How Kitesurfing Taught Me Valuable Entrepreneurial Lessons

My thirst for new experiences and adventures has always been a part of my DNA, especially when it comes to the sea. Exploring water sports has always fascinated me, perhaps stemming from the rush of adrenaline I felt as a young child, tumbling in the waves with my father in Ixtapa, Mexico, and shouting "again!" afterwards.

Among all the water sports I've tried, kitesurfing was one that had always piqued my interest, and during this year's Easter vacation, I finally took the leap to give it a go. Little did I know that this one experience would teach me so much. Over the course of a week, I not only cleared my mind and recharged my energy, but also gained valuable life lessons applicable to my professional life as an entrepreneur, personal life, and as a founder.

Thanks to my French instructor, Louis, who was more of a life guru than just a kite instructor, I was able to reflect on these lessons and share them with others. In this article, I will outline some of the key takeaways that the kite and my instructor taught me during my kitesurfing adventure. While these lessons may not be entirely new, it's fascinating to see how they manifest in various activities we engage in, and how they can be applied to our lives with a little introspection and reflection.

1. Things are not always what they seem

Appearances can be deceiving, and this lesson was made abundantly clear to me during my kitesurfing experience. From a distance, it's easy to assume that kitesurfing is a sport that requires immense strength, with the rider holding onto the bar and using their entire body to control the kite's movements. However, I quickly discovered that this was far from the truth. As I learned from my instructor Louis, kitesurfing is all about finesse, precision, and subtlety. This realization reminded me of similar situations in my personal and entrepreneurial life, where things may have seemed one way on the surface but were entirely different underneath. For example, achieving a million-dollar investment round or securing PR coverage in major media outlets might appear to be the result of a successful and straightforward journey, but the reality can be quite different.

The truth of entrepreneurship is that it's not a straightforward journey to success. It's all about hard work, dedication, and persistence, and it often involves a significant amount of personal and financial sacrifices. The road to achieving goals may include an emotional roller coaster that's challenging to manage, with moments of joy, disappointment, and everything in between. While success stories may make it seem easy, the reality is that the journey requires a tremendous amount of effort and hard work. This lesson reinforced the importance of acknowledging and appreciating the effort, dedication, and hard work required to achieve success in entrepreneurship and in life.

2) The importance of letting go to be well

At first glance, you might think that holding onto the kite's bar with all your strength is the way to maintain control. However, Louis taught me that letting go of the bar is essential for safety. Holding onto the bar can give the kite too much power, and it can lead to a loss of control, potentially resulting in injury. In life and in kitesurfing, when things feel out of control, our initial reaction is often to cling on tightly and try to force control. But, as with kitesurfing, letting go can be the best safety measure.

In both life and entrepreneurship, we often hold onto people, ideas, products, and features with force, even when they no longer serve us. However, the best way to stay safe and move forward is often to let go. Letting go can free us from what is holding us back and allow us to move forward towards our goals. It's important to remember that letting go is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength and self-awareness. This lesson has shown me the power of releasing what is no longer serving me, and how it can lead to a sense of liberation and freedom in life and entrepreneurship. Letting go of deeply held beliefs, relationships, or business ideas can be one of the hardest things to do. It requires an immense amount of mental strength and self-awareness to acknowledge when something is not working and to release our grip on it. However, just as holding onto the kite's bar can lead to danger and harm, holding onto things that are no longer serving us can cause emotional, mental, and even physical harm. Learning to let go is a crucial skill in both kitesurfing and in life, and it can lead to greater freedom, growth, and success.

3) Releasing on time?

It’s not just about letting go, but about doing it on time and not hesitating. In kitesurfing, letting go of the bar is a safety measure to prevent the kite from gaining too much power and entering the power zone, which can lead to accidents or physical pain. But letting go on time is equally important. Hesitating to release the bar when needed can lead to the same risky situation, and facing the power of the wind and the kite can be even more dangerous.

Similarly, in life and entrepreneurship, hesitating to let go of people, ideas, or strategies can have serious consequences. Delaying important decisions or clinging to things that are not working can cause more pain and bigger mistakes in the long run. Taking quick actions and executing without hesitation is crucial for success.

It's easy to get comfortable with what we have, or to hold onto something that used to work but isn't anymore. We can become afraid of the unknown or worry about making the wrong decision. But inaction and hesitation can lead to missed opportunities, catastrophic scenes and prevent growth. Learning to let go on time and take action quickly can be difficult, but it's necessary for progress and success.

4)The importance of preparation and patience

You arrive at the kitesurfing spot wanting to run into the water and start kitesurfing, but in order to do so, the previous preparation is not only important but also necessary. From the wetsuit, harness, vest, etc., to inflating the kite, preparing the lines, stretching them, connecting them, etc. This takes time, and things can happen in the middle. Lines improperly tied, tangled, sand in the valve to inflate the kite, among others. This is how kitesurfing plays out between precise preparation that requires patience and the adrenaline you feel inside wanting to start. In entrepreneurship, I think it's exactly the same. The excitement and energy of starting to execute are very powerful, almost as much as the adrenaline of wanting to enter the sea and start kitesurfing. But without good patient preparation, successful execution is not possible. But with patience, precision, and waiting, everything that is meant for you, sooner or later, arrives.

5) The significance of being present in the moment

Kitesurfing demands your undivided attention and focus on the kite. You become completely immersed in the experience and are fully absorbed in watching the kite fly above you. In this moment, nothing else seems to matter. Engaging in such a meditative activity is crucial, as it helps you become more aware and present in the here and now. This is one of the most valuable and healthy habits that any entrepreneur should strive for, but it often goes overlooked. By being present in the moment, you are less likely to worry about the future and the uncertainties that come with it. Instead of fighting the unknown, you learn to navigate through it, which is a crucial aspect of entrepreneurial success.

It's no surprise that kitesurfing attracts a community of driven individuals who love a good challenge and value being present in the moment. Throughout my time on the water, I had the opportunity to meet and interact with fellow founders, and best networking sessions, who shared this passion for nature, adventure, and contemplation. It's fascinating to see how these values and lessons from kitesurfing can be applied to life and business. I love kiting now.