''Life is too short to waste time on second-class ambitions. Go for the big ones.''

Now in his late seventies, Sir Ranulph Fiennes looks back on a lifetime of exploration, and draws powerful, inspiring lessons that we can all use when faced by the tribulations of everyday life.

Having crossed both Polar ice caps on foot, climbed Everest and the Eiger, served in the SAS and circumnavigated the world along its polar axis - a 53,000 mile odyssey that has never been repeated - ''Ran'' looks back from the summit of an incredible life and teaches us how to:

Learn self-discipline

and

master fear

Plan for success

and

make your own luck

Learn from failure

and

strive to succeed

Keep going

whatever life throws at you