Sleeping and thinking like Hemingway, Bill Belichick, and a guy named Josh (+7 Questions to get your brain going)

On a clear, crisp day, Josh went skiing with his new companion, Hans. Josh is a retired International Master of Chess. Hans is a world-champion skier. Beyond enjoying a wonderful day on the mountain, what Josh really wanted from that day was to learn how to ski better.

Hans, sensing Josh’s curiosity, asked, “what do you think are the three most important turns of a ski run?”

Josh thought about it for a while and felt a little stumped.

Maybe it’s the beginning because you’re setting yourself up for the rest of the run?

Or perhaps it’s the middle because that’s when you’re travelling the fastest and fatigue is starting to set in?

The answer, of course, was neither.

Hans revealed that the three most important turns of any ski run are the turns you make before you get back on the lift.

Hans explained, “These turns are the most important turns because the entire lift ride up your mind is internalizing the last thing that it did. The unconscious mind is turning on and soaking up the last inputs it was given.”