Shaun White’s Business Class

At first look you might think that this 5’8, 145 lb longhaired red head, might not look like a great teacher, but you’d be wrong. Shaun White has more of a message to offer to the Business world than many Fortune 500 CEOs. And that message is; “Go Big”.

In the past Winter Olympics, Shaun White had already won the Gold Medal before taking what would be his final victory lap. Even his coach told him: "Shaun, we have achieved what we came here for. You can take it easy now." Instead he pushed the bounds of snowboarding further than anyone has before, and threw what was said to be an impossible trick; the Double McTwist 1260. Some may wonder, “Why on earth would he do this and jeopardize his career with a possible injury?"

The answer is simple; Shaun White is not out on the snow riding against his competitors, he is riding against himself. He wants only to push the bounds of his own sport into new heights that have never been reached before. This is a valuable lesson to every company within their own industry. Companies that have only focused on outperforming rivals and leading their industry can sometimes become arrogant – forgetting to keep raising the bar, and fallen from the spotlight. Motorola, Blockbuster, and even Microsoft are a few examples.

But looking at White and his accomplishments should illustrate to every company that hopes to be great, what path to pursue. Aim to achieve what none others have and don’t compromise on goals because they may at times seem impossible.