“I am good as possible”

Posted on by Carl Weber

I live in New Hampshire. With the exception of my time in the Navy and a few years of grad school, I have lived here my whole life.

Every winter, it snows here…a lot. The world slows down, and we tend to hibernate and stay inside more.

I have a confession: I never learned to ski.

Combine this fact with the fact that I agreed to chaperone my daughter’s ski club helped prompt me to do something that I have been meaning to do for years: learn to ski.

At 44 years old, I decided to stop putting this off and start taking a lesson (the Sunday before a Wednesday ski club). Despite my initial fear, of falling and/or making a fool of myself, the lesson went well and I had enough skills to chaperone. Enough skills to get by. I stared to wonder if I needed additional lessons.

I told this story to a friend. This friend had a story for me. Years ago when their young child was learning to ski, their family would spend days on the slopes. Most of the day was spent in lessons, and occasionally they would “free ski” afterwards. Their child had good skills and some natural talent for skiing and could out-ski most of their peers. The lessons continued.

After lunch, most of the family was going to ski the slopes and the young child had to return to their lesson. The child wanted to ski with the rest of the family, but the lesson continued in the afternoon. A meltdown ensued with this youngster trying to find a reason why they didn’t need to continue the lesson.

“I don’t need another lesson. I am good as possible!” they screamed.

We laughed at the story, but those words remained. “I am good as possible.”

How often do we think we are good enough at something and fail to continue to learn and challenge ourselves? When does “good enough” satisfy us so that we stop refining our skills? Lessons can be boring, especially when compared to skiing down the slopes.

For me, I decided to continue with the lessons. But this story and those words caused me to look to at my own life to see where I have shouted “I am good as possible” instead of realizing that I could improve with just a few more lessons.

Learning to Ski

P.S. For anyone who thinks they are too old, tired, experienced, afraid, (insert word here) to try something new, my instructor told me about a 78 year-old grandfather who decided to learn to snowboard so he could go down the slopes at least once with his grandchildren. And he did!

Published by Carl Weber

Carl Weber, is the owner and founder of Carl Weber Consulting, a consulting group that helps businesses, non-profits, and individuals understand themselves, hire and manage well, and become great leaders. Carl worked in local government for more than ten years, as the Town Administrator of a few towns in NH. Once upon a time he was a search and rescue swimmer for the US Navy. Carl holds Bachelors’ Degrees in Political Science & Community Development and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy. Carl is a Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst (CPBA) and Certified Professional Motivators Analyst (CPMA). Carl regularly teaches on human factors and the relationship of behavior and leadership styles, as well as motivation, coaching, leadership challenges, and failing as a leader. His passion is to help leaders in their lifelong journey to finish well, to combat and work with their inner voice, and to live a meaningful story worth reading. Carl lives in Southern New Hampshire with his wife Amanda and together they are raising a small tribe of four young (somewhat crazy) women with the goal of unleashing them on the world to change it for the better.

7 thoughts on ““I am good as possible””

  1. Pingback: After Injury | Carl Weber Consulting

  2. I was reading your pages and came across this one….I would not have imagined that you are a ‘newbie’ to skiing! Good for you and how exciting for your girls. I myself remember learning to ski between my parents legs, going down hill after hill! I have seen you getting ready, tightening up your boots and strapping on your helmet. The part that has stuck with me is the entire time you are smiling! I for one always enjoy that great big handsome smile. ….my daughter also! Per Ashlyn “Mum, did you know what a nice guy he is?! He helped me on the chair lift, talked to me the WHOLE way up and, you know what? He let me snuggle in and he is warm!” So, we are glad you decided to learn to ski. Never stop learning! Xoxo

    1. Kelly, thanks a lot. Ashlyn was so cute wanting to ride up with me and you are right we chatted away the whole time. Thanks for the reply and the encouragement.

  3. You inspire me Ed, we are about to get our kids skiing and I am not sure if I will ski, snowboard or read a book in the lodge.

  4. Excellent post, Carl! We are never too old to learn something new. Furthermore, with anything we deem ourselves self-appointed experts in, there is always opportunity to learn or experience more in that area. Even better, it is always good to revisit what we think we know so well to ensure we do not need modification or adjustment. Nice work getting up on the skis for the first time! It has been years since I have even looked at a pair of skis!

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