Make Your Own Waves

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LEARN TO SWIM

“IN SURFING, IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO GET THE BASICS DOWN and then take it from there,” says pro surfer Jordy Smith. “If your foundation is strong, you’ll have all the tools you need to become a well-rounded surfer.”¹ On land you learn to crawl, then to walk. On water, you learn to float, then kick, then breathe, then swim, then surf.

I’ll give you a quick example of what happens when you skip the first step. I was recently visiting a number of start-ups clustered around one another in a series of buildings called an “Innovation Park.” As I walked from office to office and lab to lab, I was introduced to the principals at each company. The passion and high energy in each setting were palpable. One start-up was working on a new design ...