Lessons from the Mountain – What Skiing Taught Me About Business

I used to be a semi-professional skier. Competing in big mountain skiing taught me lessons I never expected—lessons that apply directly to business, construction, and entrepreneurship.

In skiing, there’s no set course. You pick your own line down the mountain. Some go big—massive cliffs, risky moves. Others choose controlled, consistent runs, stacking small jumps and clean landings.

Guess who wins more often?
Not the daredevil going for the 60-foot cliff with a 5% chance of landing it. It’s the skier stacking small, consistent wins.

That’s business.

• You can chase the “big deal” that could change everything.

• Or you can focus on consistent projects, steady growth, and reliable wins.

I used to go big—risky lines that either landed me on the podium or in the snow, face-first. But over time, I realized success isn’t about the flashy moves. It’s about consistency, control, and strategy.

In construction, that’s:

• Delivering quality work, even on small projects.

• Building strong client relationships over time.

• Focusing on the fundamentals, not just the big wins.

Lesson learned? Consistency beats occasional brilliance. Stack your wins.