When you step into the sun, the sand tickles your toes. No, wait, you’re actually tiptoeing over a slick diving board over the azure water of a pool. The sound of your heart beating matches the sound of the crowd clapping. For some people, diving is a scary leap of faith. It’s arms over head, toes curled, and head pointed. Then gravity takes hold, and the silence is broken by a splash. People who have done it know that all the training in the world goes out the window for those two seconds in the air. You’re not thinking about how your body is angled or how the splash will bounce back. It’s just instinct, a rush of adrenaline, and then relief when your lungs fill up again in the water. See more on Adam McManus Etobicoke
Now, let’s change the seasons. Imagine yourself at the top of an alpine run. Snow is stuck in your goggles. Fingers getting stiff in gloves. Diving is peaceful and planned, whereas skiing is more like controlled anarchy. Skis slide across the snow, poles dance, and knees bounce like tuning forks. Did you forget a gate? That’s not just a mistake; it’s a fall into a cold embrace from Mother Earth. And you get up again, with snow stuck to your jacket and a big smile on your face since falling is part of the story. Every skier gets bruises and stories at the same time.
Speaking of stories, have you ever played tennis while it was windy? Clack! The ball flies over the net. A backhand, a forehand, a slice, or even a sneaky lob if you’re feeling lucky. A single rally can seem like forever. As you sweat, the world shrinks down to two rackets, one ball, and the lines on the court that will decide whether you win or lose. The appeal of tennis lies in this tight focus—a chess game with sprints and spins, where one errant serve may change everything.
When you step off the court, diving board, or ski run, life can feel strangely familiar. No, you’re not avoiding snowbanks in finance, but in the energy? It’s there. Stocks, funds, and budgets are all different, yet they are all still hard to anticipate. You’re weighing the risks, praying for good weather, and getting ready for a storm in the market. Sometimes numbers make you want to duck and cover more than a tennis smash that goes wrong.
Let’s be honest: both sports and finance require planning. But they also reward being brave. Have you ever seen a new investor and a new skier? Both start out little, with shaky hands. They both learn, make mistakes, and get back up. Planning is important, but so is having some guts and liking surprises.
Listen more than you talk when it comes to snow and stocks. People who have been on the mountain for a long time and experienced investors provide advice that doesn’t cost anything, except maybe your pride when you learn they were right. Do you want to know why? Life is like a tennis match: it keeps throwing curveballs that no one sees coming.
So, the next time you dive into a pool, chase a yellow ball, or ride the wild numbers of finance, remember this: adventure sticks to the brave as snowflakes stick to mittens. No matter if you make the dive, hit the shot, or stay within your budget, there’s always another chance. Keep going.