Fear, Growth, and Leadership: A Skiing Story with My Child
This year, my 9-year-old and I set out on a skiing journey. We wanted to brave the cold, spend quality time together, and challenge ourselves. Over 20 years ago, I was a decent snowboarder, so I thought, “How hard could skiing be?” Besides, I had tried it before. We started at the green slopes at first, and I was immediately reminded of the difference between adult caution and childlike fearlessness.
Embracing Falls ( "Failure" )
He fell constantly but got right back up, never letting his spills ruin his excitement. Meanwhile, I was weighed down by thoughts of injury and technique. It struck me that the younger generation doesn’t view falling as a disaster. For them, "failure" is just a necessary step toward improvement. As adults, we often overanalyze everything. We forget how valuable it is to learn by doing, even if that means stumbling along the way.
Soon, we both started to improve, slowly but surely. I hate being bad at things, and I was determined to conquer this. Meanwhile, I internally laughed at his pizza wedge and how he constantly ignored my advice. My turns were getting better, while he just bombed straight down. I can only imagine how much strain he puts on his legs. I was carving beautifully on the greens, while he was reckless, purely a thrill seeker.
From Greens to Blues
Soon, we both started to improve, slowly but surely. I devoured articles and videos, trying to perfect my form, while he just bombed down the slope in a perpetual pizza wedge, his legs practically shaking from the strain. My approach was technique driven and cautious; his was all about the thrill. Then, he decided we should try the blue slopes. I lectured him on not being ready, on needing to turn more, but he insisted. So we went for it.
On steeper terrain, I let my fear hold me back, worried about getting hurt or losing control. My kid, meanwhile, took a deep breath, paused for a split second, and went straight down. He trusted his instincts, and I realized that attitude can be powerful. Sometimes, progress happens when we embrace fear head on. That said, there’s a balance. Without any sense of caution, you risk injury or burn out. Without any sense of boldness, you never push past your comfort zone.
Tackling Black Diamonds and Glades
At some point, he even convinced me to try the black diamonds and later the glades. I kept yelling, “Learn the basics first,” but he was determined. His technique slowly improved, becoming more parallel each time, and though I still think he’s too reckless, I couldn’t deny that his willingness to tackle new challenges helped him get better faster. It also pushed me to keep up. If it weren’t for him, I’m sure I would have stayed on the greens, trying to perfect every little detail.
Then, I noticed something magical, something unconscious. His pizza wedge was slowly becoming more parallel. Even though, to me, he seemed reckless, he knew he could stop. That was all that really mattered. He knew he wasn’t in danger (at least, I assume he knew 🙂). On less steep terrain, I saw him practicing edging. His angles were far better than mine.
By season’s end, we were both much more confident. Encouraging each other, kudos, high fives, and waffles. I could ski black diamonds, and he was navigating blue glades with ease. Despite my constant warnings, he never lost his excitement. Watching his journey taught me the value of fearless experimentation and reminded me of those early coding days in my career, when I learned by trial and error because there wasn’t an abundance of tutorials or step-by-step guides. Analysis paralysis wasn’t an option; we just did things and learned from our mistakes.
Lessons for the Workplace
The younger generation brings fresh eyes, energy, and a willingness to “fail fast, learn faster.” They thrive by jumping in, trying things out, and trusting that they can adapt. Those with more experience sometimes overthink, forgetting that real progress often comes from simply doing. At the same time, experience matters, because it helps avoid truly disastrous falls. We can guide and keep each other safe.
In the end, if we embrace the balance between fearless exploration and thoughtful caution, everyone levels up. It’s not about dismissing one side or the other, but finding synergy in our different approaches. My 9-year-old taught me to be bolder, and I helped ensure he was safe enough to keep going. The same dynamic can happen at work: younger employees spark innovation, while more experienced colleagues help them navigate potential pitfalls. So, don’t dismiss one generation as too reckless, and don’t dismiss the other as too stuck in their ways.
Work together, push each other, share knowledge, and you’ll likely find yourselves further along than you ever thought possible.
After all, the best runs are often the ones that scare you at first and then become your new normal.
