Yikes. My last article was all about overwhelm, and you’re probably imagining this one will be riffing on all the lessons I’ve learned and telling you about the changes I’ve made and how freaking zen my life looks right now.
Except I haven’t and it really doesn’t.
2 weeks on (yep, I skipped a week’s writing) and I’m still in the thick of it. Thankfully I’m back home and wading through my workload from one place, which always feels a little less frantic. Nonetheless, I’m still in serious go-mode, but I guess the biggest difference is that I’m very aware of it!
I’m off to Ireland in a few days and then I’ve got a long (well, 8 weeks, which is pretty long for me) stint at home before any more major travel plans.
So I’ve been thinking about what to write today… and here’s the thing, so much has happened in the last few weeks that I have way too many things to write about, and not enough time to write about any of them. Or at least that’s what I thought, until this afternoon when I saw my to-do list and realised that sitting down and writing would be the most productive and enjoyable way to finish off my day.
So I’m pressing rewind, back five weeks, to my time in Spain pitching the SUPKids program. Because something happened there that I really want to share with you.
I got to spend some time with a super smart, super nice, super successful entrepreneur. And as much as I walked away from that trip excited for what the future has to hold for SUPKids, I was just as psyched on the insights I’d learned about what it takes to be an epic entrepreneur.
I questioned even telling you the guys name because I don’t want this to become a piece about how awesome he is. I’m not a fan of putting people on pedestals. In fact, I think it’s a dangerous thing to do as an entrepreneur. Not only does is put unwanted pressure on the person you’ve put up there, but it tends to make you shrink in their presence (been there, done that). And shrinking is never a good idea.
Anyhow, I will tell you his name because he’s a rad guy & I’m really stoked to be working alongside him. Svein is the founder of Starboard (one of the biggest SUP companies in the world).
We stayed at his house in Thailand for a few days earlier this year, and I remember thinking then that there was something really interesting about him. But it wasn’t until this trip that I really tapped into what makes him an awesome business mentor. In fact, there are three things in particular that I learnt from him.
Curiosity
I can honestly say that I have never met someone so curious as Svein. It’s the very first thing I noticed about him. His sincere eagerness to listen & learn from everyone around him totally blew me away. It would be so easy for a guy like him, who has been uber successful in business, to save his curiosity for the select few, or to assume that he knows a lot more than most. But instead he takes notes on everything, and he asks questions that can only come from someone who is truly listening to every word you are saying.
It’s only when you hang out with someone that curious that you recognise what a rad quality it is.
Humbleness
To me, someone who is an incredible listener is someone rooted in humility. And humbleness goes a long way in business. Not only does it show massive respect to the people you are hanging out with, but it clearly sets you apart from the masses of pretentious, ego-driven folk out there who would much rather brag about themselves than listen to others.
I noticed this most when Svein was introducing people to one another. Remember for a minute, that we were at a Starboard event, with over 400 people, all of whom had a connection to the brand. Whether they were distributors, team riders or dealers… Starboard was the common thread. And Svein, being the founder, could have easily walked around like he owned the place. But instead, he introduced people with so much passion & respect. You’d hear him say ‘You have to meet this guy, he’s incredibly talented and smart and a very important part of our team’, then he’d turn around and introduce you in the very same way.
Knowledge
And so of course, if you blend insatiable curiosity with humbleness, you find someone who is always learning. And someone who is always learning is quite likely to be pretty knowledgeable. So often these days, people are eager to become experts overnight. We see it way too often in the online business world, where someone has learnt something one day and decides to teach it the next.
But the depth of knowledge can’t be faked. It’s blatantly obvious when someone only has a surface level understanding of something. And equally, it’s obvious when someone really knows their stuff. And that wisdom, that experience, is magnetic.
So here’s my challenge for you (and me) for the next week: Pick one of these traits… and start leaning into it. Be intentional about it. Be mindful of it.
I’m choosing curiosity .. and I’ll get a head start by asking you which of these traits you’ve picked & what you’re planning to put into action. Let me know in the comments below!