004. One Turn at a Time: Navigating Life's Slopes with Confidence

Last month, my wife and I embarked on a skiing adventure in Utah. It had been a decade since I last felt the rush of skis under my feet, and for Brianna, it was an entirely new experience.

I had doubts about regaining my skiing ability during our brief two-day stint on the mountain. More so, I worried whether Brianna, who tends to err on the side of caution and often feels the chill even in our cozy 78-degree home, would take to skiing at all. As we navigated through the season's fiercest snowstorm en route to the mountain, my confidence in our endeavor wavered.

Yet, as we traversed a series of gentle green slopes, a few intermediate blues, and endured several humbling wipeouts, I began to regain my confidence. It seemed my pre-trip YouTube tutorials had not been in vain.

Meanwhile, Brianna spent a morning at ski school and swiftly conquered her first chairlift ascent and descent down a green run. Encouraged by her progress, we tackled longer, faster, and more challenging slopes as the weekend progressed.

However, our optimism faced it's first true test when we opted to ascend the grand chairlift to the mountain's peak to tackle some lengthier green runs. These weren't the gentle slopes of the "Easy Rider" mountain; they were steeper, faster, and offered expansive vistas where the entire run was laid out before you, showcasing the daunting descent ahead.

I started off first and made my way down thinking I would show her how to navigate the new run. However, my heart sank as watched Brianna momentarily abandoned her skis and opted to walk down the initial 100 yards of the run. It seemed overwhelming for her.

In that moment, as we sat on the mountain looking at how far we had to go, I offered her the only advice that came to mind: "Focus solely on the turn right in front of you. Resist the urge to gaze all the way down the mountain. Take each turn as it comes, adjusting your speed as needed, and don't hesitate to pause when necessary. I'm right here beside you, ready to lend a hand." Together we would conquer this.

And conquer it, she did. Sure, there were falls for both of us, but they paled in comparison to the triumph of navigating down that mountain. Brianna's confidence soared to heights unimaginable just ten minutes prior, all because she took it one turn at a time, concentrating on the immediate task at hand.

A week later, back home, I found myself deep in frustration and over the progress of my land business. "It feels like I'm light-years away from where I want to be," I say. "The distance seems insurmountable, and progress feels agonizingly slow – if it's even happening at all."

Brianna's response was the slap in the face I needed: "Stop fixating on the entirety of the mountain looming ahead, and instead focus on taking it one turn at a time. Concentrate on the task right in front of you. Take breaks when necessary, and remember, there are plenty of people willing to lend a hand if you need it. You'll get there – just keep your focus on the present."

She couldn't have been more right. Together we will conquer this. One day at a time.

So here’s my constant reminder that I find works in all pursuits of achievement… focus one turn at a time, and try to have some fun along the way.