On 25 January 2026, Alex Honnold made headlines when he free-solo climbed Taipei 101 — 508 metres tall, 101 stories, and one of the world’s tallest buildings — without ropes or safety gear. The ascent was broadcast live to millions on Skyscraper Live, making it one of the most-watched athletic feats of the year.
You might wonder what an extreme physical achievement like this, something most of us would never attempt, has to do with us beyond entertainment.
Yet it has almost everything to do with us.
Whether in sport, academics, or career, ambition often comes paired with anxiety, anticipation, and pressure.
By examining how Honnold approached this incredible challenge through his Netflix interview, “Inside Alex Honnold’s Mindset Ahead of His Live Climb of Taipei 101,” we can extract lessons about preparation and performance under high stakes.
1. Mindset: Curiosity Over Fear
When asked about how his mind reacted to the challenge and opportunity, Honnold spoke less about fear and more about curiosity toward the challenge. “I think I’ve always had curiosity about what it would feel like to climb a building this big. I’ve climbed tons of huge walls in the world but never something man-made like that.”
Takeaway:
The perspective we take toward a situation influences how we feel and, therefore, how we prepare and perform. Fear can sometimes fuel action, but excessive fear narrows thinking and tightens execution. Approaching a daunting task with curiosity and interest allows space for sophisticated preparation.
2. Tuning Out the Noise and Staying Present
Honnold noted he wasn’t focused on the millions of viewers watching his every movement, only on executing each move well.
Takeaway:
We often worry about who is watching, what they are thinking, or how we might be judged. Whether in competition or the boardroom, attention divided between performance and perception weakens both. The ability to return focus to the immediate task, and do that well, is a defining skill of high-level performers.
3. Normalising the Jitters
Being known for staying calm under pressure, Honnold shared that fear is similar to nervousness or excitement, a tingling sensation rather than a threat. He emphasised not over-interpreting the feeling, but simply recognising it as a physical sensation.
Takeaway:
In high-stakes situations, jitters are normal even for top performers. The difference lies not in eliminating the sensations, but in how we label them. Treating physiological arousal as information rather than danger prevents spiralling reactions and keeps attention and energy available for execution.
4. Customised Preparation
Honnold described the climb as technically predictable but physically demanding due to repeated movements. Because of this, he trained more for whole-body endurance and less for finger strength.
Takeaway:
Even familiar environments contain new variables: a different opponent, audience, environment, or context. Effective preparation means tailoring to the specific demands of the upcoming performance.
5. Enjoying the Process
Beyond completing the climb, Honnold defined success as having a good experience, avoiding injury, and carrying himself with dignity.
Takeaway:
We often define success purely as outcome: winning the match, securing the deal, delivering the perfect presentation. Yet the ability to remain engaged in the process, to stay composed and even experience moments of enjoyment, can improve performance rather than detract from it, and most importantly, yield the results you were striving for in the first place.
Most of us will never climb a skyscraper. But many of us face challenges that feel as challenging as climbing a skyscraper.
The lesson from Honnold’s climb isn’t fearlessness; it’s that high performance comes from how we interpret challenge, direct attention, prepare intentionally, and relate to the sensations that come with the stakes.
—
Written by Vickie Liao, Associate Counsellor at Us Therapy