Hundreds of employees recently heard that they should identify their goals and go after them.

This was the message at an Employee Assistance Programme's seminar at The Princess Hotel.

Guest speakers Bob O'Malley, an author and award-winning photographer, and his partner Barbara Stoker, a former product developer for Hallmark Cards, Mattel Toys and Walt Disney, share a love for inspiring people to take full advantage of life.

And by the end of the three-hour meeting, entitled "Intelligent Risk Taking'', they had most of those in attendance -- including Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith -- thinking about taking more chances in life and pursuing their dreams.

With both speakers accomplished technical rock climbers, participants were encouraged to share a risk they took as a child and how it affected their lives.

Mr. O'Malley also told of how he overcame the life-threatening difficulties of climbing Mount Everest.

In fact, Mr. O'Malley has climbed mountains all over the world including the Himalayas.

Mr. O'Malley -- a wish granter for the "Make A Wish Foundation'' -- likened his adventure to the human spirit and what one can do when they believe in themselves and take risks.

The former Police officer, firefighter, and paramedic said his background is what encouraged him to take life by the horns.

Reminiscing about his Mount Everest expedition, Mr. O'Malley told the crowd how he made the trip to Nepal, but took ill near his goal of climbing the mountain and was forced to turn back.

But after returning to his home of Denver and resting he decided to turn around and catch the team of climbers.

Mr. O'Malley said he caught up with his team half way through their journey and made the trip with them.

Taking a more technical and more difficult route up the mountain, the team was faced with a hard decision just 800 feet away from the peak.

It was at that point they realised the oxygen in one of the tanks was low and there was not enough to descend from the peak of the mountain.

The team leaders decided not to risk life and limb and decided to turn back.

Disappointed, Mr. O'Malley said it was at that time he realised it was not the climbing of the mountain that was important, but "what we became in trying.'' He said it also made him realise there were no summits in life, only "next plateaus''. He ended the presentation by telling everyone, "your mountain is waiting''.

And everyone at the seminar received an "Intelligent Risk'' Journal which contained helpful tips on following one's life dreams.

Participant Craig MacIntyre, a lawyer at Conyers, Dill & Pearman, later told The Royal Gazette he found the presentation interesting.

"It opened my mind to new possibilities,'' he said, adding he was happy to see so many different organisations represented at the seminar.

"It's up to each of us here to carry the message back to our workplace,'' Mr.

MacIntyre noted.

Alethea Smith, of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, said the speakers made her realise there were always ways to get over obstacles.

"I think we're all afraid of falling or trying something and failing,'' she said. "This makes me want to apply myself more to the goals I've set for myself.''