Ski Lessons: 7 things the snow sport has taught me about life and work

You never know where inspiration may come from. This spring, mine comes from a sport most people associate with winter.

Some weeks ago, I had the chance to ski in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with a group of colleagues from work. It was my first time on skis since before the pandemic, and I had almost forgotten how much I enjoy being out on a mountain.

As I skied throughout the day and later drove back home that night, I reflected on some of the things that skiing has taught me over the years, which have shaped my approach to challenges, teamwork, and personal growth. Here are seven lessons that I am particularly grateful for:?

• Learning a new skill takes time – relax and enjoy the ride

Having grown up in Hawaii, I didn’t start skiing until I was a grad student on the East Coast, and it didn’t go well. I was (and still am) a competitive athlete and activities requiring physical strength and coordination came easily to me, but not so much on the snow—and that was both humbling and frustrating. Like most things, you get out what you put in. With skiing, I needed to practice good technique, train to build the right muscles, learn from others who were better than me, and let a bit of friendly competition push me to test myself. But most of all, I just needed to relax, recognize that learning to ski was going to take time and involve some setbacks, and enjoy the journey.

• Practice makes permanent

Later in life, I found I had developed some bad skiing habits along the way. I’m still consciously working on those, but when I’m tired, distracted, or lazy, those habits can come back. Getting to the next level sometimes means realizing that “what got us here won’t get us there.” We need to continually practice a skill to get better at it or, as my favorite Peloton instructor Matthew Wilpers often says, “Practice makes permanent!”

• Learning a new skill is great, but teaching that skill to others is more gratifying

Learning may be difficult, and teaching can be even harder. Early in my skiing experience, I remember trying to teach a friend to snowboard. I guess I wasn’t very well suited to giving instruction, and my friend never got the hang of it. But eventually I learned how to teach and later did a bit better with my kids, mostly by following some of the tips from their ski instructors. My kids are quite good at skiing now, which reminds me that bringing others along, helping them achieve their true potential, and seeing them ultimately surpass your own capabilities is one of life’s greatest rewards.

• There are many ways to achieve success

There is no single right way to ski down the mountain. But there are some wrong ways, and I’ve tried most of them. The freedom to try and fail can ultimately lead to success. Just remember that there are many ways to arrive at a solution and not everyone follows the same path.

• ?Don’t go it alone

There is a famous old sign at the top of a mountain at one of New England’s ski resorts that reads: “These woods will be as cold, dark, and lonely tonight as they were 200 years ago. Don’t ski alone.” While I very much agree with the advice of aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky, who said, “The work of the individual still remains the spark that moves mankind forward,” I also know that much of our work can only succeed as a team effort. Collaboration may be messier and slower, but we can go much further and accomplish much more with others than we can on our own.

• Conditions change – stay adaptable, take measured risks

During my recent day on the slopes, I experienced a variety of ski conditions, from powder to icy surfaces to something in between. As with skiing, so with life: It’s always good to think ahead and keep your options open. Conditions change, and it’s often easier to get into a sticky situation than to get out of it. That approach applies particularly to safety. There's a big difference between taking measured risks and gambling, especially when you have a group of people in your care.

• Take some chances and savor the moments

Sometimes the best part of skiing is . . . not skiing. Whether looking out from the top of the ski lift across a beautiful snow-covered valley or listening to the stories of your fellow skiers over a refreshing drink in the lodge at the end of the day, it’s great to stop, take a breath and look around, enjoy humanity, and savor the moment. But those opportunities don’t come unless you get out there, take some chances, and embark on the adventure.