21 Yaks and a Speedo: How to achieve your impossible

Lewis Pugh has pioneered more swims around famous landmarks than any other person in history. He swam across the icy waters of the North Pole to highlight the melting of the Arctic sea ice, and across a glacial lake on Mt Everest to draw attention to the impact of climate change on the Himalayan glaciers. It was there that he met his first Yak. Trekking behind them up the icy slopes, watching them cross dizzying ravines, and listening to them breathe outside his tent each night, Lewis got thinking about the things he most admires in a yak. He found that those qualities were not unlike the ones that enabled him to meet his own challenges - and achieve things that people believed to be impossible. The '21 Yaks' collected here are the key lessons Lewis took home from his expeditions. These were not just feats of physical stamina and endurance, but about overcoming the psychological obstacles to success. Which is why his strategies are as applicable to business and personal development as they are to extreme sports. In 21 Yaks and a Speedo Lewis shares his ability to dream big dreams, build crack teams, and get the job done. You'll be inspired by his devotion to excellence, his loyalty to his crew, and his belief in never giving up. The principles are simple, but effective. Stick by them, he says, and they'll see you through.