Kite Surfing, Anyone?

Recently, while traveling someplace warmer than Boston to escape the cold, I decided to try my hand at kite surfing. The sport is quite popular in the area I was visiting, and several people assured me it was much easier than traditional surfing—something I had attempted before without much success.

As I watched surfers being pulled by their kites and soaring above the waves, I felt a bit nervous about the possibility of getting lifted by the wind and carried away. But somehow, I pushed past my fear and signed up for a lesson.

When I arrived for my two-hour lesson, I was mentally prepared for a day on the water, riding the waves alongside dozens of other kite surfers. However, my expectations were quickly dashed when the instructor informed me that we wouldn’t be using a surfboard at all that day. Instead, we spent the first 20 minutes learning how to set up the kite properly to prevent it from blowing away. The next hour and 20 minutes were dedicated to learning how to fly the kite on the beach, getting comfortable with controlling it. Finally, in the last 20 minutes, I practiced getting into the water with the kite—still no board.

Clearly, I have a lot more to learn before I can ride the waves. But the lesson helped me overcome my initial fears and got me excited about the prospect of kite surfing. For the rest of the day, I observed kite surfers in the water, watching how they applied the techniques I had just learned. Even though I have yet to truly kite surf, I’m hooked. I’m looking forward to my next lesson and eventually getting on the board.

The experience was a humbling reminder that learning something new can be challenging, especially at my age. But with the right approach, the journey can be incredibly rewarding.

1. Set Your Expectations. Clearly, I didn’t do this very well. Whatever skill you’re trying to learn, recognize that it will take time. Try not to get frustrated—you’ll get there eventually.
2. Be Prepared to Fail. Flying a kite is not as easy as it looks. Even the slightest movement can send it soaring in the wrong direction. It landed on the beach more times than I’d like to admit. But failure is part of the learning process—that’s how we grow.
3. Take It Step by Step. Whether you’re learning to kite surf or preparing to give a presentation, take it one step at a time. Small, steady progress is safer and more effective than taking giant leaps. Be patient—you’ll get where you want to be.
4. Immerse Yourself. Lessons are valuable, but in today’s world, there are endless resources available to accelerate your learning. Study the experts. Find a mentor. Watch videos. Read. And most importantly, practice. The more you immerse yourself, the faster and better you’ll improve.
5. Never Stop Learning. There’s always room for growth. Even the most accomplished professionals continue to refine their skills. I certainly don’t plan on becoming a professional kite surfer, but it would be pretty gnarly to catch some air. (Did I really just say that?)???

Learning a new skill can be a long journey, but with the right mindset, you’ll eventually reach your goal—and the reward will be worth it. So, what will you learn next?

As always, if this message resonates with you, feel free to share it with someone who might benefit from these insights. I’d love to hear your thoughts here.