I love skiing!
I was never one for sports (I loved watching, but never participated because of my weight), until I picked up skiing in 2007. I had been losing a good deal of weight and decided to get into the sport after visiting a local ski hill around the holidays that year with some family members.
Initially, I was only there to observe my niece and nephew, but after some prodding from the kids, I decided to rent some equipment and give it a try. It was all they could do not to burst out laughing because I think I shocked them by taking them up on the offer.
At first, I couldn’t even stand on a level surface without feeling as though I would fall over. It took me a while to get up the nerve to finally line up for the tow rope on the smallest of the beginner hills. As I was standing in line, I couldn’t help but notice how insanely large some of the big hills were. I was convinced that I would never get to the point where I could handle them. Watching the skiers swishing down the hill almost effortlessly, I knew that I had a long way to go.
I finally got to the top without falling and making a spectacle of myself, but that was the end of my good fortune. As I disembarked, I began to panic and ended up falling to prevent myself from coming to the lip of the hill where gravity would take over and I’d be in big trouble. The kids were having a good laugh.
The fact of the matter was that the hill was almost flat and there was no way you could get enough speed up to do any serious damage. After a few runs, I realized this.
I spent the rest of the day on the beginner hill by myself because the rest of them wanted to hit the real slopes. That was fine with me and I spent the rest of the morning practicing until my jeans were soaked. Yeah, I was skiing in jeans.
At the end of the day, I felt refreshed and happy with what I accomplished – but I also felt that skiing was something I could pursue. At the very least, it would keep me active during the winter months. So, that spring, I went out and purchased everything I needed at 50% off. Skis, boots, poles, jacket, pants, helmet, goggles, etc. It was a hefty investment, but the equipment would last for years.
Last year, I bought a season’s pass to that ski hill and spent the winter learning on my own after I took a few beginner lessons. I reasoned that it was like any other skill in life: the more you do it, the better you get at it. I logged in at least 30 visits and eventually got to the point where I could handle the larger hills with relative ease. Looking back, I’ve really come a long way since that first day I could barely stand on a flat surface.
The secret? Just keep plugging away at it and don’t stop. With every day that passes, you will see yourself getting better. Take small steps and build on what you already know. Practice makes perfect – and that is so true in many areas of life.
Last year, I got so hooked on it, I neglected my business a few times in favor of hitting the slopes. But that is one of the benefits of internet marketing: you get to make your own schedule.
This year, I am living in the middle of ski country and I have a season’s pass for the biggest resort in the area. I can’t wait for the snow.
The pass is only good for weekdays and nights, but that is fine with me, because the weekends here are too crowded anyway. In fact, I’ve been told that during the week, you can basically ski down and get right back on the lift without any wait at all. That is something that just isn’t possible with a regular job – and is one of the reasons that I love IM so much.
To me, it’s not about the money – it is about the freedom you can have. Even people making 6 and 7 figures a year can’t buy that. Time is one thing that is becoming increasingly precious as I get older. What good is money if you are still a slave to the system?
