Yesterday was my first ever attempt at skiing.
Not a gentle hour on the nursery slope, either. A six-hour intensive course.
It was a long day. But it also reminded me of a few essential things about learning anything new, in sport, in business and in life.
1. You don't know what you can do until you try
It sounds obvious. It's also the one we ignore most.
It's amazing how many things we carry around in a box marked "not for me". Things we've decided we can't do without ever actually having a go.
The only way to find out is to put the boots on.
2. It's OK to fall
I fell over. Of course I did. Falling and failing are part of learning, and the important thing is getting back up and not giving up.
There's something quite freeing about being a total beginner. Nobody expects you to be good. You're allowed to be rubbish, so you might as well enjoy it.
Most adults don't give themselves that permission at work. We expect to be good at a new skill straight away, and if we're not, we quietly decide it's not for us. Imagine if we treated a new sales technique, or a new piece of software, the way we treat a first day on skis.
3. Great technique comes with guidance
I honestly think I'd have been dangerous without the coaching I got. Skiing is nowhere near as straightforward as it looks.
Having someone who knew what they were doing, watching me and telling me what to fix, made all the difference. It saved me from a lot of bad habits, and probably a few bruises.
As a business coach, I'm biased. But I've seen it from both sides now. Trying to work everything out on your own is slow, and you can pick up habits that are hard to shake later. A good coach or mentor shortens the distance between where you are and where you want to be.
4. Success feels good
There's a moment, usually later than you'd like, when it starts to come together. And when it does, it feels brilliant.
That sense of progress is a key ingredient in creating more success. Small wins give you the energy to keep going. Which is why it's worth noticing them, and celebrating them, rather than waiting for the big finish line.
It works the same in a business. Notice the first customer who says yes to the new offer, the first week the new process runs without you, the first time a team member solves something you used to fix. Each one is a small proof that the learning is working.
Am I an expert now?
Nope. Not even close. But I'm enjoying the process of becoming one.
So what's something you've filed under "not for me" without ever really trying it?
It reminded me of the time I put skates back on after years away, which I wrote about in My Bauer Turbo roller boots and the hours you never lose. That's the other end of learning, when the hours are already banked.
