It is fair to say that Sir Ranulf Fiennes is one of the most remarkable explorers ever to have lived and holds numerous endurance records. Namely,  he was the first person to complete trips to both the north and south pole and also the first explorer to journey by foot all the way across the Antarctic. Born in 1944 after his father had already died in action as a soldier in the second world war, his mother took him to live with her family in South Africa along with his three sisters. Here he stayed adventuring with friends until the age of 12 when he returned to England to attempt to emulate his father by becoming the commander of the Royal Scots Grey's. He served in the British army for eight years in the Royal Scots Grey's, spent time in the SAS and also served as an officer in Oman. However his positive thinking and attitude came into it's own really during his career as an explorer. Ranulf's eplorations began in the 1960s with expeditions up the White Nile by Hovercraft and also expeditions parachuting onto Norway's Jostedalsbreen Glacier under the guise of conducting scientific research in order to climb in previously unclimbed areas. Probably his most famous expedition was the transglobe expedition which involved seven years of determined preparation in order to travel a longitudinal route through both poles.  When planning this trip experts continually assured him that the trip was not possible and he was subsequently rejected by many companies for sponsorship, not least of which was the SAS whose brigadier at the time whom exclaimed: "This expedition is unbelievably complex and ambitious" And the New York Times commented: "The Transglobe expedition, seven years in the planning, leaves England on a journey of such daring that it makes one wonder how to sun ever set on the Empire." However Ranulf's extraordinary visionary powers enabled him to believe that he could indeed complete this challenge, which he remarkably did between 1979 to 1982 using surface travel only and traveling over 52,000 miles in the process and becoming the first person to reach both poles. His level of determination, unrelenting will power and belief is undoubtedly one of the key features that shone through on this expedition as he faced many life threatening situations and dangers, where he could have justifiably turned around and given up at anytime. The following expeditions also stretched his power of positive thinking: discovering the lost city of Ubar in Oman in severe desert conditions, in 1993 traveling with Mike Stroud and becoming the first ever man to cross Antarctica unsupported in just 90 days, which required them to pull over 200 kilos of supplies each on a sledge! On day 95 they were nearly starved to death and were collected from the Ross Ice Shelf. However not all expeditions were always successful but this never stopped him. This is his philosophy as regards failure as outlined in his autobiography: "The best course I've usually found, has been shrug, note what you have done wrong and apply yourself quickly to trying again." In 2000 one of his expeditions ended in failure when he attempted an unsupported trip to the North Pole and sustained severe frostbite. Months later against medical advice he walked into his shed and cut off his already dead and blackened fingertips. Despite this and a subsequent heart attack, when he was only kept alive due to the fortunate location of a defibrillator and from having his heart artificially pumped and his blood refrigerated this was not enough to persuade him not to attempt his next feat....an incredible attempt at seven marathons in seven days on seven continents with Mike Stroud in aid of the British Heart Foundation. Of course, again no-one gave him a chance. However Ran and Mikes incessant positive thinking and determination resulted in an incredible success. Mike comments after the event speak for themselves: "Whereas most people look at the very big challenges whatever their walk of life or field, and start from the position of 'I can't', Ran and I make a simple word substitution and say 'Why can't I' " The Times also commented the next day: "Both men are supposed to be too old to be running so far and so often. Their triumph against all odds is not only a magnificent publicity boost for the charities that they are supporting, it is also an inspiration for every runner, every ordinary person, tempted to give up in the face of the impossible." Oddly enough Fiennes had always had a fear of heights but decided that not to let him back down from the challenge of climbing Mount Everest in 2005 and thus conquer his fear. This he narrowly missed out on doing, but still managed to raise over 2 million UK pounds in the process.  Following a further expedition to climb the Eiger, a spectacular Swiss mountain and much feared, he managed to raise 1.5 million pounds again despite the issue of lacking finger tips to properly grasps ropes as most people would have been able to do. his ability to see the positive possibilities in any situation is a great example for us all. One of rans qualities of persistence again stood out as he recently attempted to be the oldest man to climb Everest in May 08, having had a heart attack, having no finger tips on one hand and suffering with prostate cancer he narrowly missed out again. However,  I am not willing to write off another attempt just yet... are you?