#54 - One Step at a Time: Everest, the Sahara, and the Mindset of the Unstoppable with Sebastien Sasseville
Today’s guest is Sebastien Sasseville
How to pursue big goals (in sport, work, or life) without being limited by adversity — by building discipline, experimenting until you understand your “systems,” and leading yourself (and others) one step at a time.
In today’s conversation Sébastien Sasseville explores how a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes became a turning point that pushed him toward structure, endurance, and purpose. He shares what it took to summit Mount Everest, why the Sahara strips away expectations fast, and how running across Canada became a mission-driven way to help others living with diabetes. Along the way, Sébastien breaks down the mindset of execution under pressure: balancing control with letting go, focusing on the return trip (not just the summit), and finding meaning beyond performance.
You will learn how Sébastien trained for extreme goals by stacking skills, fitness, and logistics over years (not weeks), and how he “experimented” to understand his body well enough to perform safely with type 1 diabetes. You’ll hear why the desert is a masterclass in humility and presence, and how dropping expectations can actually improve performance and enjoyment. You’ll also learn how he translates endurance lessons into leadership: mission-first teams, disciplined execution, and purpose as the fuel that lasts.
You will discover why the most dangerous part of big goals is often after the win — and how elite performers stay focused on the “way down,” not just the summit moment.
Sébastien helps solve the common high-performer trap of setting ambitious goals but lacking the structure, patience, and process-focus required to execute consistently—especially when conditions are uncertain and discomfort is guaranteed.
Key take aways:
The summit isn’t the finish line — it’s halfway.
Drop expectations; let the environment teach you.
Big goals require years of small experiments.
Purpose beats ego when things get hard.
One step at a time is a real performance strategy.
“The summit is not the finish line. It’s the halfway mark.”
Today’s Expert Guest is Sebastien Sasseville
Sébastien Sasseville is an endurance athlete, author, keynote speaker, and type 1 diabetes advocate. He became the first Canadian with type 1 diabetes (and one of only a few worldwide at the time) to summit Mount Everest on May 25, 2008, then went on to complete the Sahara Race and a cross-Canada run that began in St. John’s, Newfoundland and ended in Vancouver on World Diabetes Day. He has also finished the Race Across America (RAAM) in the solo category while managing type 1 diabetes. (Sébastien Sasseville)
Sébastien’s edge is that he doesn’t just tell inspiring stories — he translates extreme endurance into actionable parallels for leadership, teamwork, and performance under pressure. His work focuses on building mission-centered teams, embracing change, and executing in harsh conditions, using real experiences from Everest, ultrarunning, and ultra-cycling as practical case studies for organizations.
One key actionable takeaway: Run a “one-step” day: pick one meaningful goal, define the next smallest step, execute it, then review what you learned (what worked, what didn’t, what needs adjusting). Sébastien’s core message is that huge outcomes come from disciplined execution and iterative learning — especially when your situation is complex.
Follow Sebastien Sasseville on Instagram & Linked In.
Check out his website.
This podcast contains advice and information relating to health and wellness. It should be used to supplement rather than replace the advice of your doctor or another trained health professional. If you know or suspect that you have a health problem, seek your physician’s advice before embarking on any medical program or treatment. All efforts have been made to assure the accuracy of the information contained in this podcast / interview / article as of the date of publication. The author and publisher disclaim liability for any medical or other outcomes that may occur as a result of applying the methods suggested in this material.
