Catching the Right Wave: What Surfing Can Teach Us About Entrepreneurship

Let’s just address it up front: comparing entrepreneurship to surfing is a cliché. It’s been done. And done. And done.

But I’m not apologizing because it’s actually a pretty good metaphor. Starting a new business feels a lot like paddling into unpredictable waters with nothing but a board, your gut, and the hope that the next wave won’t crush you.

One thing’s for sure - you will get dunked. But if you prepare, work hard, get a little lucky, and remain crazy enough to keep paddling, you might just catch a wave that changes everything.

With that out of the way, let’s duck dive into it (I feel I do owe an apology for that one).

If you’ve had the experience of getting up early and catching a surf session while the sun rises over the ocean, you’ll know that it’s one of the best things ever. The world is still, the water glassy, and the only sounds are your paddle strokes and waves rolling in. I often have moments of real clarity while sitting on my board waiting. One realization I’ve had out there is that great rides don’t happen by accident. You have to be willing to get wet, be cold (sometimes), be patient - and you need to prepare, read the conditions, and commit fully when the right wave comes.

Starting a business is a lot like surfing.

Entrepreneurs, like surfers, need to scan the horizon constantly—watching for opportunity, sensing shifts in the environment, and preparing themselves for the moment when they need to go all in. Now, I am far from a big wave surfer (don't give me anything more than 4-5 feet max), but you don’t just paddle into a wave of any size on a whim; you train, you observe, you position yourself. In business, that preparation means much more than just having a great idea.

Building a company takes a coordinated effort across multiple fronts: assembling the right team, refining your product or service, understanding your customers, and keeping an eye on what competitors are doing. It also takes grit—founders need to commit to their vision, keep paddling even when they’re tired, and quickly develop the ability to know when to plow forward and when to call it a day.

One crucial part of that preparation—often overlooked in the early rush of building—is getting your legal foundation in place. Law isn’t the flashiest part of entrepreneurship, but it’s the wax on your board and the leash on your ankle. It won’t catch the wave for you, but it will give your feet traction and keep the board from getting away from you when things don't go according to plan.

Forming the right entity (typically an LLC or C-corp), dividing equity among founders, protecting intellectual property, hiring properly, and preparing for future fundraising are all legal basics that help keep your ride smooth and stable. If you skip those steps, you risk wiping out just when you're picking up speed.

But just like no one waxes their board and then just stands on the beach, legal prep is just one part of getting ready. If you want to catch the wave of opportunity, you also need to sharpen your strategy, find your product market fit, and build a culture your team can trust and rally around.

Contrary to pop culture, the best surfers—and the best founders—aren’t actually fearless. They’re thoughtful. They measure the risk. When they are ready, they accept the fear because they did the work ahead of time so that when the swell rolls in, they don’t hesitate. They paddle hard, pop up, and shred with confidence.

In business, as in surfing, the ride is what it’s all about, but whether it's epic or not comes down to what you do before the wave arrives. Law is just one part of that preparation, but if you ignore it, you might find yourself paddling back out just when you thought you were on the ride of your life.

Hang 10x Bruh.

About Fourscore Business Law

Whether you're launching a startup, raising capital, or navigating M&A, our experienced team provides strategic, world-class legal counsel that supports your vision and enables confident decision-making at every stage of growth. Fourscore Business Law empowers forward-thinking entrepreneurs and business leaders by simplifying complex legal transactions. With a focus on efficiency and personalized service, we help you overcome legal challenges so you can focus on innovation and scaling your business. Ready to secure your startup's future? Take our free legal assessment for founders today to better understand your company’s legal health.

Start Your Free Legal Review