Many of us wonder how to achieve our dreams or stay on a path of fulfillment, especially as we age, face change and life’s pitfalls, and navigate modern life in the 21^st century. It’s not easy to balance family, work, and the spark needed to pursue them. For former NFL player, Emmy Award-winning author, and podcast host Mark Pattison, his decision to make changes ultimately allowed him to achieve goals beyond his wildest dreams.

Pattison was a high school All-American football player, playing wide receiver and quarterback at Roosevelt High School in Seattle, Washington. He was inducted into the Roosevelt High School Hall of Fame in 2005. At the University of Washington, Pattison played in two Rose Bowls, two Aloha Bowls, and one Orange Bowl, where he made the winning catch to beat Oklahoma. He played under legendary Hall of Fame coach Don James and was inducted into the University of Washington Hall of Fame in 2016.

Pattison played in the NFL for five years. He was drafted in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Raiders and also played for the New Orleans Saints. A lover of the outdoors, mountaineering, and fitness challenges, Pattison has, on numerous occasions, had to restart or redirect his life. 

Making his home in Sun Valley and Boise, Idaho, Pattison moved to a beautiful place to pursue a high-altitude goal: summiting Everest at 29,032 feet and conquering the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each continent—Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Vinson, and Mt. Kosciuszko. As a former NFL wide receiver for the Los Angeles Raiders and New Orleans Saints, Pattison has always made training a core part of his regimen. 

During a difficult time, he set an ambition to become the first NFL player to complete the Seven Summits. His original plan was to climb both Mt. Everest and Lhotse, the 4th-highest peak in the world, within 24 hours of each other. Pattison created a fundraiser called Emilia’s Everest, dedicated to his daughter, Emilia, who battles epilepsy, with proceeds benefiting Higher Ground, a national nonprofit based in Sun Valley, Idaho, with locations in Los Angeles and New York.

This would have made him the oldest and first NFL player to climb the Seven Summits. Pattison had to abandon the Lhotse climb because of storms, snow blindness, low oxygen levels, collapsing ladders, and the emotional weight of climbing for his daughter, Emilia.

“With 40-mile-per-hour winds and snow blindness in my left eye, I reached the top of the world,” said Pattison. “This triumph is the result of overwhelming support and fortitude, without ever losing sight of the goals. Climbing with passion and purpose alongside incredible colleagues has been an amazing experience. Summiting Everest was beyond difficult and not without its challenges. Mother Nature is a true force, even for those in the best shape, but my training, purpose, and focus made all the difference.” 

On the morning of May 22, 2021, Pattison summited Mt. Everest, completing his Seven Summits goal. This journey inspired his book, Finding Your Summit, which outlines the core mindset principles of his SUMMITS model. His Everest adventure and personal story are featured in the Emmy-winning documentary “Searching for the Summit.” Professionally, Mark contributed to the growth of major digital brands at Sports Illustrated, taking the company from #17 to #1 in digital rankings. He then transitioned to keynote speaking and coaching.

Pattison was the first NFL player to climb the Seven Summits, as well as the Matterhorn, the Eiger, Mont Blanc, the Grand Teton, and Cotopaxi. With more than 300 podcast episodes and numerous stage appearances, he now helps individuals and organizations discover purpose, build resilience, and achieve their highest objectives.

After years of hard work, countless lessons, and unforgettable experiences, mountaineer Mark Pattison shares his journey from an NFL player to completing the Seven Summits, with resilience and faith helping him rise above life’s challenges.

“Extreme environments teach us about leadership, decision-making, resilience, and perseverance when life gets hard,” said Pattison. “I’ve always believed that the lessons from the toughest experiences can lead to the greatest reward.”

Through raw, unfiltered stories from Mount Everest, Denali, Aconcagua, and the challenges that came long before the mountains, Pattison shows how clarity, discipline, and endurance are built one deliberate step at a time. One that his book and podcast Finding Your Summit makes unmistakably clear is that the most demanding climbs are often the ones within us.

At the heart of Finding Your Summit is Pattison’s SUMMITS Model—a practical framework forged through years of adversity, high performance, and moments when quitting would have been justified. The model offers readers a repeatable approach to navigating uncertainty, resetting their identity, and leading with purpose under pressure.

“Finding Your Summit is more than a story about mountains,” said Pattison. “It’s a guide for leaders, athletes, entrepreneurs, and anyone in transition who is ready to rise above their circumstances, rebuild with intention, and climb toward a life that demands more—and rewards the effort it takes to earn it. It’s about making decisions while staying calm, focused, and decisive, even when everything is on the line.”

Pattison also explains how to embrace change, pivot when life or business throws you a curveball, and make the most of new opportunities. He provides practical, actionable advice on leading with intention, becoming the leader you want to be, and creating meaningful impact along the way.

Inspired by the release of Finding Your Summit, Pattison is launching an immersive executive retreat, The Summit, which he has curated for leaders with an A-list roster of speakers and guests ready to make the impossible possible, including Academy Award-nominated actress Mariel Hemingway, legendary quarterback Tom Flick, Blue Angels pilot John Foley, hit songwriter Steve Azar, and TV personality Shep Rose. “Finding Your Summit is the culmination of everything I’ve learned on my journey from the NFL to the world’s highest peaks and into the boardroom,” said Pattison. “Each chapter reflects the grit, resilience, and high-performance mindset that have carried me through some of life’s toughest challenges.” He added, “Whether you’re in business, in sports, or striving to become the best version of yourself, Finding Your Summit offers actionable insights to overcome adversity, make bold decisions, and push beyond limits. It’s not just about surviving tough situations—it’s about thriving through them and coming out stronger.”