Want to Be a Great Surfer?
Go Find a Great Wave to Ride.
What if the key to success isn’t just about your skills, but the opportunities you choose to pursue?
In business, as in surfing, even the most skilled surfer is powerless without a wave to ride. It’s not just about how talented or prepared you are—it’s about recognising and seizing the right opportunities. You need a wave with momentum, timing, and the potential to carry you forward. The same goes for entrepreneurship.
Here is my 1-1-1 breakdown on finding a great wave.
Are you investing your time and energy in areas where opportunities are growing? Reflect on your industry, market trends, and the projects you’re working on. If the “waters” around you feel stagnant, maybe it’s time to paddle to a more promising area.
Great surfers don’t wait in calm waters—they position themselves where the waves are forming.
→ Remember: You can have the best skills, but if you’re not in the right place at the right time, you’ll never catch the wave.
Just like surfers study the ocean, you should study your market. Where are the waves building? What trends are rising, and how can you position yourself to take advantage of them? It could be a new technology, a shift in consumer behaviour, or an emerging industry. Invest time in understanding where the momentum is.
→ Do this now: Spend 30 minutes this week researching emerging trends in your field. Identify one new “wave” you could ride and start mapping out a plan to pursue it.
When you spot a great wave, you can’t afford to be indecisive. You need to commit and paddle with all your strength to catch it. The same goes for opportunities in life and business.
Once you’ve found a wave worth riding, go all in. Half-hearted attempts won’t get you far.
→ Takeaway: Opportunities don’t wait. If you see the potential, commit to it fully and ride it with everything you’ve got.
The secret to success isn’t just in your ability to surf; it’s in your ability to find the right waves. Position yourself wisely, stay alert, and be ready to seize the moment when the opportunity arises. The ocean is full of potential—are you ready to ride?
Thanks for reading!
Hey! I’m Alkesh Agarwal.
An entrepreneur, investor & problem solver who loves taking big ideas and turning them into real businesses.
After years of building businesses, I’m here to help you do the same by sharing practical, no-nonsense learnings.
If you’re feeling the need to adapt, here are some resources to help you manage change effectively:
Read: Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne —A classic on finding untapped markets and riding new waves of opportunity.
Watch: This TED Talk on the power of timing in business and innovation.
Try This App: Google Trends —Use it to identify what’s trending and where opportunities may be emerging.
