It is human nature to rise to a challenge and explore the unknown. But expeditions can be risky. This is as true now as it was a century ago. So it was with both excitement and a degree of trepidation that I accepted an invitation to leave my warm office at Savills and join a 100-mile journey to the South Pole to honour the Shackleton expedition.

From 1914 to 1916, Ernest Shackleton and his men survived the wreck of their ship, Endurance, in the crushing Antarctic pack ice, stranded 1,200 miles from civilisation. Their plan of crossing the Antarctic continent via the South Pole was in ruins. Marooned on the ice, they conceived a new mission: merely to get home safely. Through sheer determination, all 28 men survived. As a result, their story is now renowned as a classic example of strong leadership and team work.

One hundred years later, I had the chance to take part in an expedition to commemorate Shackleton’s exploits. Our expedition had two main aims. First, to complete the final leg of the journey to the South Pole that Shackleton should have done had his ship not become trapped by the ice, and, second, to enable the publication for the first time of a complete set of diaries kept by the chief scientific officer, Sir James Wordie.

Our modern venture was two years in the planning, conceived by Tim Holmes, head of the Cambridge property company Endurance Estates, and his wife, Alice, Wordie's granddaughter. A chance to complete unfinished business.

Led by the world famous explorer, David Hempleman-Adams, our team also included the ex-SAS soldier and bestselling author, Andy Mcnab. We left the UK in late November 2015; and after many delays and adventures along the way finally made it to the South Pole just before Christmas.

The hardships and challenges we faced paled into insignificance compared to those faced by our predecessors. We learned renewed respect for our heroes. Yet, perhaps, there were still faint echoes of some of the same lessons that they learnt all those years ago.

For example, we understood the need to be bold in vision, but careful in our planning. Nothing could be left to chance in that environment. Also, it was vital to review priorities regularly, and never insist on reaching a goal at any cost.

Shackleton redirected his energies when he needed to. When things went wrong for us, we changed tack, too. As in business, it is vital to adapt quickly to changed circumstances. Likewise, we learnt to go the extra mile.

Sometimes there is nothing for it but to grit your teeth and get on with it. You might surprise yourself with what you achieve. To quote Shackleton himself: 'Difficulties are just things to overcome, after all.'