7 Life Lessons you can learn through Surfing from an Entrepreneur

1. Persistence is key - learn the lingo

When you start out and stretch the 2mm wetsuit across your body, it's not a smooth process. Laying down on a board for the first time, you can barely keep your balance. When you're new to a sport, industry or company. It takes some time to mould in, learn the jargon, rituals and practices. With Surfing its no different. I was lucky to start surfing when not too many people were interested in the sport locally. This meant that seasoned locals were giving me tips and tricks at each session for free! It also meant that very often I was left confused when asked questions such as: 'Are you a goofy foot or a regular?'

2. Enjoy the moment when you get past the break

Surfing means you need to be ready to paddle hard against waves that want to throw you back to shore. However, there comes a moment when you're past the whitewater and can take in the sunset and feel the sway of the sea. After the hard work - take these 5-10 minutes, before a set hits the beach; to truly appreciate and be thankful for where you are now.

3. Recognise a Wave and ride the Opportunity

Like entrepreneurs, surfers develop an ability to spot opportunities, position themselves carefully, paddle hard to match its speed, pop up to ride its peak and exit the wave before it loses momentum. Similarly, entrepreneurs and investors use a set framework to analyse and recognise entrepreneurial opportunities and take action.

4. Have fun! Be electric, charming and kind!

It's no secret that the worlds most successful surfers are the happiest surfers. Whilst the skill for surfing is becoming more and more common. The surfers that stand-out are those who have a positive attitude and spread the Aloha Vibes. By being a beacon of positivity, many surfers with average ability develop a cult following that propels them forward in their career. In business, the friendly entrepreneur who networks religiously and is always ready to give a helping hand. Can expect to receive back similar care and support from their network.

5. Push yourself and the difficult will become easy

It used to take ages to get past the break. In 1 hour my body would be battered and destroyed. Some sessions cut short after swallowing copious amounts of seawater. Until one day, I decided to join a kayaking mission to circumnavigate the Maltese Islands. The training and execution of this gruelling 24-hour mission changed my stamina forever. By pushing your body to such extreme limits. You can extend your surf sessions to 3-4 hours twice a day!

6. Only chase waves you want to catch

Waves are simply opportunities, and you can quickly exhaust yourself chasing the ones that you just can’t catch. I know plenty of salespeople who jump on every opportunity and wear themselves out running after leads that aren’t real. If you’re exhausted from pursuing mediocre or impossible leads, you won’t have enough energy to catch the really important deals that come your way.

7. Wiping out is part of the journey

Falling is an inevitable part of surfing. You can fall on every wave, but what matters is that you hop back on your board. That’s the only way you’ll become a better surfer, and that mentality can make you a better worker too. Listen, you’re going to fail at some point. And when that happens you’re either going to learn from it and move on or pack up and go home. Take my advice, when it happens, get back on the board.

thanks Sean Blake for the pictures