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I used to roller skate when I was a kid. But not just like ordinary kids who bought themselves roller skates and held their mother's hand. I was riding seriously. I jumped off the steps, learned to do tricks in front and back, gained speed, tried different styles. I didn't have a coach, I didn't have any classes, I studied everything myself.
But the videos weren't just entertainment for me. It was a culture. The same kind of guys who were passionate about skating gathered in our city. Like bikers at their gatherings, but instead of motorcycles, we had roller skates, bicycles, and skateboards. 20-30 people of different ages gathered near the mall every day. We skated, discussed something of our own, tried new elements, and learned from each other.
No one was wearing helmets or protective gear. But, surprisingly, no one was injured. Everything went smoothly — either we really knew how to fall, or we were just in our own environment.
This culture has permeated me. It wasn't just skating — it was belonging to a community, to a movement of like-minded people.
But the main thing is that the skills I got back then still help me.
If I take skates— no problem, the mechanics are the same. Skiing? A couple of minutes, and the body adapts itself. A wakeboard? It's easy, because there's past experience to build on.
And it doesn't just work in sports.
It's the same in the market. You can read a book that doesn't seem to be related to investing at all. But at the right moment, some idea from it will suddenly help to see the market from a different angle, better understand what is happening, and make the right decision.
Past experience always provides the basis for new skills. Even if it seems like it's useless. It's just that the time to apply it hasn't come yet.