Michael Dart, a Kurt Salmon Associates' senior partner, was named a Top 25 Consultant in 2010 because of his ability to have confidence in his own path, even if it's not the one of least resistance. That mindset also helps him succeed during his down time, when you can find him exploring less-traveled parts of the world or scaling mountains at at more than 21,000 feet.
Consulting: What was the initial catalyst for your outdoor and adventure trips?
Dart: When I was in high school, I took a bus from London to Istanbul, then to Israel. There weren't that many tourists doing anything like this, and it lit the bug for me to get out and explore the world. I find it incredibly energizing to go out and meet new people, and gain a deeper understanding of a culture. Every few years I go on a substantial trip. A couple of years ago I went rock climbing and white water rafting in the Alps. In 2010, I went white-water rafting in the hills of Thailand. When you put yourself in a completely different place, you gain a new perspective.
Consulting: How has your perspective changed?
Dart: When you're on top of a mountain, freezing cold, eating bean soup and stale bread, you realize that you take for granted a lot of things that are really quite special. While I return home, I tend to appreciate things more; I don't find myself being quite as indulgent. I work to consume less.
Consulting: Is there a carryover effect between these trips and your day job?
Dart: Absolutely. One of the things you learn is how to collaborate with different kinds of folks. When you scale a mountain, you work with a team. And every team is made up of people with different sets of abilities, attitudes and skills. Being able to achieve an objective that everyone feels good about is directly applicable to consulting. So much of what we do is gather everyone's input and achieve an objective.
Consulting: In what other ways is your adventure travel similar to consulting?
Dart: When you go out on these trips, the problem solving is not always linear. There are sometimes indirect ways to solve things. By looking at a problem differently, it can sometimes give you a different perspective and see a different answer. Being in a different place changes one's thought process. I find it often helps me reach a better answer.
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