Exploring the Polar Landscapes with Eric Philips OAM

Eric Philips is a polar adventurer dedicated to exploring the vast and varied ice-scapes that typify our polar regions. His outdoor career spans more than 25 years during which time he has worked professionally as an IPGA Master Polar Guide, outdoor educator, film maker, motivational speaker, team facilitator and musician. As an adventurer, he has visited every continent on Earth, often leading lightweight and self-supported expeditions to remote areas. Eric has explored the world's four largest icecaps and was the first Australian, together with companion Jon Muir, to ski to both the North and South Poles, locations that he has since visited many times as a polar guide. Eric has assisted wounded soldiers, Prince Harry, actors and everyday individuals - with their common ground being a desire to see these remote polar landscapes. Eric is the founder and director of Icetrek Expeditions and Equipment, and is also the founder and lead guide of the International Polar Guides Association. In 1991 he wrote the book, Icetrek. The Bitter Journey to the South Pole and his expeditions have produced four internationally-screened documentary films, most notably, the Emmy Award-winning Greenland production, Chasing the Midnight Sun. Eric lives in Hobart with his wife Susy and son Kip. His daughter is now following in his footsteps, and as we discussed on the podcast, is fast becoming his polar playmate. It was such an honour to dig deep and beneath the ice with Eric, uncovering what makes him tingle, and how we can learn from Eric how to follow our truest pathways. Put the heater on for this one! MAIN POINTS - Finding our 'thing' - how to live with purpose and guided by what you absolutely love - Parenting as an explorer - raising children to be their truest selves - The art of guiding, and what it really involves - Using adventure and exploration to reset ourselves, to not just endure but to evolve - The importance of leadership and self-awareness - The importance of values and using these to guide our individual as well as business pursuits - Our work should not define us, but rather lead us - Using fear to guide us to new heights​ I hope you enjoy this episode! ​I know that what I am taking away from it is a complete willingness to succumb to my journey. To stop 'shoulding' and start believing in the art of pursuing what I love to its heighest levels. It is a new year heralding an opportunity to turn over that leaf, uncover what you love, and not waste any precious moments.