The Ski Lesson

My two boys started skiing at a very young age since my husband and I love the sport.  When my older son turned four, we were so excited to take him to the mountains. We put him in ski class with a lot of tears streaming down his face.

One hour later, my husband decided to check on our son. To his surprise, he found my four-year-old on the lift all by himself. How dangerous! My husband took him out of class immediately.

I asked him if he wanted to ski with Mommy instead of going back to the class. The four-year-old loved the idea. We put him on the lift with us and jumped off the lift with him. At the top of the hill, I put him between my skis; we laughed all the way down to the bottom of the hill.

He enjoyed it so much, slicing down the slopes while still under the protection of his mother.  I lifted him up when we ran into bumps or when we had a sharp turn or a stop. I enjoyed teaching him to ski and still remember how little he was at that age.

The second day, I tied a strap around his waist and held him from the back. On the third day, holding the same pole, we skied side by side. By the end of the third day, I asked him, “Is Mommy a good teacher?” He said with his head high, “I am good!” That was the best answer I had ever heard!

As parents or leaders of businesses, the best results occur when you grow your children or your team members in such a way that they have gradually built up self-confidence and ability. They learn from you without even realizing it. You are there, providing a safety net and guidance according to their skill levels. You bring them to the game more quickly with strength and intensity. That was the best lesson my four-year-old taught me. 

Twenty years have passed, and my son is in his 20s. He can ski half pipes, forward and backward, on the slopes of a Double Diamond. He goes places with my friends, who are experts; he has grown far beyond my capability. I am so proud of him. Whether he remembers or not, the very first time he enjoyed skiing was when I held him between my skis.

The success of our children and our teams has become part of our legacy, even though we never ask for credit or payback. The return on our investment is simply the satisfaction of witnessing their accomplishments.

I am helping younger generations to meet the challenges of the recent layoff. Apply for the 12-month free coaching program if you and your friend recently got layoff. Here is the link to apply: https://forms.gle/66EKGKu93T7WM1t48