Get ready. We’re diving off the high board, slicing down icy hills, and hitting tennis balls so fast you can’t even blink. Then, just for fun, we’ll play about with some finance numbers on the side. Hold on tight; this trip will throw you curveballs at every turn. See more on Adam McManus Etobicoke

Have you ever gone diving? It’s a mix of ballet and cannonball, with a big dose of adrenaline on top. Get up. Toes holding on to the edge. You make yourself breathe. There is a quietness and a feeling that anything could happen. Then, take off. You turn, twirl, and hit the water. Sometimes you hit it right on the head, and other times you belly flop so hard that the pool shakes. No one ever swam like a fish the first time. All of the winners had shaky knees and red marks at first.

Are you skiing? That’s organized pandemonium, especially when you’re speeding down an ice slope and your skis feel like they’re on too much caffeine. You see the sun on the snow and hear the wind whistling. Then boom. Frost all on your face. The best skiers have a secret: they fall, get back up, and try again. If you fight the mountain, it will always win. Instead, you have to dance with it.

You, your racket, and your opponent are the only people on the tennis court. Sometimes your worst enemy is your own anger. A groan when the ball hits the net. Perhaps a vow to practice more that they said quietly. Have you ever tried to hit a serve and send it flying over the next fence? It happens. Even the best players double-fault. But then you get a great shot, a volley that moves as fast as lightning, and you remember why you keep coming back.

It’s not simply about beating other people in sports. Every cheer, every missed shot, and every handshake at the net gives you coffee for your soul. Being persistent, humble, and happy when you least expect it.

What about money? That’s a whole other sport now. Same crazy trip, but with less bruises and more paper cuts. One day, stocks are doing well. Then they fall. Someone in the cheap seats is always chanting “diversify!” Most of us trip over a decimal point at some point when we use spreadsheets, make budgets, or set up emergency reserves.

It’s easy to claim you’ll save, but it’s hard to do. For some folks, paying bills is like playing whack-a-mole. You have to combat inflation, interest rates, and keep to your budget. Have you ever felt like you could spend a lot of money shortly after payday, but by the third week you had to survive on instant noodles? You’re not the only one. People look for “sure things” and “hot tips,” yet money goes away faster than socks in a dryer when you get too excited.

But you don’t need to be a magician to handle money. Sometimes, it’s as simple as this: Don’t spend more than you make. Put some money away. Don’t put all your money on roulette wheels, whether they’re in Vegas or the stock market. It’s better to have a simple game plan than a complicated one you never follow.

The best achievements are rarely shown on TV, whether you’re diving from a high dive, skiing down a hill, smashing tennis balls, or balancing your budget. Most of them happen discreetly, away from the audience. You develop, you laugh, and you get a front-row ticket to the wonderful chaos of growth with every mistake you make. And maybe next time you’ll stick the landing or have some extra money at the end of the month. In any case, you will have a story to tell.