Entrepreneur Matt Haycox shares the journey of his Mount Everest climb, the most important lessons learnt during his journey, and what changed for him after the climb.
What does your morning routine look like? How does it shape your day?
My mornings are sacred – they set the tone for everything that follows. I’m usually up around 6:30 or 7:00 AM and dive straight into an hour of focused work before the rest of the team wakes up. Then I spend some quality time with my daughter, which is a grounding part of my day. After that, it’s off to the gym – a non-negotiable. A solid workout, followed by a sauna, ice bath, and shower gets my body and mind fully switched on. By 11 AM, I’m ready to hit the ground running. For me, exercise isn’t just about fitness – it’s about mental clarity and showing up as my best self, in business and in life.
You’ve faced extreme challenges in business. What does climbing Mount Everest symbolise for you personally?
Everest is the ultimate symbol of challenge – there’s a certain psychological and emotional pull just from the name alone. Even though we tackled Base Camp rather than the summit, the experience still carried that weight. For me, it’s not just about the physical test; it’s about the memories you create, the stories you come back with, and the people you share it with. Doing it alongside Ant Middleton, a former UK Special Forces soldier, who was also my partner on the hike, made it even more powerful – two very different worlds coming together for one incredible experience.
How have your past experiences shaped your mindset for this climb?
Honestly, I think it’s more of a mental battle than a physical one. I didn’t approach it as a race – it was never about speed or ego. It was about committing to the journey, step by step, and refusing to stop until we got there. Whether it took 10 hours or 110, the goal was simple:don’t quit. That’s always been my mindset – once I commit to something, I’m all in. I’m not interested in letting myself – or anyone else – say I couldn’t finish what I started. That’s what’s driven me in business, and it’s exactly what drove me up that mountain.
How did you prepare yourself physically for the climb?
I keep myself in pretty good shape year-round – I’m active with cardio, weights, and sports on a daily basis. I didn’t follow any intense or specialised training plan for Everest, just added a few extra hikes and longer walks into the mix. I knew my physical condition was solid enough to handle it. For me, it was always going to be more of a mental challenge than a physical one.
What did you do to make sure your physical and mental health was in check during the climb?
Physically, I kept it simple – if I felt okay, I kept going. I had a couple of days where my legs were tight or my backwas sore, so I focused on stretching and listening to my body. Luckily, we had a doctor as part of the climbing team, and I took advantage of a few acupuncture sessions, which made a big difference. Mentally, it was all about the team dynamic. We weren’t in competition with each other – we were there to support one another. If someone was having a rough day, the rest of us would lift them up. The goal was to get everyone to the end, together, and to make sure it was the successful journey we all set out for.
How does leadership change at 8,000 metres and what challenges did you face?
For me, leadership under pressure – whether in business or on a mountain – is about cutting through the chaos. You have a vision, a plan, a strategy, and tactics to get there. The key is not to let the extreme circumstances throw you off. It’s like being an athlete: if you focus too much on the score or every little mistake, the pressure will paralyse you. You lose your edge. My job as a leader is to make people feel secure in the fact that I know where we’re going, and I’ve got the tools to get us there. I don’t want them stressing about the big picture – I want them to trust me, follow the process, and focus on the next step. That’s exactly how it played out on Everest. Ant had the vision, and it was our job to trust in his experience and plan. One foot in front of the other – that’s how you lead on the mountain.
You’ve spoken about how hardship sharpens discipline. Can you share a moment during the climb where enduring physical suffering translated into a mental or business insight?
Building a successful business means pushing through day after day, failure after failure, with no guarantee of when – or if – the success will show up. There are stretches where it feels like it never will. But if you give up too soon, you never get to see what’s on the other side. That was Everest, too. There were moments when I was cold, exhausted, hungry, and just over it. It would’ve been easy to stop, to turn around, to say “this is enough.” But the truth is, anything worth having is on the far side of discomfort. Just like in business, you need the mental resilience to push through the pain, the doubt, and the setbacks. That’s when the real beauty reveals itself – whether it’s a summit or a successful venture.
What’s one irreversible change in your mindset or approach to challenges after climbing the Everest?
Climbing Everest changed how I look at the size of challenges. If you’re going to chase something – whether it’s in lifeor business – why not make it big? Everest is the biggest mountain you can climb, and it made me realise that setting bold goals stretches you further. Aiming to grow your business 20% takes effort – but aiming for 200% pushes you to think and act on a whole different level. Even if you fall short, you’ll get much further than if you’d played it safe. That mindset shift is permanent. Dream bigger, and you’ll grow bigger.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to climb their own mountain, whether in business, fitness, or personal growth?
Get the right training, find the right mentors, and learn the strategies that will help you succeed – because without those, the journey will be a lot tougher. But more importantly, remember this: no one can climb the mountain for you. You’ve got to be the one who puts in the effort, step after step. Support helps, but the work is yours alone.
If given a chance, would you take up the challenge again? What would you do differently if you did?
I wouldn’t do Everest again – I’ve ticked that box. But absolutely, I’m up for new challenges. The next one is Mount Vinson in Antarctica this November with Ant. It’s a completely different environment, with ice, extreme cold, and new obstacles to overcome. For me, it’s about exploring new parts of the world, pushing my limits, and collecting stories that last a lifetime.
What is the best piece of advice that a mentor has given you?
“No one’s coming to save you – so get up and do it yourself.” That advice means pushing through day after day, failure after failure, with no guarantee of when – or if – the success will show up. There are stretches where it feels like it never will. But if you give up too soon, you never get to see what’s on the other side. That was Everest, too. There were moments when I was cold, exhausted, hungry, and just over it. It would’ve been easy to stop, to turn around, to say “this is enough.” But the truth is, anything worth having is on the far side of discomfort. Just like in business, you need the mental resilience to push through the pain, the doubt, and the setbacks. That’s when the real beauty reveals itself – whether it’s a summit or a successful venture.
What’s one irreversible change in your mindset or approach to challenges after climbing the Everest?
Climbing Everest changed how I look at the size of challenges. If you’re going to chase something – whether it’s in life or business – why not make it big? Everest is the biggest mountain you can climb, and it made me realise that setting bold goals stretches you further. Aiming to grow your business 20% takes effort – but aiming for 200% pushes you to think and act on a whole different level. Even if you fall short, you’ll get much further than if you’d played it safe. That mindset shift is permanent. Dream bigger, and you’ll grow bigger. What advice would you give to someone wanting to climb their own mountain, whether in business, fitness, or personal growth? Get the right training, find the right mentors, and learn the strategies that will help you succeed – because without those, the journey will be a lot tougher. But more importantly, remember this: no one can climb the mountain for you. You’ve got to be the one who puts in the effort, step after step. Support helps, but the work is yours alone.
This is The Summer Escape issue – where will you be escaping to this summer?
I’ll be escaping to Bali. It’s a world away from the cold and altitude of Everest, but it’s a place I love. A slower pace, beautiful energy, and the perfect spot to recharge before the next challenge.
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