Focus on the Path - in skiing, life and business

With the ski season upon us and the new year ahead, I’m reminded of the life and business lessons that can be drawn from skiing. In Skiing, Life and Business – Focus on the Path not the Trees.

“If you focus on the obstacles, all you will see is obstacles. If you focus on the path through the trees, all you will see is path through the trees. It’s your choice how you choose to perceive your own career. It’s literally perspective.” – Simon Sinek

“Man needs difficulties; they are necessary for health.” – Carl Jung

The Business Slope: A Tale of Resilience and Risk

Standing at the top of a mountain, you prepare to descend the snowy slope below. The path is dotted with trees—obstacles you must navigate—but also holds open spaces, representing opportunities. As you begin your descent, each turn and movement mirrors how we navigate challenges in business and life.

Lesson 1: Focus on the Path, Not the Trees

If you fixate on the trees, fear takes over, and you inevitably steer toward the very obstacles you’re trying to avoid. Instead, experienced skiers know to focus on the open spaces—the path between the trees. Similarly, in business and life, focusing solely on obstacles—financial risks, competitive threats, or potential failures—paralyzes progress. Instead, direct your energy toward the opportunities and solutions that will guide you safely through.

Corollary: Those who obsess over the risks may find themselves hitting one, while those who keep their eyes on their goals navigate the spaces to success.

Lesson 2: Find Your Line, But Be Flexible; Adapt to the Terrain

Every skier chooses a “line” down the mountain—a preferred path that looks both exhilarating and manageable. But the ability to adapt mid-run, to change lines when unexpected obstacles arise, can mean the difference between a smooth descent and disaster. In life and business, having a vision is important, but flexibility in execution ensures long-term success.

Every slope is different—some are smooth and wide open, while others are steep and riddled with moguls. A good skier knows to adjust their technique, shifting their weight and rhythm to suit the conditions. In business and life, adaptability is key. Rigidly sticking to a single strategy or refusing to change course when the terrain shifts leads to failure.

Corollary: Choose your path with intention, but be ready to pivot when necessary. Success belongs to those who can adjust their approach to match the challenges at hand.

Lesson 3: Lean Forward, Not Backward

On skis, leaning back out of fear causes you to lose control. The same applies to life—pulling away from challenges only amplifies the risks. Instead, lean forward, face the slope, and embrace the discomfort. That’s where control and progress come from.

The instinct to lean back out of fear—whether of falling or losing control—almost guarantees a fall. Skiers must lean forward, placing weight over the tips of their skis to maintain balance and control. In life and business, leaning into discomfort—embracing challenges head-on—allows you to maintain momentum. When fear of failure causes you to pull back or hesitate, you lose control of the situation.

Corollary: To stay upright and in control, lean into the challenges, even when it feels counterintuitive.

Lesson 4: Learn from the Falls

Every skier falls. It’s part of the journey. Each fall is a teacher, offering insight into what went wrong and how to improve. Take the lesson, but don’t dwell on the mistake. Dwelling on past failures will only make you nervous and stiffen your resolve. Rise, dust yourself off, adjust, and move on wiser.

Lesson 5: Take Risks to Build Resilience

Each time you weave through the trees, you take on a risk. Sometimes the risks will lead to falls, but over time, they build resilience. Resilience, in turn, gives you the confidence and skill to navigate even greater challenges. This creates a virtuous cycle: the more risks you take, the stronger you become, and the more capable you are of tackling even greater risks. This iterative process, where adversity is metabolized into growth, is the core of Learned Resilience. In business and life, every bold decision strengthens your ability to adapt, recover, and thrive. Without risk, there is no growth. Without resilience, there is no mastery.

Lesson 6: Trust Your Momentum

Overthinking disrupts your rhythm. Trusting your momentum, however, allows you to move smoothly. In business, this means letting go of constant second-guessing and trusting in your preparation and instincts.

Lesson 7: The Power of Preparation

Before skiing a challenging slope, preparation is critical—checking equipment, assessing the route, and warming up your muscles. In business, preparation takes the form of research, skill-building, and planning. While you can’t predict every turn, preparation equips you to handle surprises with grace.

Corollary: The more prepared you are, the more confidently you can tackle the unexpected.

Lesson 8: Celebrate the Journey

Each slope you ski, each challenge you face, is part of your story. At the bottom of the mountain, don’t focus on the falls—focus on how far you’ve come, the lessons you’ve learned, and the strength you’ve built.

The Tale of the Resilient Skier

In Skiing, Life & Business - Focus on the Path not the Trees - Square

There once was a skier who hesitated at the top of a challenging slope. They feared the trees and remembered every fall they had taken before. They stood paralyzed until a wise instructor skied up.

“The trees are just part of the landscape,” the instructor said. “Focus on the spaces between them. Lean into the slope, not away from it. And take the falls as gifts—they’re teaching you how to get stronger. Each run builds your resilience, and that resilience will let you ski even steeper slopes tomorrow.”

The skier nodded and pushed off, cautiously at first, but as they navigated the trees, they found their rhythm. They fell once or twice but rose each time, stronger and more confident. By the end of the slope, they smiled, realizing that every turn, every risk, and every lesson had brought them closer to mastering the mountain. See Also TalentWhisperers.com/Learned-Resilience#A-Skiing-Metaphor-for-Learned-Resilience.

The Lesson

Taking risks isn’t reckless—it’s essential. Risks build resilience, and resilience allows you to face even greater challenges. Each fall is a stepping stone, and every run is a part of your journey to mastery. The trees will always be there, but the path is yours to carve.

Talent Code Applied

Talent Code is a book where Daniel Coyle describes deep learning through short repetitions and feedback loops. I have applied this approach in coaching sports and in business.

Talent Code’s REPS approach (Reaching/Repeating, Engagement, Purposefulness, Strong, direct feedback) can be applied in software development, and it can also grow the talent in your business / engineering organization This is referred to in The Lean Startup as the Build/Measure/Learn feedback cycle, and though the focus there is on learning, innovating and improving on customer needs, the same applies to the teams iterating through the process of finding the best way on executing delivery to that end.

I applied this approach on a ski trip with my friend Joe for whom it was his second time on skis. Instead of doing a few runs on the bunny slope, we went to the top of the mountain is did very many, very short traverses going down the hill. That approach resulted in well over 100 falls on that day, but after each traverse that initially ended in a fall, there was opportunity for very immediate and relevant feedback.

The Art of Learning – An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance by chess and Tai Chi world champion Josh Waitzkin. Josh relates his experience skiing with ’60s Olympic legend Billy Kidd. Billy asked him:

“Josh, what do you think are the three most important turns of a ski run?”

Billy points out: “if your last three turns are precise, then what you’re internalizing on the lift ride up is precision.” We did many short traverses instead of a couple of long runs, and we reviewed each one. He was able to internalize what he did right and what he needed to improve after each fall.

Range – Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, David Epstein.

Other’s Analogies between Skiing, Life and Business

Embracing Balance and Adaptability: Skiing demands constant balance and the ability to adjust to changing terrains, mirroring the need for adaptability in life and business. Maintaining equilibrium and being prepared to navigate unexpected challenges are crucial both on the mountain and in professional environments. The Positivity Project
Overcoming Fear and Taking Risks: The initial intimidation of skiing down a steep slope teaches the importance of confronting fears and embracing risks—a mindset essential for personal growth and entrepreneurial success. Facing challenges head-on can lead to significant achievements. Blancspace
Persistence and Continuous Improvement: Mastering skiing skills requires persistence and a commitment to continuous learning, reflecting the dedication needed to achieve proficiency in any area of life or business. Willingness to learn from mistakes are key to improvement. Odyssey
Strategic Planning and Decision-Making: Navigating a ski slope involves quick decision-making and strategic planning, akin to making informed choices in business operations. Assessing risks, evaluating options, and making timely decisions are vital in both contexts. Marketspace Consulting
Resilience and Learning from Failure: Falling on the slopes teaches resilience and the importance of learning from failures—an attitude that fosters growth and innovation in business. Ski Chatter
The Value of Patience and Timing: Skiing emphasizes the importance of patience and timing, as rushing can lead to mistakes. Understanding the right timing for decisions and actions is crucial for success. Semi-Rad
Building Confidence Through Practice: As skills improve, confidence builds, encouraging skiers to tackle more challenging runs. This progression mirrors gaining experience in business leads to increased confidence. MyWellBits

Talent Whisperers®

Focus on the Path