Many small business owners admire business giants like Bill Gates, Elon Musk or Richard Branson. Let me tell you about one of my business idols.

Warren Miller is considered by many to be the father of adventure films. After growing up poor during the depression and serving in the Navy, he lived in a tiny trailer in the parking lot of Sun Valley Idaho. He earned money as a ski instructor and began filming fellow instructors and skiers in order to critique and improve their technique. That winter a passion was ignited, a career launched and a legend soon followed.

The passion was for both film making and skiing in general. Miller said that guests at Sun Valley gave him money and in exchange he gave them freedom in the form of showing them how to turn a pair of skis. Although his career took him to the finest ski destinations around the world with some of the most talented and extreme skiers, Miller was definitely not snobbish. He clearly loved everything about skiing and the ski life. His films showed exotic places as well as small hills, experts and beginners, Olympic racers and physically-challenged skiers. He celebrated them all because he understood what they all had in common — the pure joy of being on skis. He made it OK to not wear the latest ski fashion and to have imperfect form. If you fell, just get back up again.

Business icons are sometimes idolized because they made a ton of money. I assume Warren Miller did, too. At least I hope so. That has nothing to do with why he’s an entrepreneurial hero to me. He found something he loved — skiing and making movies — and turned it into a great career. He didn’t follow anyone’s best practices because what he was doing had never been done before. He kept the quality of his work high because he never got tired of the job. He was always creative, clever, funny and inspiring. Even to people like me who are barely mediocre as a skier.

Warren Miller died last week at the age of 93. He always said that the stairs leading to heaven would be covered in snow. To paraphrase Miller, I suggest you watch one of his great movies this ski season because if you don’t you’ll be another year older when you do.

Way back in 1988, a writer/minister/modern-day philosopher named Robert Fulghum wrote a great book called All I need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. It was a collection of essays that took its title from the first essay about life lessons learned as a child. It was a mega-bestseller that seemed to touch every corner of popular culture at the time, including, I might add, an original theatrical production developed right here in Roanoke, Virginia, making its debut at Mill Mountain Theatre.

 Over the past couple of weeks I have been finalizing the details of my annual ski trip. That got me reflecting on the lessons that skiing has to offer — lessons about life, business, relationships and more. So, here is my summary of All I Need to Know I Learned on the Ski Slopes:

• You will fall down. Everyone does. It’s OK, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. The important thing is that you get right up, brush yourself off, and get moving again. It’s a bonus if you learn something from the fall and become a better skier.

• There’s a reason they rate and mark all the trails and the off-limits terrain.  No one can be expected to know and master everything in life or business. It’s important to figure out what you can do and what is off-limits. Sometimes you can take a lesson to learn new things, other times you need to delegate tasks to specialists who have skills that you don’t have.

• The vast majority of people on the slopes are friendly and personable folks who are just as happy as you are to be spending the day doing something fun. Once in a while, however, you will encounter an inconsiderate jerk — the kind that cuts in on a lift line or goes way too fast in a congested area or smokes and uses foul language on the chairlift when children are around. Life and business also include run-ins with ill-mannered and even unscrupulous people. Don’t let them ruin your day and don’t ever descend to their level.

• You have to be prepared for whatever the mountain throws at you. Don’t skimp on certain gear, like good gloves, ski pants, goggles, and boots that fit just right or you’ll end up cold, miserable and sore. Likewise, it’s important to prepare for big decisions in life by doing your homework, knowing the facts, reflecting carefully on your options, seeking guidance when appropriate and making good choices.

• Go at your own pace. Some skiers stop to rest more often. Some ski fast. Others go slow and carve more turns in the snow. Some like to get out early for first tracks in the powder. Some sleep later and stay out until they close down the lifts. If you’re part of a group that includes all of the above, don’t try too hard to keep up with someone and definitely don’t hold someone else back. This is what diversity and tolerance are all about. We can all meet up later for social hour. That’s what Apres Ski is all about.

• Enjoy the views and treasure every turn. Life is short. You should love what you’re doing and do what you love.