Many people dream of being the first to accomplish something extraordinary, but would you risk your life to do it?

Stacy Allison lived to tell the tale of becoming the first American woman to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain but it took her a couple tries to achieve her goal.

In 1988, after 29 days on Mount Everest, she finally reached that lofty milestone. She tells Growing Bolder that her first attempt left her trapped in a snow cave at 29,500 feet for five days following a record-setting storm.

She says mountain climbing is a perfect metaphor for life’s challenges. She used her accomplishment to get ahead in business. These days, she runs her own construction company and is a highly sought after motivational speaker.

She shares her secrets of success that she learned on top of the world in her new book, “Many Mountains to Climb: Reflections on Competence, Courage and Commitment.” For more information, click here.

Want to meet other Mount Everest explorers? Check out:

— Sean Swarner is a two-time cancer survivor with only one functioning lung. Fifteen years after doctors gave him two weeks to live, he reached the top of Mount Everest. Click here to listen to our conversation.

— Ken Mitchell was a linebacker with Atlanta Falcons, a catcher in the California Angels organization, played basketball in college and raced motorcycles. But after a lifetime of athletics, he had both knees replaced. He thought his climbing days were over but his nine kids convinced him otherwise. Click here to listen to his description of his amazing journey to the top of Mount Everest.

— Jeanne Stawiecki is a former two-pack-a-day smoker who gave up cigarettes to conquer the world. In 2007, she completed marathons on all seven continents and reached the summit of Mount Everest at the age of 57. Now she’s listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest woman to climb the world’s tallest Seven Summits. Click here to find out why she wanted to conquer such a lofty goal.

— Just five years ago, Don Healy was a 60-year-old couch potato who’d never exercised in his life. Now, he has reached the top of the world — with an artificial hip. Click here to find out why he never gave up on his dream to look down from the top of the world.