5 Things Snowboarding Has Taught Me About Business

Welcome back!

I caught an awesome post by Cameron Olthuis that talked about what surfing has taught him about business.  Now, I’m no surfer, in fact the last highly-rigorous physical routine I was a part of was high school football.  I do, however, snowboard…and while the lessons that snowboarding has taught me about business may be similar to Cameron’s, they taught me in an entirely different and more personal way.

1. Preparation & Research

Knowing what you’re getting into is a big part of planning your future success.  I have the phone number for the snow report for my local resort on speed dial.  I call it every morning to see how much new powder was received over the past couple days as well as the conditions of the runs, even if I’m not going snowboarding that day.  Knowing if there is fresh powder to rip is crucial.  Same thing with your business, knowing the demand and current competition is key to mapping out where you’re going and where you need to be.

2.  Action

Nothing out there gives you better experience in your field than your own trial and error.  I can assure you, I’ve had my fair share of face-plants in the snow, but it doesn’t matter, I get right back up and I hit the trail again.  I’ve known many people that have quit snowboarding after just their first few attempts, maybe even after one full season.  There’s is a sure-fire guarantee that your business will face hardships and trials.  Giving up after being knocked down will get you nowhere except out of the game.

3.  Adapt

Based upon the weather conditions, the snow can be different each day.  The same thing goes with each trail you ride, some may be fresh, slushy or packed.  You will need to ride different based on the current conditions and the current trail you are riding.  It is your job as a business owner to find new trends or replace non-proficient techniques with new, effective ones.  SEO may not be around forever, who really knows?  Social media has made a huge effect on online businesses and those that are not currently a part of it, are missing out on what could be a huge piece to their success.  Dell has made $1 Million in revenue thanks to Twitter!

4.  Diversify

There will come a time when the bunny slopes are no longer fun!  You will evolve into a much better snowboarder if you take on challenges that will test your abilities and help you push your limits.  Resorts shape their runs to meet the needs of all levels of riders.  You may find that some resorts ever have areas for a half-pipe or packed ramps.  To become the best kind of snowboarder you need to be able to do it all, stay on your feet, ride some air and look good while doing it.  If you focus on one aspect of your business, you may become very successful in that area, but that’s it.  There are several facets to a business and it’s your job to build and manage each one, until it becomes a well-rounded business that is successful in more than one area.

5.  Take A Chance

Building off of #2, you can’t be afraid to go big.  When I decided to start taking platforms and rails, I did really well, I was actually impressed with what I could do on my first few attempts.  I let it get to my head though.  The next run, I took a rail too cocky; I slipped and landed right on my back.  I had to lay there for a few minutes and then basically went down the hill in slow-mo.  I felt like going home, but I did what I felt was stupid at the time and got back on the lift.  I went back to the rail I messed up on this time over-compensated and fell on my face.  Awesome!  I’ve since returned to that area several times where I feel much more comfortable grinding (and actually look better doing it too).

Sometimes you just need to take a chance and do what seems inevitable (or painful).  Not doing it can leave you wondering if you’ve missed out.  By working on the first 4 steps, taking a chance can end up working real well for you and your business, and you won’t have to feel as though you’ve lost out on an opportunity or feel you’ve under-performed.

Technorati Tags: Business, snowboarding

Tagged as: Business, snowboarding