10 Things that Entrepreneurs
Can Learn from Kiteboarding
Nathan Manning Twitter: @nathanmanning
LinkedIn: bit.ly/nathanmanning
A lack of preparation will get you hurt
• Success in kiteboarding and in
business requires a respect for the
fundementals
• Take the time upfront to define your
strategy, plan for emergencies, and
check your equipment
• This is the only way that you can
enjoy the ride safely
But, don’t wait for perfect information to get started • Don’t wait for «Perfect conditions»
• Once you learn the fundamentals
and do your safety checks, get in the
water and start learning
• Success in both fields comes from
trying new things, getting feedback,
and applying learning to improving
Experience is more important than equipment • You don’t need the latest or most
expensive equipment to get started
• Do whatever it takes to get in the
water as soon as you can and let
your equipment grow with you
Don’t blame the wind, adjust to it • In business and in kiteboarding it is
easy to blame outside
cirsumstances for our failures
• Most of the time, poor planning is
to blame
• Learn to read the winds of your
market and you will find yourself
harnessing them rather than
fighting them
Overreactions cause crashes • Beginning kiteboarders often react
to a loss of control by pulling back
on the bar sharply, which only
makes the situation worse
• Learn to relax and observe when
unforseen circumstances threaten
your business
• A quiet dip in the water won’t ruin
your business... but overreacting at
the wrong time might
Harness the wind; don’t be blindly pulled by it • Immediate feedback and response
is key to controling your kite or your
business
• You can’t plan every movement in
advance, but, you can ensure that
you have systems in place to give
you ongoing information
• Follow your strategy, but, stay
flexible
Always have a backup plan (or 3) • Kiteboarders have a multi-stage
emergency response plan
• Make sure that you proactively
identify the biggest risks to your
business and determine how you
will respond if they occur
• Sort your risks into categories of
severity and have a response for
each
Make lots of small mistakes to avoid the big ones • Mistakes are critically important to
learning any new skill... including
entrepreneurship and kiteboarding
• But, that doesn’t mean that all
mistakes are created equal
• Know your limits and take a step-by-
step approach to your business
• Measure everything and build a
learning culture
Don’t go it alone
• Even the most advanced
kiteboarders are wise to ask a friend
to launch and land their kite
• Build a team of trusted partners and
advisors who can help you to
succeed
• Learn to delegate so that you can
focus on charting your company’s
course
Remember why you are doing this
• The road to mastery, in kiteboarding
and in business, is a long one
• Look for sources of inspiration
(friends and mentors) that keep you
motivated
• In business and in kiteboarding, if
you focus on your love of the sport,
the rest will take care of itself
Nathan Manning Twitter: @nathanmanning
LinkedIn: bit.ly/nathanmanning
