Dado about Everest, Outward Bound and inspiration

We heard a lot about you as a member of Everest expedition, director of ‘Outward Bound’ and enterpreneur. Still, what do you consider your biggest achievement in life?

Actually, Everest is the biggest achievement. Let me say that it happened in a very limited time – two and a half years, and it was very intensive. Really intensive. After all that I said to myself: now I can do anything in my life, I am full of energy and inspiration. It was incredible and fantastic experience.

What was special about it?

You have to know that there are different kinds of climbing, and this expedition took place 35 years ago. What happened is that this climb was called ‘the first ascent’ which means it is not an ordinary route to the top of the world which the majority of people use. Thousands of people go to Everest every year, but this time it was a new route: we were alone and nobody knew how to do it.

Sure, we were preparing for 2 and a half years, but the ascent was from the beginning completely new, which meant 25 climbers were working together to achive this goal. Of course, it was rather complicated and dangerous. One of the members actually died. But that is in brief.

How old were you when the expedition started?

I was 29 years old, but we started two year before, so I was 27. There was a call for all mountaineering clubs and organisations, and everybody was invited to participate, but the rules and requirements were strict, and you needed the minimum score to enter it. Exactly like in Olympic Games: if someone wants to run or jump, he must have a certain level of experience and skills.

So, we were invited and started to train every day. Like in Olympics. After the final selection only 25 people left. The goal was to climb a completely new route on the map of the world, and we did it. The expedition lasted 108 days. The climbing was 45 days, compare with Olympics that last 14 days. The attempt and personal strenght were enormous. We used 13 km of rope and pulled up 6 tones of equipment for 25 people. I just want to point out that it was really a big effort.

During your expedition to Everest, were there any moments when you told yourself it was time to quit?

Never. When you have a good goal, motivation, team – the best in the world at that time, personal strength and spirit, you can do it. We were well-prepared for it. Actually, what happened during this long journey is that I got sick, many expedition members had breathing problems, and it was cold. I wasn’t physically prepared to go to the summit. But in this kind of expeditions it’s important that just one member reaches the summit, and then the goal of the team is reached. I want to compare it with football: when one player scores the final goal, it’s done. From 25 members, 4 people from our country reached the summit.

And afterwards you ran your own travel agency. How did you start your own business?

Ten years ago I started to run a travel agency. It was really a difficult task. Starting a business without money is stupid. And difficult, nervous, full of doubs. I didn’t have any financial education, I am an IT engineer. It was also some kind of Everest in a completely different enviroment and conditions, but I succeded to survive.

And how did you come up with the idea of Outward Bound?

I read about Outward Bound system in UK but didn’t think about it. Once, a friend of mine who moved to the USA many years ago, called me and asked: Would you like to join Outward Bound? I agreed immediately.

 At the beginning of its existence OB offered a special course for military purposes and police, and more often, like in US, war veterans came in OB to recover and become socialised after hard experience.

In Croatia we mostly work with young people who come here to learn leadership, gain personal strenght and get experience to cope with life difficulties.  

You have such a great experience behind your shoulders and serve as a source of inspiration for young people, but do you have someone or something to inspire you?

Yes, of course. I have a lot of ideas, maybe too many sometimes) I started to test facebook, LinkedIn and other networks to see how people will react to my ideas, and it was really great. They said: ‘Wow! That’s a good idea, call me again.’ And it opened new opportunities and added motivation to what I’m doing and plan to do.