What 28 Years Marketing & Sales Taught Me About Learning To Skate Vert…

When I decided to pick up vert skating four years ago, I wasn’t just learning a new skill, I was stepping into a world of fear, challenge, and adrenaline!

It felt daunting, especially when I realised how long the path to mastery could be.

Silly me, I thought I could conquer it in under a year.

Surprisingly, many of the principles and lessons I’d learned in my career became invaluable as I navigated the steep learning curve of vert skating.

Here’s how my time in marketing and sales shaped my journey on the ramp…

1. Commitment Is Non-Negotiable

In marketing and sales, half-hearted campaigns or pitches rarely succeed.

To make an impact, you need full commitment and unwavering belief in your approach.

Vert skating requires the same mentality.

The first time I dropped into a vert ramp, I learned that confidence is the silver bullet. You have to lean in, trust yourself, and commit fully, just like you would when launching a bold marketing strategy or closing a high-stakes deal.

Whenever I have unwavering belief, I stop the landing every time.

2. Preparation Is The Foundation Of Success

In my career, I’ve seen countless campaigns fail because they weren’t well prepared, lack of research, unclear messaging, or missing details.

Success comes from meticulous preparation.

Skating vert is no different.

From strength training outside the ramp, to obsessively visualising my movements, to endlessly practising rotations on trampoline, preparation became my safety net.

Marketing taught me that planning is essential, and skating proved it.

3. The Power Of Patience & Small Wins

Building a successful brand or closing a major deal doesn’t happen overnight.

It’s a process of small wins, each one laying the groundwork for the next.

Marketing taught me to celebrate these small victories because they build momentum.

Learning vert skating reinforced this lesson.

At first, I could barely pump on the ramp without losing my balance.

But each small improvement, better pumping, a cleaner drop-in, a small grab, felt monumental. Patience became my greatest ally, just as it has been in my career.

4. Fear Is An Opportunity

Marketing and sales are full of nerve-wracking moments, pitching to a big client, launching a campaign, or stepping into uncharted markets.

Over the years, I’ve learned that fear isn’t something to avoid; it’s an opportunity to grow.

Standing at the top of a vert ramp for the first time was terrifying, but I drew on my career experience to face it.

Just as I’ve leaned into fear in business to find opportunity, I leaned forward on the ramp, literally, and embraced the challenge.

Falling is far safer than it looks — a ramp is just a big slippery dip that catches you and break your momentum.

5. Adaptability Is Essential

Markets change, consumer behaviour evolves, and competitors adapt.

Staying flexible and open to new strategies is critical for success in marketing and sales.

Vert skating taught me this lesson all over again.

No two sessions are the same. The ramp changes with the weather, the weather changes my approach and my body has good and bad days.

Being adaptable kept me progressing, just as it has in my career.

If something is not working, I don’t quit, I just move on to trying something else.

6. Know Your Environment & Audience

In sales, understanding your audience’s needs and the market landscape is everything.

A one-size-fits-all approach never works.

On the ramp, the “audience” is the ramp itself — it dictates how you move, where you can gain speed, and how to approach tricks.

Marketing taught me to listen and adapt to my environment, and skating demanded the same awareness.

7. Consistency Beats Talent

Over 28 years, I’ve learned that consistency is more important than raw talent.

Showing up every day, learning from mistakes, and putting in the work always leads to better results than relying on natural ability alone.

This truth hit me hard with vert skating.

I’m a naturally gifted skater, but consistent practice, showing up even when I didn’t feel like it, was the only way to progress.

Consistency bridged the gap between my goals and my reality.

8. Embrace Feedback & Learn from Failure

In marketing and sales, feedback is your compass.

Whether it’s from customers, clients, or campaign metrics, learning from what doesn’t work is just as important as celebrating what does.

In skating, the feedback is instant falling.

Every slam taught me what not to do and brought me one step closer to getting it right.

And I slam a lot!

Marketing and sales had already trained me to view failure as feedback, and that mindset kept me resilient on the ramp.

9. Mindset Dictates Everything

In marketing and sales, I’ve learned that mindset is the foundation of success.

Approaching challenges with confidence, resilience, and a willingness to adapt has often been the difference between winning and losing.

This became even more apparent with vert skating.

The fear of falling can paralyse you before you even step onto the ramp, but with the right mindset, those fears become manageable.

It literally never gets easier.

You begin to trust the process, take calculated risks, and push through discomfort.

Both in marketing and on the ramp, mindset truly dictates everything.

10. Have Fun

At the heart of both marketing and vert skating is the joy of the process.

In marketing, it’s the thrill of creativity, brainstorming new ideas, testing bold campaigns, and celebrating wins with a team.

In vert skating, it’s the sheer exhilaration of conquering a new trick, the adrenaline of dropping in, and the camaraderie of the skating community.

When you enjoy what you’re doing, it becomes easier to stay motivated and persevere through the inevitable tough days.

Fun reminds you why you started in the first place, keeps burnout at bay, and makes every win, big or small feel even more rewarding.

Whether it’s crafting a standout ad campaign or landing a trick you’ve been working on for months, having fun keeps the journey exciting and fulfilling.

The Bigger Lesson

Growth takes time and effort.

The biggest thing marketing and sales taught me is that growth, whether in business or on a vert ramp is never linear.

It’s messy, full of setbacks, and takes time.

But every effort, every failure, and every small win compounds into something bigger.

Learning to skate vert is no longer just about mastering the ramp, it is a reminder of the value of persistence, preparation, and adaptability.

Commit fully, trust the process, and keep showing up.

“Drop-in” to the comments and share what unexpected life lessons you’ve learned from your hobbies or how your career has influenced your personal growth.

Let’s keep the conversation “rolling” ;-)