to focus on what I did not have when facing this massive expedition. I did not have the seriously needed experience to climb the highest mountain in the world. The majority of climbers on Everest have summited all the highest peaks and Everest was the last one for them , their ultimate pinnacle of success. I did not have the experience of the incredible cold and icy temperatures which went as low as minus 34 degrees. Living in South Africa , I had not experienced ice , snow or avalanches. In order to succeed in my journey , I focused on what I did have! I had a phenomenal leader who had a vision for the team , he called it \u201cOne Team , One Dream!\u201d His commitment and leadership skills contributed to a group of novices successfully summiting the highest mountain in the world. I had a wonderful team, we really cared about one another. I was part of a highly experienced expedition company who had been in the mountaineering industry for nearly two decades. There was so much to be grateful for. SUCCESS OR SIGNIFICANCE Many journeys in life are successful. Reaching the summit of Mount Everest and running across the finish line of a race known as the toughest foot race in the world both represented success. However, I challenge you to ask yourself if the journeys you take represent success or significance. If you can answer the following questions at the end of your journey: Did I impact someone\u2019s life by my journey? Did I make a positive difference in the world, or someone\u2019s world by my journey? I encourage you to make bold decisions, make decisions that count and take journeys that are unforgettable in the lives of others and your own.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"unboxed","site-sidebar-style":"unboxed","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"disabled","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"enabled","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1152","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>MY STORY - Lee Den Hond<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/efm-developer.co.za\/leedenhond\/my-story\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"MY STORY - Lee Den Hond\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Welcome to my world of inspiration and empowerment. As a businesswoman, extreme sportswoman, adventurer, motivational speaker, philanthropist, and optimist, I am dedicated to pushing the boundaries and helping others unlock their full potential. JOIN ME AS WE EMBARK ON A JOURNEY OF GROWTH, RESILIENCE, AND BOUNDLESS OPTIMISTM. Quitting is not an option. When you think it is not going to get harder, think again. It is. THE JOURNEY There is a well-known expression in life &#8220;Start with the end in mind&#8221; I would like to encourage you to change that to &#8220;Start with the journey in mind&#8221; This is the reason why&#8230;In 2012, when making the decision to climb Mount Everest, I had to consider that this personal adventure would take me as long as two months which is an extensive amount of time when running a company which required an intensive hands-on-approach in a highly competitive industry. I looked at my life thinking that if I grew to the wonderful age of 75 years, taking 8 weeks from this life time seemed nothing in the big scheme of things. This 8 week journey would essentially change my life forever. Climbing Mount Everest was the hardest thing that I have ever done and it proved to be my greatest gift. LESSONS LEARNT ON MY JOURNEY&#8230; MANAGE THE SITUATION ON YOUR JOURNEY. DON&#8217;T LET IT MANAGE YOU. One of the greatest challenges on the mountain was the cold and one of my greatest challenges in running in the desert was the intense heat. The temperatures in the Sahara desert peaked at 53 degrees. On my both these journeys , I would step into a place on controlling the situation before the situation would control me. On Everest , I would say to myself \u201cLee, manage the cold , don\u2019t let the cold manage you!\u201d In the Sahara , I would say \u201cLee, manage the heat , don\u2019t let the heat manage you!\u201d In all of the journeys we choose, there will always be challenging situations . I encourage to manage the situation by taking control of it. GRATITUDE It would have been very easy for me to focus on what I did not have when facing this massive expedition. I did not have the seriously needed experience to climb the highest mountain in the world. The majority of climbers on Everest have summited all the highest peaks and Everest was the last one for them , their ultimate pinnacle of success. I did not have the experience of the incredible cold and icy temperatures which went as low as minus 34 degrees. Living in South Africa , I had not experienced ice , snow or avalanches. In order to succeed in my journey , I focused on what I did have! I had a phenomenal leader who had a vision for the team , he called it \u201cOne Team , One Dream!\u201d His commitment and leadership skills contributed to a group of novices successfully summiting the highest mountain in the world. I had a wonderful team, we really cared about one another. I was part of a highly experienced expedition company who had been in the mountaineering industry for nearly two decades. There was so much to be grateful for. SUCCESS OR SIGNIFICANCE Many journeys in life are successful. Reaching the summit of Mount Everest and running across the finish line of a race known as the toughest foot race in the world both represented success. However, I challenge you to ask yourself if the journeys you take represent success or significance. If you can answer the following questions at the end of your journey: Did I impact someone\u2019s life by my journey? Did I make a positive difference in the world, or someone\u2019s world by my journey? 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