It had been at least thirty years since I last skied with an instructor. I made the very most of his knowledge of the ski resort, his well-chosen descents and his expert advice.
I let myself be guided by an expert, a master of his trade, and it did me good to switch off for a few hours and not have to make any decisions, leaving me free to trust in a person who knows what he’s doing.
Following a master like that made me want to repeat the experience in other areas of my life: trust someone, follow them, discover something and just enjoy doing something with a person who knows what they’re doing. Rather than wanting at all costs to do everything myself. Most of all, not asking for help… does all this sound familiar?
What about you? In what particular area of your life would you like to put yourself in the hands of an expert?
“Use your equipment! – get down on your knees! – turn your upper body!” There is no shortage of advice, yet I thought I was a good skier. Doumé makes me think about the soles of my feet – confined inside my boots – or my eyes which are supposed to be gazing into the distance….
I grumble, try, challenge the advice, try again nevertheless and in the end accept the tips and realise that my technique, which was already good, has considerably improved by the end of the week.
I realise that my way of learning or improving in any field follows the same pattern. When somebody suggests an improvement in the way I do anything from cooking meat to running a seminar I first resent the advice, then I try it, then ask for further explanation and in the end I accept it!
Now I realise the way I operate, I’ve decided to give up the ‘grumbling’ stage. After all, it only wastes everybody’s time!
What about you? Which stage could you give up to make progress even faster?
Before leaving for the summer, I would like you to imagine yourself at the age of 94, wise, full of experience, comfortably seated on a bench.
Are you there now?
This older version of yourself – having already lived your life – what advice would they like to give you – to the younger version who is reading this message?
Close your eyes and listen to the first piece of advice that comes to mind.
Why don’t you take that advice this summer? We look forward to seeing you back in the autumn!
