97 Guy Kawasaki - Tech Guru Discovers Surfing at 60

Welcome to Surf Mastery Podcast, where we explore the fascinating intersections of life, sports, and the pursuit of challenges. In this episode, our host Michael John Frampton sits down with Guy Kawasaki to discuss the joys and trials of picking up surfing at 60, his unique philosophy on parenting and life, and the profound lessons learned along the way. 

Guy Kawasaki is a speaker, avid surfer, and respected author. His notable works include The Art of the Start, Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions, and Wise Guy: Lessons from a Life. 

He is well-known for his influential role as Apple's Chief Evangelist in the 1980s and his significant contributions at Canva. Beyond his professional achievements, his passion for surfing, which he took up in his 60s is a profound metaphor for life's lessons.

Episode Highlights:

• Surfing at Sixty: Guy shares his inspiring journey of starting to surf at the age of 60, motivated by his children's passions. Unlike many parents who impose their hobbies on their children, Guy believes in embracing what his children love, leading him to take up surfing and hockey later in life.

• Parenting Philosophy: Guy discusses his approach to parenting, emphasizing the importance of supporting and engaging in his children's interests rather than directing them.

• Life Lessons from Surfing: Surfing has not just been a sport for Guy but a source of life lessons. He talks about the complexities and unpredictability of surfing, drawing parallels between managing waves and life's challenges.

• Humorous Anecdotes: From confusing directions underwater to humorous interactions in the surf community, Guy brings a light-hearted perspective to the challenges of learning to surf.

• Persistence and Adaptability: Guy reflects on the broader implications of persistence in surfing, comparing it to career and personal life, where adaptability and resilience are crucial.

• Insights on Book Writing: Discussing his concise approach to writing, Guy emphasizes the importance of distilling vast amounts of information into accessible insights, mirroring his practical approach to life.

Key Quotes:

• "Rather than me forcing them to take up what I love, I let them determine what I should take up based on what they love."

• "The first time I actually caught a wave and stood up, it was magic. Where else can you get this feeling?"

• "You can sit out there in the water looking for that perfect wave all day and never turn and paddle. Same thing applies to life."

 

Follow Guy Kawasaki:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guykawasaki/

• Website: https://guykawasaki.com/

For the passionate surfer—whether you're a weekend warrior, a surf dad, or an older surfer—this podcast is all about better surfing and deeper stoke. With expert surf coaching, surf training, and surfing tips, we’ll help you catch more waves, refine your paddling technique, and perfect your pop up on a surfboard. From surf workouts to handling wipeouts, chasing bigger waves, and mastering surf technique, we’re here to make sure you not only improve but truly enjoy surfing more—so you can get more out of every session and become a wiser surfer. Go from Beginner or intermediate Surfer to advanced.