Lessons from the slopes in Morzine, France

Sometimes in life, where you least expect it, there are lessons. Nature has always been a place of not only refuge but also growth, where learning is facilitated. My recent ski trip to Morzine, France was exactly this.

Skiing in the beautiful wilderness, you must learn to master the art of anticipating patterns, how to find opportunities in pressured situations, and how to bring all of this together to produce a successful result. These are things you can implement in your business and day to day life. If you are wondering how is possible, here are six things you must do to get results both in the mountains and in business…

Let your Actions express priority.

When you know what’s important to you, you know how to take action. Say no to distractions and unnecessary danger, and yes to things that keep you focused and help you grow.

Differentiate yourself from the rest of the crowd.

You likely know your strengths already–but if not, start assessing them now. They will differentiate you from the rest of the skiers and also business competitors, allowing you to create a clear direction that will separate you from the pack and move forward to produce results.

It is the most tenacious that never give up.

Perseverance is part of every great success story. Steve Jobs said, “I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.” If something isn’t going well, keep at it. It’s absolutely the same whether you are skiing down the slopes or engaging in your daily affairs in business.

Never stop learning because life never stops teaching.

Whether you’re failing or going fast, there are lessons all around you–but only if you pay attention and keep your mind open. The best leaders I have come to know are not just the boldest thinkers; they are the most insatiable learners, always hungry for more.

There is no substitute for clear and decisive direction.

Decisiveness is often the art of timely action in ski. Waffling and second-guessing do nothing but waste time and increase your risks, and on the slopes that usually means injury! By all means, plan, analyze, and be thoughtful and intentional about what you do–but when the moment comes to make a decision, make it firmly and move on. Don’t look back or second-guess yourself.

You matter.

The most successful entrepreneurs know if they will ever hope to be effective leaders, they must first be able to take care of themselves. The same holds true when you are in the mountains. Getting results isn’t always about working hard on your current enterprise. It’s just as important that you take care of yourself and stay the course, without wearing yourself down.

As with any successful company, the best way to begin is to focus on the fundamentals. Just as you start with the fundamentals on the bunny slopes and work your way up to Black Diamond skiing. Start today to incorporate these key principles into your business–and your life–and see what results you get. Those were the lesson I have learned from mountains. Please leave me a comment and share with me your stories from the slopes! I look forward to hearing reading them :)