Leadership Lessons from the Moguls

Last weekend, I found myself on the slopes, tackling the moguls that have historically challenged me. My ski instructor approached with what he described as advice he typically gives to children learning to navigate these intimidating snow mounds. "I tell them three things," he said with a smile. "First, stick the pig. Second, punch the clown. And third, finish the turn." While I initially chuckled at the playful phrasing, I was amazed at how quickly my technique improved after applying these principles. As I skied down the mountain navigating bumps better than before, I thoughts about how these simple instructions are also leadership lessons. Successful leaders, just like mogul masters, need to identify clear priorities, maintain forward momentum, and ensure thorough execution.

The first principle, "stick the pig," refers to firmly planting your pole in a specific spot on the mogul before initiating your turn. In leadership, it is critically important to identify and articulate clear priorities. In our world of endless possibilities and competing demands, selecting a specific focus area can understandably be challenging. Leaders struggle not due to a lack of options but because of an abundance of them. The most effective executives are not those with the most brilliant strategies, but rather those who excel at choosing which opportunities to pursue and which to set aside. When we "stick the pig" as leaders, we commit to a clear direction and communicate it effectively to our teams. This clarity fosters confidence, alignment, and creates the thinking space for meaningful action. Without deliberate focus, teams find themselves skiing off in different directions, wasting energy and making little collective progress.

The second instruction, "punch the clown," reminds the skier to push their hand forward as they ski around the mogul, interrupting our natural tendency to let the arm fall backward. In leadership, maintaining positive momentum once a direction has been established is critical. We launch new initiative with fanfare, only to lose energy when another priority inevitably emerges. The wisdom in "punching the clown" reminds us that forward progress requires sustained attention and commitment. Great leaders resist the temptation to chase every new opportunity or change direction with each market shift. They maintain momentum toward established goals, reinforcing the importance of current priorities through consistent messaging, resource allocation, and personal attention. This forward-driving energy becomes contagious, inspiring teams to push through implementation challenges rather than changing course at the first sign of difficulty.

The final principle, "finish the turn," emphasizes completing the full turning motion with your entire body and skis. In leadership terms, this speaks to the disciplined execution that transforms good ideas into tangible results. Many transformative initiatives fail not because the strategy was flawed, but because execution was incomplete. Following through means establishing clear accountability systems, tracking progress transparently, and celebrating milestones along the way. Leaders must stay engaged throughout implementation, not just during the exciting launch phase. Reflecting on my leadership journey, I recognize that my biggest disappointments often came not from choosing the wrong priorities, but from failing to "finish the turn" on the right ones. Effective leaders understand that their credibility is built on this final phase – the ability to move from compelling vision to concrete results through persistent, disciplined execution.

In life and leadership, we face countless options that may seem equally promising. Success rarely comes from attempting everything simultaneously. Like mastering moguls on a challenging slope, leadership excellence emerges when we select our spot with intention, maintain forward momentum despite resistance, and commit fully to finishing the turn. For those we love and lead, our effectiveness is measured not by how many initiatives we start, but by how many we meaningfully complete. As we navigate the inevitable bumps and challenges in our path, the wisdom from the moguls can guide us: stick the pig, punch the clown, finish the turn – and watch how smoothly you can navigate even the most intimidating terrain.

With love, gratitude and wonder,

Scott