37,000 Feet Above the Noise: Why You Need Vulture Altitude to Lead and Win

37,000 Feet Above the Noise: Why You Need Vulture Altitude to Lead and Win

On a blistering 90-degree Texas evening, I climbed the Summit Trail at Enchanted Rock — a billion-year-old dome of pink granite rising 425 feet above the Texas Hill Country. Sweat clung to my skin, the granite radiated heat back at me, and every sip of water felt warmer than the last.

When I reached the summit, the golden hour light stretched across the hills. That’s when I saw them — vultures circling far above me. No frantic flapping. No wasted motion. Just absolute command of the air.

We don’t usually admire vultures. They get labeled ugly, ominous, even disgusting. But here’s the truth:

They fly higher than any bird on Earth.

The Rüppell’s griffon vulture has been recorded soaring at 37,000 feet — above Mount Everest, above most planes.

They don’t get there by working harder than everyone else. They get there by finding the right thermal — the right current — and riding it with patience and precision.

Why Vulture Altitude Matters for You

Vulture altitude is the ability to rise above chaos so you can see the full field. From 37,000 feet, you’re not just reacting to problems — you’re anticipating them. You’re not chasing distractions — you’re choosing your path.

This isn’t just a bird trick. The greatest leaders and achievers do it too:

Nelson Mandela used his 27 years in prison to gain the perspective that would heal a nation.

Serena Williams endured decades in a brutal sport because she played the long game.

Abraham Lincoln kept sight of preserving the Union and ending slavery, even when daily losses screamed for short-term compromises.

And I’ve lived it too — rising from school librarian to business owner, using the hardest chapters of my life not as a victim label, but as fuel to build a place where others can win.

The Lessons of Vulture Altitude

Rise Above Daily Fires

Schedule time to climb above the noise — a weekly planning evening, a quarterly strategy day, and an annual deep reset.

Endure Longer Than the Rest

It’s not about speed. It’s about staying in the game when others quit.

Clean the Mess Before It Spreads

Ignoring problems doesn’t make them vanish. It makes them grow teeth.

Play the Long Game

From high altitude, you can see patterns — and you can resist the temptation to trade your ultimate goal for short-term comfort.

Your Challenge

Where in your life or business are you stuck flapping at ground level — chasing noise instead of finding clarity?

Your best decisions aren’t made in the trenches. They’re made at altitude.

Find your thermal. Rise. See. Lead.

Because at 37,000 feet above the noise… the view is yours alone.