Skateboard Therapy?

I coach a lot of therapists in private practice, but I’d still call many of my non-therapist clients “healers”.

Last year, I worked with the owner of a skateboarding park who wanted to bring in more skaters, sell more snacks and merchandise, and host more camps and events.

Before we dove into strategies, though, I asked him more about his Story and his Purpose (like you’ve heard me say— the mindset side matters).

I ended up shedding tears.

About skateboarding.

Whoa.

He told me about how, as a “loner” kid, he found acceptance in the skateboarding community, and gained confidence as he learned new skills. Skating changed his life— profoundly.

Now he was creating a space where more kids who didn’t “fit in” in the usual school activities & culture could know that what made them different was actually what made them lovable (er, Rad— I’ll try to use skater lingo). -A space where non-conformists could fit in without changing themselves, so they wouldn’t feel the need to go off on their own and risk getting into dangerous behaviors. Where they could get a taste of learning skills and progressing (even if they were struggling at school). He was also creating culture of connection and acceptance among an extremely diverse group of people (by age, race, socioeconomic background), who all connect through this activity.

If that’s not being a Healer, I don’t know what is.

Yes, we implemented some concrete strategies, including package offerings, badass birthday parties, event-promotion that empowered the skater community to take more leadership, and encouraging more snack & merchandise sales without having to raise prices (since a core value of the park is to be accessible to everyone). Sales and revenue went up (yay).

But more importantly, I encouraged him to let his Why— his clarity on the type of culture he was creating—guide every decision and communication in the business. To let the people coming to his skatepark tell their stories, too. To encourage them to tell The Others (those who need it), while intentionally repelling the ones who don’t “get it”.

It’s working.

Even after having to take a pandemic hiatus, the skatepark is stronger as a community, and my client is well on his way to changing lives (while all they think is happening is that they’re having fun!).

He’s a healer.

Totally rad.