Your business isn’t run in a silo. In fact, your business lives within an ocean of possibilities–alongside of dangerous currents, sharks, El Nino, and so on. You wouldn’t believe what a simple lesson in surfing can teach you about how to ride a wave to a life of margaritas on the shore. This begins with a single statement from my surf coach Crash. Don’t let the name fool you.

“You have to be in the right place to catch a wave.”

As we were floating in the Sayulita sea waiting for the next set, Crash kept explaining to me that the majority of the surfers were too far out. They were making the work of getting to the wave too hard; if not impossible. Being in the right place takes knowing the conditions, observing the breaks, then angling yourself into the critical take-off position.

Wow, sounds a lot like business to me. So many times we are so busy doing the work we don’t pick our heads up to assess what is going on around us. Going through the motions sometimes feels really good because it feels like we are making progress. Without taking in our surroundings how do we know? We need constantly make it part of our business structure to test the waters to find our sweet spot.

“If you don’t fully commit, you won’t be riding any waves.”

Being in position is one thing, but if you don’t watch for the right set of waves and get the right mindset on you won’t get anywhere. You have to go for that wave with all you got. Paddling your guts out. Pushing the nose of your board into the wave. When you feel the momentum catch you, increasing your speed, pop up.

Entrepreneurial energy in business is fueled by the ability to go for it over and over again. Tirelessly hitting the pavement, because you believe in your business and know what it takes to make it happen. Out of the corner of your eye you may see a peer who is soaring through their successes. Things seem to come so easily to them. What luck! Or are they just placing themselves strategically well, then saving their precious energy for the ride, going for it with everything they have?

“Have fun, but watch out for others.”

Being oblivious to what is going on around you once you are on the wave is idiotic. Sure enjoy the ride, but keep using your peripheral vision to be conscious of yourself and others. Business consciousness is part of being a good citizen to our market. When we ruin the experience for others, or place them in harms way, we inadvertently destroy the purity and pleasure of running a good, successful business within our community.

Now my claim to fame is not one of a surfing guru–that is why I hired a coach. Funny enough though, I could see the value of my “crash course” as one for business in general. The best messages come from real life experiences. Go ahead and jump on in.

“It’s booming out there.”