HOW TO START A BUSINESS: UNEXPECTED LESSONS FROM THE SKATEPARK

We might all be just one tail whip away from greatness. More on that shortly. What I'm not going to do is analyse the business model of the skate park. That might be a bit near the bone for the owners of the one I was hanging in yesterday.

What's more interesting is the entrepreneurship lessons that can be learned by watching the skaters (scooterers doesn't look quite right as a word) do their stuff. I observed three teenagers make massive progress, grow in confidence and have a great time while they're doing their thing with their scooters. Even if their tricks made me feel a bit sick - especially when my kids started tying to copy them. Here's why:

• Healthy competition to see who could execute the best tricks
• Learning from each other as they grew enough in confidence to push harder and try new tricks
• Celebrating effort as well as achievement
• Landing like a bucket of bones got as much of a supportive cheer as when the tricks worked
• Drinking loads of water
• Everyone proud of their scooter, but it did take a bit of a battering when their tricks went wrong

In most western nations, entrepreneurship is taught as a solo sport (soapbox warning). However whilst as individuals we read, learn and strategise the most overlooked ingredient of success is peer support and the activity missing from the daily routine of most of us striving for success is to celebrate. Celebrate the achievements whether successful or not. Well done you. Keep going. Most people never take action and you're doing it. You rock.

Now read this again and substitute the word scooter with 'business' and 'tricks' with 'ideas' and you might get what you need.

The tail whip could bruise your ankles, but it's worth trying while your friends are there to support, whether to applaud, replicate and improve upon or maybe call the ambulance.