Snow, Slopes, and Startups: Lessons from Skiing

This past weekend, Atlanta was graced with three glorious inches of snow, and while that might not sound like much to some of you seasoned snow veterans, it inspired me to reflect on a new experience: skiing.

Now, I can already hear the Mike Ma's of the world scoffing at my beginner ice-skiing adventures, but bear with me—this isn’t about Olympic-level skill. It’s about embracing the unfamiliar, learning something new, and, most importantly, realizing that no matter how experienced you are in one area, there’s always room to grow in another.

Here are four lessons I learned on the slopes of North Carolina that surprisingly relate to entrepreneurship:

1. Lean In

When you’re on the verge of falling while skiing, the natural instinct is to lean backward, wildly flailing your arms in panic. Turns out, that’s the quickest way to lose control and end up sprawled on the ice. Our instructor reminded me (and my fellow trainees) that leaning forward is what keeps you balanced and builds the momentum needed to move.

Entrepreneurship works the same way. Running a business with the intention to grow and scale requires leaning into the discomfort, embracing the awkwardness, and pushing forward. Rolling up your sleeves, connecting with customers, building your product or service—it’s all part of the forward motion. Lean backward if you want, but remember: scared money doesn’t make the best money.

2. "Pizzas" Require Weighted Balance

Going forward? That I managed to figure out. Stopping? That was a whole different story. Let’s just say a few fences—and maybe a kid or two—had the misfortune of helping me come to a halt. My instructor’s advice? Make a "pizza" with your skis (creating a triangular shape with your feet) and shift your weight downward to control your speed.

The lesson here? In business, going through the motions without truly engaging or balancing your weight in key areas leads to stagnation. Early on, this might look like building a product without finding product-market fit. Later, it could mean failing to invest time in the future—whether it’s processes, innovation, or competition. Balance and intentionality are critical at every stage.

3. Your Poles Are for Flat Land—Learn Without Them

At the height of my frustration with stopping, I found myself eyeing the ski poles experienced skiers were using. Surely, I thought, those magical sticks could help me brake and avoid yet another embarrassing tumble. My instructor quickly shut that idea down, explaining that poles are for navigating flat terrain—not for proper stopping techniques.

In business, the "poles" might be tools like incubators, automation, or over-reliance on interns or advisors. These resources have their place, but they can’t replace foundational skills or strategic decision-making. Your business needs to be able to run without crutches—or at least have a strong backup plan.

4. Bring Your Experience, Stay Open to Learning

Once I mastered the art of pizza-ing, I realized the shifting of my weight felt oddly familiar—almost like ice skating. When I shared this with my instructor, she adjusted her teaching approach to reference movements I already understood. Suddenly, the learning process clicked.

As a business owner, you come with your own unique experiences that shape your vision, leadership style, and company culture. Never lose sight of what brought you here—but remain open to new ideas, strategies, and insights from others. Growth is a balance between leveraging what you know and embracing what you don’t.

Will I make it back to the slopes? Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure: just like skiing, entrepreneurship is all about forward motion—learning, adapting, and pressing on.

I’d love to hear your stories about skiing (or any other adventures) and how they’ve shaped your entrepreneurial journey. Drop your experiences in the comments—bonus points if they involve fences, pizza, or poles!