Surfing: Ride The Opportunity To Be Successful

Surfing does not only refer to the sport, but also to the frame of mind. It is a water sport in which an individual, the surfer, uses a board to ride on a moving wave of water, usually carrying them towards the shore. A surfer is carried by the wave. Their velocity and power are greatly amplified by the wave. Provided they get on at the right time and are not thrown off the wave. Surfers spend most of their time lying on their boards, paddling, awaiting the right wave.

The last paragraph sums up pretty well what surfing refers to as a mental model. It’s not just a lens, more of a mindset, a way of conducting personal and professional activities. We have to (1) await the wave, (2) be ready to meet it, (3) get on it at the right time, and (4) make the most of the opportunity it gives us. Surfing can also be viewed as evaluating whether we are on a “wave” and doing our best to stay there. Here, awaiting is preparation, being ready is agility, getting on is timing, staying balanced is avoiding overwhelm, and the power of the wave is opportunity.

The ocean, like life, is a dynamic environment in constant motion. Surfing teaches that situations are rarely static. Flexibility is critical. You cannot anticipate every opportunity and you have to be ready to seize it when it comes. Harness the momentum. Like a surfer, align yourself with the energy of the wave. Do not resist external forces. Work with the flow of opportunities that come your way in lieu of awaiting the perfect moment or fighting against them. Time it right. Paddling too early or late results in a missed opportunity or failure. The ocean does not guarantee another surfable wave anytime soon. Use it while you can.

But that’s not all. Patience is key. Surfers spend more time waiting for the right wave than riding every one that comes. In life, it can sometimes be beneficial to await the right opportunity than rushing into any available option. Learn from every ride. Every wave, successfully ridden or not, teaches valuable lessons. Each life experience is an insight for future development. Before taking up the wave however, assess the conditions and equip yourself with the proper year. Prepare. Else you might fall off the wave. Which is completely fine. The point is to adopt the general mindset of working with the power of the ocean, not against it—with your opportunities, not against them.

Real life implications of surfing:

• Career: surface teaches the importance of positioning yourself in the right place at the right time, such as by networking strategically and acquiring skills that are relevant for your industry at the time to seize career opportunities as they arise;

• Entrepreneurship: business opportunities are much like waves—they appear, build, and break, so you have to observe emerging trends, act decisively, and ride the wave of demand while it’s there, knowing it will eventually dissipate;

• Investments: markets are cyclical, resembling the tides of the ocean, thus timing your entry and exit points is critical, such as buying during a market dip, right before the wave catches momentum, and selling before the peak, exiting before it crashes;

• Personal: view failure as part of learning, as you can always paddle back and catch another wave;

• Relationships: navigate conflicts and changes in relationships with balance and flow, catching the right moment to address issues to raise the chances of a productive conversation;

• Creativity: insights often emerge when you align with your environment and allow your ideas to flow naturally, such as by immersing with the right content or atmosphere as an artist.

How you can apply surfing as a mental model: (1) observe patterns, taking the time to assess the “waves” in your environment in the form of trends, opportunities, or risks; (2) position yourself strategically, placing yourself where the wave will likely break—whether that means gaining the right skills or entering a growing market; (3) be ready to act, commit fully to the wave once it forms and paddle hard to catch it, because hesitation can break opportunities; (4) stay focused but adaptable as you ride the wave, adjusting to changes in direction or intensity; (5) embrace the fall, treating the failure as an opportunity—get back on the board, analyze what went wrong, and paddle back into the waters; (6) acknowledge that, no matter how perfect your efforts, you cannot control every variable and the best you can do is to align your efforts with external conditions.

Thought-provoking insights. "You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf." and "Ride the wave, don’t fight it.” both emphasize that you have to work with your circumstances instead of resisting them as is commonly done. "A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” and "The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun.” are great reminders that, no matter how challenging the wave, you should find joy in the process, not only the progress. Employ the lens of surfing whenever you notice patterns unfold in your life. Life ebbs and flows. Embrace the wave—the opportunity, the challenge, the transition. Prepare for it and ride it.

Questions to reflect on:

1. How can I identify the right opportunities to catch, similar to spotting the perfect wave?

2. What skills or preparation do I need to effectively ride the wave of opportunity?

3. Have I missed or fallen off of waves of opportunity in the past due to unpreparedness?

4. How can I remain adaptable and flexible to navigate the changing conditions of the wave when I am met with it?

5. How do I handle setbacks or wipeouts when opportunities don't pan out as expected?

Quotes that encompass surfing:

1. "Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them." - William Arthur Ward, American writer.

2. "Success is the intersection of preparation and opportunity." - Bobby Unser, American racer.

3. "You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf." - Jon Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness expert.

4. "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." - Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist.

Example use cases:

1. Entrepreneurship: startup founders use the surfing mental model to identify market trends and seize opportunities to expand and/or innovate. By staying attuned to changes in consumer wants, behavior, and industry developments, they position themselves to catch the wave of entrepreneurial opportunity and achieve business prosperity.

2. Investing: investors use the surfing model to time their buy-in. Investments based on market trends and potential growth sectors enable them to ride financial waves of opportunity while guarding themselves against the crashes.

3. Personal development: you can use this model to view how you pursue goals and aspirations. Remaining open to new experiences and hurdles allows you to capitalize on opportunities for exponential self-improvement, growth, and fulfillment.

4. Career: professionals can apply this model to their career paths by recognizing and acting as opportunities for growth and advancement present themselves. By developing the relevant skills and a strong network, they can amplify their chances of being in the right place at the right time.