NeueHouse’s Post

Sometimes you fall. In surfing you fall a lot. It can be frustrating in the moment but it never makes me lose my love for getting in the water. I feel this mentality has carried into to my professional work and running a business. In the times I fall, struggle, feel like I’m drowning. I don’t give up because of what’s happening in that moment. Instead, I draw on the resilience I've cultivated from surfing. Just as I paddle back out after a fall, I push through setbacks in my professional life just the same. Every fall teaches me something new, whether it's about reading the waves or navigating challenges in business. So, I embrace the falls as opportunities for growth and learning, knowing that they ultimately contribute to my success in both surfing and entrepreneurship. #entrepreneurship

One of the hot topics in our discussions about content themes with the sports we work with is the idea of the "1-Thing". What (1-Thing) defines and distils the reasons why someone is so passionate about their chosen sport? It's not an easy thing to nail-down but Liam Robertson and the crew at Surfing Victoria are onto something here. Surfing unlike a lot of sports often takes you to very remote places that can be really challenging to get to. Having made that journey what you're hoping for is to be confronted with a scene like you can see below. The content theme we keep coming back to is the idea of "discovery". To get to the top of a sand dune, or peek around a hill or cliff and be confronted with a spectacular vista of glassy water, clean sets and ideally no one else to be seen for miles. What's your sports 1-Thing? If you'd like to know what's really resonating with your audiences then get in touch and we can take a look at what the data is telling us.

Yep, that's me catching that wave in the video! But as you've probably noticed, surfing isn't just about riding the perfect wave—it's a lot like navigating through life and business. Sometimes, despite doing everything right, you still find yourself wiping out. But the beauty of it all? There's always another wave on the horizon. As I indulge in one of my many passions, I can't help but draw parallels between surfing and the business world. It's a fascinating connection, and here's why: Adaptability: Just like how surfers need to adjust to ever-changing waves, businesses must flex and adapt to shifting market tides, consumer whims, and competitive currents. It's all about staying nimble and riding the wave of change. Persistence and Patience: Both surfing and business demand grit, determination, and a healthy dose of patience. It's about pushing through the wipeouts and waiting for that perfect moment. Learning from Failure: Every wipeout in surfing and every setback in business presents an invaluable opportunity for growth and learning. It's about dusting yourself off, analyzing what went wrong, and emerging stronger and wiser for the next challenge. Embracing Uncertainty: Surfing wouldn't be half as thrilling if waves were predictable, and the same goes for business. Embracing uncertainty is part of the adventure, and both surfers and entrepreneurs thrive on the adrenaline rush of navigating uncharted waters and making informed decisions in the face of ambiguity.

The world might be crumbling on top but survival depends on knowing where to find serenity. When faced with a big wave while paddling out to surf, rather than facing the wave head on, all one have to do is go under it. That's how one head to the line up with the least resistance. There are many things about surfing that are parallels to life and entrepreneurship.

How do you forge a business model on something that hasn't been done before in your location? With so few operating wave pools, where do we draw comparisons? In a recent podcast Matt Hyslop of Colliers shared a list of comps. "In a world without surf parks, you have to look at the next best thing. What other visitor attractions generally do well in this location? Does that tell us anything? What about other active lifestyle type things - what does that tell us? Like, are there wake parks, ski facilities, other water sports stuff? And that's very much on the supply side of the equation. We spend a lot of time thinking around demand. Where are you going to get your visitors from? How popular is surfing now in that country or in that region?" https://lnkd.in/eySYGcv8

Yep, that's me catching that wave in the video! But as you've probably noticed, surfing isn't just about riding the perfect wave—it's a lot like navigating through life and business. Sometimes, despite doing everything right, you still find yourself wiping out. But the beauty of it all? There's always another wave on the horizon. As I indulge in one of my many passions, I can't help but draw parallels between surfing and the business world. It's a fascinating connection, and here's why: Adaptability: Just like how surfers need to adjust to ever-changing waves, businesses must flex and adapt to shifting market tides, consumer whims, and competitive currents. It's all about staying nimble and riding the wave of change. Persistence and Patience: Both surfing and business demand grit, determination, and a healthy dose of patience. It's about pushing through the wipeouts and waiting for that perfect moment. Learning from Failure: Every wipeout in surfing and every setback in business presents an invaluable opportunity for growth and learning. It's about dusting yourself off, analyzing what went wrong, and emerging stronger and wiser for the next challenge. Embracing Uncertainty: Surfing wouldn't be half as thrilling if waves were predictable, and the same goes for business. Embracing uncertainty is part of the adventure, and both surfers and entrepreneurs thrive on the adrenaline rush of navigating uncharted waters and making informed decisions in the face of ambiguity.

I find that many entrepreneurs think of their journey like catching a train. They work really hard to get the ticket, hustle to catch the train, and then expect a smooth ride once they’re on board. 🛤️ But running a business just doesn’t work like that. A much better analogy is surfing. 🏄🏽♂️ Imagine you’re out on the open ocean, surrounded by waves. There’s never a moment when you can say, “I’ve got this. I’m just going to take a nap on my surfboard.” You can’t do that, because the water never stops moving. 🌊 When you’re out surfing, the sense of comfort and stability doesn’t come from the water standing still. It comes from your confidence in your ability to handle the waves. And that’s really the mindset that you need to bring to the table as an entrepreneur. Because the truth is, as an entrepreneur, the challenges never end. But you can find comfort and stability in knowing you can navigate whatever challenges come your way. 🧭✨ 🎤 What was the biggest challenge you rode through as a business owner? #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessJourney #SurfingAnalogy #AlwaysMoving #StayConfident #HandleTheWaves #EntrepreneurMindset #NeverStopHustling #NavigateChallenges #Resilience

I came across this sign at a popular surfing spot in Portugal. I was intrigued. This teaching of etiquette as part of a sub-culture is very interesting to me, as the leader of a community platform like FLOWN. How do you elevate the playing field for everyone, without coming across as dogmatic or draconian? How do you protect newbies and vulnerable people, without compromising the experience for the more seasoned members? How do you encourage member responsibility and initiative, while still being ultimately responsible? For example, when someone turns their camera off on a Flock (our silent focus sessions) we show a reminder that our focus effect relies on a technique called "body doubling", where you subconsciously mirror behaviours you ambiently observe. It's why going to a library to study helped, why we yawn when we see others yawn. Body doubling for focus only works if you can *see* others focusing as they work. So we remind people of this fact, and if they want to receive focus by seeing others work, it's etiquette to give others the gift of seeing *you* focus as you work. What other techniques do you use to convey etiquette for your community?