Stephen Bock - Next Step: Everest

Stephen Bock is Director of Ray White Team Bock in Manly, NSW and has been working in Real Estate for just over ten years. Like most Real Estate professionals, Stephen loves tackling the challenges of the industry but he is preparing to face a very unique challenge – climbing Mt. Everest. Sold Magazine asked Stephen about his next steps.

"My experience is that unless you can take real mental ownership of an objective you will not achieve it."

Stephen’s enthusiasm for Real Estate is contagious. Commenting on what he loves about his job, he said, "I love the freedom of being in my own business and setting my own course. I love the opportunities and challenges alike that I see day to day in this business. I have a real passion to help people. It’s an industry that anyone can be successful within so long as they have a clear vision, strong determination and most importantly, lots of energy. No one can stop you succeeding – you just need to keep standing up and dusting yourself off each time you get knocked over and keep pushing forward."

Sold: Stephen, tell us about your next challenge and what made you decide to do it?

Stephen: Climbing Mt. Everest has been a focus of mine since my primary school days. Since I first saw a photo of her I was awestruck and held a deep passion for climbing her slopes. It is hard to explain to people when you have this calling but I have always known I would climb her. As a kid growing up scared of heights I guess I have always seen it personally as the ultimate test of courage and belief in myself. I was planning on climbing her in the next five years and this amazing opportunity ‘dropped’ into my lap with a great mate only a few months ago. The very minute he suggested the opportunity I just knew it was my time. It’s true what they say in life, the most important thing is to commit and then tie up the loose ends around you as you go – instead of coming up with all the rationalisations as to why you can’t do something!

We are raising money for bowel cancer research. I am very passionate about this cause as I lost my father to the disease last year at a young age. We had only just celebrated his 60^th birthday with him and in a few weeks he was gone. 

Our target to raise is $200,000. Our focus is to raise awareness for bowel cancer and provide much needed funds for bowel cancer research in Australia. One of our team members, Sandy Hoby was diagnosed at 28 years of age and they had to operate quickly. She recovered and commenced 'living' and started climbing mountains. She is now 38 and on our expedition climbing team next year – awesome!

After losing my father I am hoping in some way what we are doing will really raise awareness of this terrible disease. The fear and embarrassment factor is what stops a lot of people (men particularly) in going to their doctor when they have symptoms. We are hoping that us facing fears on many levels by climbing Mt. Everest will serve as an inspiration for people to overcome their own fears and see their doctor if they have symptoms.

Sold: What does the preparation for this climb involve?

Stephen: My main focus is building strength in my legs, lungs, heart and head. At the moment I train daily in the gym from 5.30am to 8am. This involves a weights routine and I train with my pack (which has 20kg of rice in it) for an hour of hill work each second day. Every other day I do a one hour cycle routine. In addition I am doing a 50 to 60km training session in the bush every two weeks which normally runs for 10 to 12 hours and once a week I do a 25 to 30km night training session in the bush as well. During these sessions I am most focused on pushing through my pain threshold to increase mental stamina. The mental game is the hardest of all to train for. I often compete in 24 hour 100km events and I find the first 50km is physical fitness and the second 50km is mental toughness.