Activator & Alex Honnold

I’m fascinated by the mindset of thrill-seekers—mostly because I’m not one of them.

I’ll ride a nice, easy roller coaster with my kid, but I’m the last person you could convince to jump out of an airplane. I’m sure it’s an incredible feeling… but I’m a big chicken.

That’s why watching the documentary Free Solo left me in complete awe. It follows renowned rock climber Alex Honnold as he attempts to do something no one had ever done before: climb the face of El Capitan—a sheer, 3,000-foot rock wall—with no ropes, no harness, and no safety gear.

And he did it. In under four hours.

I could never. Neither could almost any other human.

The Activator Instinct

Initially, I thought Alex Honnold was the perfect example of an Activator. The CliftonStrengths talent of Activator is about action—people with this talent don’t wait; they move. They thrive on getting things started and pushing forward.

And what could be a purer expression of that than a guy deciding to climb a massive rock wall with no safety net?

But then I came across something that made me rethink my analogy.

Not an Adrenaline Junkie

Honnold once told National Geographic:

“Free soloing is definitely not about the adrenaline. It took me four hours to get up ‘El Cap.’ You can’t have an adrenaline rush for four hours. It’s much more meditative, calm, and relaxed. It’s almost serene.”

Wait… not about adrenaline? There went my beautiful metaphor.

I’ve always compared the Activator talent to the impact of adrenaline. Activators infuse energy and urgency into their environments, just like adrenaline fuels the body for immediate action. They don’t just talk about ideas—they act on them.

So if Honnold isn’t driven by adrenaline, what makes him go?

The Role of Focus

Our brains haven’t evolved as fast as the world around us. Generations ago, people had to worry about survival, but days could go by without much stimulation. Now, I’m typing this on my laptop while my TV is on, my phone is buzzing, and emails keep coming in. My ancestors could never.

In today’s world, focus is more valuable than ever.

And that’s what makes Honnold so remarkable. While he doesn’t seek adrenaline in the way a skydiver might, I’d argue his brain is uniquely wired to harness it differently.

Actually, I don’t need to argue it. It’s a fact. His brain is just different, and it turns out that after a clinical review – neuroscientists determined that he doesn’t experience fear the same way that most do.

Where adrenaline might make most people panic or freeze on the side of a cliff, his mind sharpens. His focus becomes unbreakable.

That’s an important lesson for Activators.

Turning Activator into a Strength

The energy of an Activator can be contagious and inspiring, but only if it’s channeled effectively. Without direction, it can lead to impulsivity.

Managing an Activator—whether it’s yourself or someone on your team—means creating an environment where action is balanced with purpose. Clear goals, structured timelines, and the right outlets for initiative help Activators do what they do best: turn ideas into momentum.

Because in the right conditions, Activators—like adrenaline—don’t just create movement.

They create progress.