What do a mountain of spreadsheets, a high dive, a ski pole, and a tennis racket all have in common? The solution isn’t as crazy as you think. Sports and finance can both change quickly. Sometimes in a real way, and sometimes in a symbolic way. The next time you’re worried about budgets instead of serves, remember that you’re not the only one playing. Discover more on Adam McManus Etobicoke
Imagine being on the springboard with your toes curled and your heart racing. Diving isn’t just jumping in and splashing. You need to be sure, precise, and a little brave with every plunge. You find your core, trust your muscle memory, and balance. There’s a frisson, that exhilarating flutter before every jump, that seems like what some people experience before they push “send” on a money transfer or make a dangerous trade.
Let’s talk about snow and skis now. When you ski, you have to be quick and responsive with your knees and keep your head sharp. A patch of ice. A sudden bend. You fix, change, or even get rid of things. The financial markets are going through the same thing. Things change quickly. To do well on the slopes or in investing, you often need to be able to think quickly and know that not every day is a bluebird winner.
Then there’s tennis, which is all about sweat, grunts, and guts. The pressure goes up in the fourth set. You have your racquet and someone who is determined to return every ball. Good players can see what their opponent is going to do, read their mind, and change their strategy in the middle of a rally. Managing money works in a very similar way. Can you guess what the next market swing will be? Making plans for your move and reacting in real time? Crossover skills get a point. Also, a great backhand comes in handy when you don’t want to give someone a subscription to another streaming service.
Money isn’t just numbers on a page. It’s the psychology of risk and reward. Have you ever seen a diver walk up to the board with a steely look in their eyes and lips? That determination shines through. When making large choices, investors, savers, and even people who plan their weekend budgets all look the same. Every option you make, whether it’s a splash, a serve, or a quick turn, adds a chapter to your personal playbook.
Stories come up all the time. There is a story about a skier who got gear on sale, bragged to friends, and then quadrupled their savings by buying it before the off-season. Or the tennis player who worked hard to win money at local tournaments and saved it for grad school. There is a connection between everything. Every serve, every money, every jump.
Let’s be honest: losing hurts. Mistakes hurt, whether they’re on the court or in a 401(k). But champions, whether they are in sports or business, don’t give up. They look over, adjust, and swing again.
Two sides of the same coin: sports and money. Be playful with your money, be smart, and never be hesitant to jump right in with your racket high. Is your footing safe? Not as good as people say. But being able to laugh after a big failure is priceless.