Skateboarding and the Art of Failure

If you ride a skateboard, you're going to wipeout.

This is a feature AND a benefit of skating, as it is evidence of an attempt to do something challenging and nuanced.

In business, just like skating, those who are cruising it usually aren't the ones who avoid the falls. Falling is unavoidable as a skater and as an operator who is trying new things.

When you get too cautious in skateboarding, you tend to plateau.

Uou might have fun, but you're not really growing or doing anything new or challenging.

This same principle applies to business. 

Playing it safe might prevent falls but it also stunts your growth. Building something valuable, just like getting better at skating, requires pushing beyond what you already know how to do.

Importent point here…..skaters don't just fall or crash. They know how to fall correctly. They learn to minimize damage (think tuck and roll), and they get back on their board quickly.

Entrepreneurs need these same skills:

• Taking calculated risks

• Having plans when they fall

• Knowing when some ideas/tricks aren't worth pursuing.

• Getting back up and trying again

No one lands a complex trick on their first try and business works similarly.

You'll mess up.

The question is: Will you keep going?

Most people quit early. The ones who succeed aren't those who never failed, but those who refused to let failure stop them.

At any skatepark, you'll see those who give up after a few falls and those who keep trying until they succeed. In business, you find the real success stories in that second group.

Falling isn't the problem. Not getting back up is. You will fail, struggle, and doubt yourself. But if you learn, adjust, and try again, you'll probably build something that lasts.