Insights from the Chairlift: 2023 Mindset
Nothing Is Absolute
The type of snow will change the way you proceed down the slope and will determine the type of skis you will use. Therefore, it is essential to adapt to the type of snow the mountain presents you with. If you are skiing when the snow is falling, it will be different than when it rains because this causes the snow to become unpredictable. When these terrain changes occur, we have a sensation that the snow gets attached to the skis, but this isn't happening. Life and business are the same. There is a need to constantly observe where you are standing and to adapt to your environment. Different conditions will require you to tweak your pace. If you do not, coming down the trail will be scarier and possibly bumpier than it could be if you adjusted. If you pace your speed, you can better observe and listen to your gut. Ask yourself: “What is this situation demanding of me?” Then, you can adapt and move things around.
What is Your Style?
There are several types of skiers. Some have a defensive style, and others have an offensive style. Then there are those who have an attentive, present, or adaptive style. When skiers have a defensive style, their movement, direction, and capacity to respond are conditioned by others, and they are often fearful of the mountain. They tend to be stiff and put themselves at risk of getting hurt. They move with the fear that, at any moment, someone might come and hurt them. When skiers have an aggressive style, they lack the ability to look around and are at risk of getting involved in accidents. They ski down at high speeds with an “I win, you lose, it's about me, and I do not care about you” mindset. They do not care much about others and behave in a narcissistic and egocentric way–as if they are the center of the universe. A skier with an attentive style observes their surroundings, carefully decides their next steps, and adapts easily to the mountain. This changes the whole picture and creates a win-win scenario. These individuals may look to be the offensive type but are not. They look for pathways where they can move forward at their speed and observe others without having any feelings about their ways of skiing. Attentive skiers look up, down, and to the sides, and they maneuver their own way without hurting others. This style of individual may behave the same in life and business. If you are constantly aggressive, you will alienate people and create a narcissistic and egocentric reality for yourself. If you have a defensive way of being, you will live in fear of being hurt. These two typologies create negative thoughts and a scarcity mindset where no intuition or gut feeling can manifest. They bring no power and no personal style to their performance. The whole picture changes, however, when you have a style that allows you to be attentive, present, and adaptive when needed.
The Role of Blame
If you fight and blame the mountain for your experience, you are giving your power away, and there is nothing you can do for yourself. Your lack of responsibility will cause the mountain, slopes, snow, and the current weather conditions to rule over you. The shift happens when you take responsibility. By understanding and adopting the mindset that only you can bring your own success; your power will return. You will not only be in command but your skills will be amplified. The more you blame others, the less power you have. This is the same in life and in business. Taking responsibility and applying yourself will further develop your skills and style, amplifying your brilliance and influence.
Know Your Direction
When going through bumpy terrain, you need to bring the points of your feet down. This movement is vital to balancing your weight and safely moving your skis for your next turn. You will lose focus, balance, and direction if you do not move your skis down. You will end up going nowhere, and you can get hurt. In this type of terrain, the movements are usually short, fast, controlled, and precise. In contrast, the turns are soft and wide when going down smooth runs. In business and life, we need to concentrate on precise, controlled, and sharp moments when going through bumpy and choppy terrain. You need to have a decisive mindset and be in command. There is no need for fast movements in smoother situations, and we can take a more laid-back approach. A confident mindset leads to behavior that allows us to make the appropriate moves and either put all of our power behind it or reserve it for those moments when it is truly needed.
In other words, the good skier “always reads the mountain.” Life and business are the same. You must read the room, observe the terrain, and know when and where to take a stand.
Working with the Good and Bad
You always need to use the edges of your skis in good or bad snow conditions for an enjoyable experience. It is important you know how to add that extra weight on each side and how to position your boot with every moment so that it uses the mountain for balance. This will keep you in control and confident that you have the skill set to handle the terrain. Approach your business the same way. Knowing where to focus, manage the weight distribution, and your balance will support you.
You Attract What You Focus On
Constantly thinking about how scary the mountain and the conditions of the snow are will condition you to focus on the negative. If this mindset continues, you run the possibility of freezing in moments you need to make big decisions. Concentrating on the technique and the correct way to proceed allows you to enjoy your time and master the skill. Behave similarly in life by focusing on your strategy. The more you focus on your vision–instead of the issues that might arise–the faster you move forward.
As you make your way down the hills and trails of 2023, reflect on these insights to create a better, smarter, and stronger you in 2023
