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is reflected in his mentality, which virtually rules out
limitations. ”Limitations are only inside our heads – as
are possibilities,” is the title of a popular talk that Cato
gives to Norwegian businessmen.
”Generally speaking, the complexity of most company
projects far exceeds that of an expedition like ours,”
Cato points out. ”When I supervised the building of the
Cato Centre (a rehabilitation centre in Norway of which
Cato Zahl Pedersen was the initiator), the task was far
more complex than the one facing us on the mountain.
Getting all the finances in place, dealing with all the
politic challenges and finding the right staff – now that
was difficult.”
“Breaking down” limitations has become a guiding light
in his life, which is why he also has a positive attitude
towards Pressalit Care’s ”Keep Living” philosophy and
mission ”to provide maximum compensation for physical
limitations”, which later becomes the subject of
conversation.
“When healthy people see a functionally impaired person,
they often see a general limitation – a bit like the
demotivated expedition member,” explains Cato Zahl.
An employer avoids a person in a wheelchair because
he perceives the person as a problem. In his civilian job
as project manager, he works hard to knock down the
doors of Norwegian companies – and at the very least
get them to invite a person with impaired functionality
for a job interview the next time they have a vacant
position. Maybe they will discover that the best engineer
is a wheelchair user and that his functional limitation
can be alleviated using a stair ramp or a few simple
auxiliary aids in a handicap toilet.
FACTS:
Pressalit Group has entered into a sponsorship
agreement with Cato Zahl Pedersen and Cho Oyo
Unarmed Expedition 2005. The agreement means
that until the end of 2006, Cato Zahl will function
as ambassador for Pressalit Care’s products in
Norway.
The Cho Oyo Expedition will begin on 7 September
2005 and is expected to take 5 weeks.
It comprises seven members – six Norwegians and
one Dane. The youngest member is 26 and the
oldest 53.
In preparation for the expedition, Cato Zahl Pedersen
has climbed Norway’s “Glittertind” mountain.
Pressalit Care manufactures kitchen and bathroom
solutions for the functionally impaired.
Read more on:
www.catozahl.no
www.pressalitcare.dk
www.pressalitgroup.dk
Attitude to change
In a strange way, time has drawn a dotted line through
the high points of Cato Zahl Pedersen’s life. He thinks a
lot about the “triangle” - beginning with his 17,000 Volt
accident to his expedition to the South Pole and now
Cho Oyu. His story is soon to become the subject of a
book, he explains. Nowadays, Cato Zahl states without
any hesitation that we learn most from adverse situations,
and that attitude to change is the greatest challenge
we should address. Strong words indeed from a
walking torso.
Before we round off our talk, I have to ask him if there
is nothing at all that can phase a man such as Cato
Zahl. Yes, he assures me. When the people he works
with become indifferent, tepid and uninvolved or if team
members fight one another – that can dishearten him
and lead to a lack of commitment. If he is involved in
a project in which he does not feel committed, then he
has to find a proper way of moving on before it drains
all his energy. Otherwise he chooses to maintain a positive
outlook on life.
The next time I feel I’m about to “give up” on one of
my 10 kilometre runs or see more limitations in front of
me than possibilities, I will think back to this meeting
in Oslo and send a friendly thought to the man without
arms, who is about to tackle his 8,201-metre-high
mountain.
Pressalit Care products provide maximum compensation
for physical limitations. I have just met a man who
has the recipe for providing maximum compensation for
mental limitations – if he has any at all. Next to him, I
have to admit to feeling a bit functionally impaired.
keep living