The Shared Thrills of Investing and Paragliding.
"Why Investing and Paragliding are More Alike than You Think"
Diwali vacations are always a family time for me in form of travelling to a new holiday destination with family and friends.But this time tough due to certain circumstances we were not able to do so.I have always had this weird idea of flying in the sky like a bird right from the early childhood.Who doesn’t have it ?.Paragliding was a perfect adventure sport to make my dream come true.And it took over 45 years to discover this!.I had already figured out two years back the best paragliding school which would equip me with best of the foundations for this sport.Temple Pilots from Pune was the place i decided to go ahead and explore this sport.The energetic founders duo of Avi malik and Anita Deshpande had setup this flying school almost 25 years back when paragliding was unheard of in India.Avi sir, a former airforce pilot had taken up this sport out of his love for flying.He is the only Master Instructor in India in a country of 1.3 Billion people. He is a extraordinary human being with lots of energy and spirituality in his thoughts.And he is ably supported by his wife Anita,who herself is a paragliding pilot and charismatic personality.Temple pilots has a team of professional instructors who help you in learning this sport really well.I signed up for the APPI 2 +CC pilot license course for 10 days.The whole journey of this course made me learn and think of various aspects of our decision making abilities in life.The course is divided into practical flying lessons,theory classes and the examinations to get the pilot licence.
You get different grades of pilot licences bases on your proficiency in this sport and which only comes with practice and time.This sport requires lots of patience and ability to let go on occasions when things are not in your favour(weather conditions) .While undergoing this course lot of similarities stuck with me between investing and paragliding as a sport .So lets dive deep into the same and understand how paragliding can help you in becoming a better investor and how a good investors can become a good paraglider pilot as both are more of a phycological games.
1. Good investor/paraglider needs good temperament, experience and knowledge.
If a person puts in time and effort to learn any skill,over a period of times he get the basic fundamentals of the game which he/she can use while playing that sport.This i call the skill part.In investing you read about various books on investing and you get the message conveyed by various authors on how to excel and survive this game of investing.Similarly once you are done with you basic course and flying hours you get skilled at paragliding.You read best of the course material and gain the technical aspects of the sport.But beyond a point what becomes more important is the temperament and the behaviour you display when you are in a unknown situation you have never encountered earlier.Because both investing and paragliding kills if you take a terribly wrong decision in times of panic.Investing kills you financially and paragliding accident literally take your life.In investing we say “Be greedy when everyone is fearful and be fearful when everyone is greedy.”But how many of us were able to hold through the downturns of march 2020?. There is a term called as “Parawaiting”in paragliding.When you drive all the way for hours to reach the mountain top to fly and notice that the weather conditions are not suitable to fly , you have to wait for that window of opportunity for the air conditions to be favourable to fly.That wait time is called as Parawaiting.How many of us can wait for hours and comeback home not flying due to bad weather conditions.To be patient in such conditions is a sane thing to do.But people overestimate their skills and capabilities and take a wrong decision to fly in such unfavourable weather conditions and end up losing their lives. You might have given all your time studying a company for investment and it might have passed all your checklists.But if the price of the stock does not have any margin of safety for you, however good the company might be, it will prove to be a suboptimal investment for you.So in such cases how many investors can wait for years and track the company and only invest when the share is available at less than the intrinsic value?During my 6th day of the course few names were announced for their first solo flights from the site called as Tower hill in kamshet,Pune.My name was missing from the list and i wall allocated a tandem flight with the instructor.The instructors only allow you to go solo when they feel confident that you can take good decisions in the air without getting panicked and you listen to the radio instructions properly and follow them accordingly.I felt a lit bit disappointed when i did not find my name on the list.But when i reached the flying site i thanked my instructor vikas for not letting me fly solo and instead fly tandem.The look of the sky was scary with lot of paragliders flying in the sky with a huge traffic.So i thought its a good way to understand the nuances of the flying in a traffic by doing a tandem flight and getting confident the next day for my solo flight.To take that right quality decision you need to well train your mind to stay away from things which might permanently kill you.
2.Advantages of community in investing and paragliding.
I have been very fortunate to come in contact with various investors and their thought process while reading on different topics.Good community of investors really helps you appreciate the fact that no one way of investing is right or wrong.There are various ways of making money in the markets.You get to understand by reading regarding the various mistakes made by the investors across the cycles and geographies.The biases everyone faces while taking several decisions.Having people in your community helps to understand the counter thesis to the various investment decisions you make.Similarly in paragliding when you to speak to experienced pilots and their experiences over the years you get to learn and appreciate different aspects related to flying.They help you and motivate you to take on different challenges in flying.During the 10 days course at Temple Pilots we used to have debriefing sessions after our on-ground flying lessons to discuss what each and every participant learnt during the day and what mistakes he/she made while flying.During these sessions if you are a good listener you get to learn and understand so many things from others which you can use to your advantage going ahead.
3.Greed,fear and spirituality in Investing and Paragliding.
Investing in the stock market and paragliding can provide opportunities for individuals to reflect on their values, goals, and strengths. By researching and analyzing different stocks and making informed investment decisions, individuals can gain insight into their financial goals and priorities. Similarly, by engaging in the physical and mental challenges of paragliding, individuals can gain a sense of their physical and mental capabilities, as well as their willingness to take risks and face challenges. In both cases, individuals can use these experiences to gain a deeper understanding of who they are and what they want from life. By reflecting on their experiences in the stock market and paragliding, individuals can gain a greater sense of self-awareness and personal growth.
Greed and fear are two common emotions that can affect stock market investing and paragliding. In the stock market, greed can drive individuals to make impulsive and risky investments in the hopes of making quick and large profits. This can lead to poor decision-making and increased risk of financial losses. Fear, on the other hand, can cause individuals to avoid making investments altogether or to sell their stocks prematurely, potentially missing out on potential gains. In paragliding, greed can drive individuals to take unnecessary risks or push themselves beyond their abilities in pursuit of thrills or bragging rights. Fear, on the other hand, can cause individuals to avoid paragliding altogether or to hesitate or panic in critical situations, potentially leading to accidents or injuries. In both cases, it is important to manage and control these emotions in order to make sound and safe decisions.
Investing in the stock market and engaging in paragliding can provide opportunities for individuals to develop their spiritual growth and well-being. In the stock market, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of the global economy and the impact of their financial decisions on others. This can foster a sense of interconnectedness and compassion towards others. Similarly, paragliding can provide a sense of connection with the natural world and the beauty of the surrounding environment. This can foster a sense of awe and gratitude towards the world and can promote spiritual growth.I can never forget my first solo flight from the Tower Hill at Kamshet which gave me immense joy and ability to zoom out and appreciate the fact that we should not think too much about ourselves however successful you are, as we are a very minute part of this planet earth.
4.You have to be an utter optimist to play both the games.
Paragliding and investing in life are both about taking risks.When you're paragliding, you're trusting that your equipment will hold up in the wind . You're trusting that you can fly safely and skillfully, and you're trusting that you'll be able to land safely if something goes wrong.In investing too you are always investing with a positive frame of mind of getting a good return on your investments.You believe in your abilities of analysing the company and you believe in luck.Optimism towards life is a very important quality needed in excelling in both.These two games are not for the pessimist.Oh what if my gliders fails in the sky? What if the company goes bankrupt??This negative mindset is a strict no no for these two games.In both cases, you can't go wrong by surrounding yourself with positive people—people who will challenge you, who will help you grow, who will encourage you when things go well or when they don't.
5.Its a personal journey.
Paragliding and investing are both complex and personal, but the similarities are apparent.Both paragliding and investing in life require a lot of hard work. The best way to be successful at either is to put in time and effort, eventually seeing results. It's also important to be patient—in both cases, it takes time for your efforts to pay off. Wareen Buffet made majority of his wealth after the age of 65 even when he started investing is his teens.Jesse Livermore made his wealth by betting against the markets and went bankrupt and committed suicide few years after he made a billion dollars .Both the investors had their own journey.Both paragliding and investing can be scary as hell if you don't know what you're doing. But with a little preparation, both can be exciting experiences too.Investing and paragliding are two things that will change your life if done right. They both provide a sense of adventure and satisfaction, but they aren't something to do on a whim.Someone might be able to compound his portfolio at a cagr of 20% and you would be able to do it @15%.But you are not here to compete.The guy who has been able to compound @20% might have a very different perspective of risk than yours.So its really futile to compare and compete .Same in paragliding.A pilot X might take very less time to hone some skills which you might take a bit longer.It’s okay to be so.Because it’s gonna be your personal journey to achieve the flying hours.We are here to enjoy ourselves and sustain the game for a longer periods of time.
6.Both require planning and preparation to succeed and sustain.
Investing is similar to paragliding because both require a lot of planning and preparation before they can be executed. The best thing about both is that if you do them right, they will bring immense sense of satisfaction and joy. While investing in the stock market and paragliding may seem like completely different activities, they do share some common skill sets. Both activities require a certain level of risk management and the ability to make informed decisions based on available information. In the stock market, this might involve analyzing financial reports and market trends to make investment decisions, while in paragliding, it could involve assessing weather conditions and choosing the right equipment for a successful flight. Both activities also require a degree of patience and the ability to remain calm in potentially stressful situations. Ultimately, the key skills required for success in both activities are the ability to make informed decisions and manage risk effectively.Overall, both investing in the stock market and paragliding are activities that involve a certain level of psychological strategy and risk-taking. Individuals who engage in these activities must be able to think critically and make calculated decisions in order to succeed.
7.Intermediate syndrome.
Intermediate syndrome means when some one after gaining a certain level of skills in any sport becomes overconfident about his abilities to manage all kinds of situations without actually getting trained for it.In the stock market, intermediate syndrome may occur when investors become overconfident and make risky or reckless decisions based on their perceived expertise or market conditions. This can lead to significant financial losses and potentially severe consequences for the individual and the market as a whole. In paragliding, intermediate syndrome may occur when individuals underestimate the risks and challenges associated with the activity, leading to accidents and injuries.If a novice pilot after having gained some flying hours thinks he is ready for doing acrobats in the sky without getting properly trained ,such person becomes a victim of intermediate syndrome.Proper training and caution are essential for minimizing the risks and potential consequences of intermediate syndrome in paragliding and investing.
8.Tools/Equipment’s needed to play both the games.
The tools and equipment used in investing and paragliding are important because they help to ensure the safety and success of these activities.For investing, the right tools and resources can help you to build a well-diversified portfolio, manage your risk, and make strategic decisions that can help you to achieve your financial goals. Whether you want to save for retirement, pay for your children's education, or achieve some other financial objective, the right tools and resources can help you to plan and execute a successful investment strategy.Right tools can be reading the annual reports , listening to the concall ,reading the quarterly transcripts etc.In the case of paragliding, the right tools and equipment can also help you to achieve your goals and aspirations. Whether you want to fly long distances, perform acrobatic maneuvers, or simply enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the sky, the right paraglider, harness, and other equipment can help you to achieve these goals. With the right tools and equipment, you can take your paragliding skills and abilities to the next level, and experience the full potential of this exciting and rewarding activity.
9.Perception of a dangerous sport/speculative sport.
In the stock market, generally people think its a speculative way of making money by betting on the future performance of a company and its stock price, and taking on the risk of losing their investment if the stock does not perform as expected. Similarly, in paragliding, people think its a dangerous sport where you speculate on the weather and wind conditions, and take on the risk of injury or other mishaps if the conditions are not favorable. Both activities require careful consideration and analysis, as well as the ability to manage risk and make informed decisions.The problem is people think stock markets are a place to make quick buck which is not at all true.Any investments made requires time to compound which very few people understand. Similarly driving a car on the road is more dangerous than paragliding in the air.But our minds have been trained to think otherwise that anything in the air has more danger than being on the road.However if you google out the accidents percentage on roads versus in air you will get your answer.However, both activities provide the potential for significant rewards if they are approached with care and caution. In the stock market, well-informed and strategic investments can lead to significant financial gains. Similarly, careful planning and proper training can enable successful and thrilling paragliding experiences. Ultimately, the key to minimizing the risks associated with both activities is to approach them with knowledge and caution.
10.Active piloting/Active investing.
Active investing in the stock market involves regularly researching, analyzing, and making strategic decisions about which stocks/Mutual funds to buy and sell. This can help investors stay informed about the latest market trends and adjust their portfolios accordingly to maximize their potential for gains. Similarly, active piloting in paragliding involves regularly practicing and refining one's skills, staying informed about weather conditions, air traffic and making decisions about when and where to paraglide. This can help pilots avoid dangerous situations and maximize their enjoyment of the activity. Active piloting is an essential skill for paragliders to master, as it allows them to actively control the direction and altitude of their flight. This can be crucial in a variety of situations, such as avoiding obstacles, navigating through changing weather conditions, and landing safely. Active piloting also allows paragliders to take advantage of rising air currents and thermal updrafts, which can help extend their flight time and increase their enjoyment of the activity. Overall, active piloting is an important skill for any paraglider to have, as it enables them to safely and confidently navigate the skies.In both cases, active involvement and engagement are crucial to surviving and thriving in these potentially risky pursuits.
11.Choose the style which suits you(acrobat/cross country paragliding-fundamental/technical investing)
Paragliding and investing are two exciting and rewarding activities that offer a wide range of possibilities and opportunities for personal growth and achievement. Both activities involve a certain level of risk and reward, and they require careful planning and strategy in order to be successful. However, within the broad umbrella of paragliding and investing, there are many different types of activities and styles that you can explore and experiment with. Lets take a closer look at some of the different types of paragliding activities and investing styles that are available, and i will discuss their unique characteristics and potential benefits.
One type of paragliding activity that is particularly popular is acrobat paragliding. As the name suggests, acrobat paragliding involves performing acrobatic maneuvers and stunts while flying on a paraglider. This can include activities such as loops, rolls, spins, and other advanced aerial maneuvers. Acrobat paragliding can be an exhilarating and thrilling experience, and it requires a high level of skill, training, and experience to perform safely and successfully.Another type of paragliding activity is cross country flying. Cross country flying involves flying long distances across the countryside, using the wind and other natural forces to propel the paraglider forward. This can be a challenging and rewarding activity, as it requires a good understanding of weather conditions, wind patterns, and other factors that can affect the flight. Cross country flying can also be a great way to explore new landscapes and environments, and to experience the beauty and majesty of the natural world from a unique perspective.
In the world of investing, there are also many different styles and approaches that you can use to manage your money and achieve your financial goals. One of the most common investing styles is fundamental investing, which involves analyzing the fundamental characteristics of a company, such as its financial health, management team, and competitive position, in order to make investment decisions. Fundamental investors typically focus on long-term investment horizons, and they seek to identify companies with strong growth potential and sustainable competitive advantages.Another popular investing style is technical investing, which involves using charting and other technical analysis tools to identify trends and patterns in financial markets, and to make investment decisions based on these patterns. Technical investors typically have a shorter-term investment horizon, and they rely on mathematical and statistical techniques to identify opportunities and manage risk. Technical investing can be a highly quantitative and data-driven approach, and it can be particularly useful for investors who are interested in using data and analysis to inform their investment decisions.
Overall, whether you are interested in paragliding or investing, there are many different types of activities and styles that you can explore and experiment with. Whether you prefer acrobat paragliding, cross country flying, fundamental investing, or technical investing, there is something out there for everyone, and the key is to find the right activity or style that resonates with your interests and goals. By learning more about the different options available, and by experimenting with different approaches, you can discover the unique joys and rewards of paragliding and investing, and take your skills and abilities to new heights.
I am leaving you with the snaps of my first solo paragliding flight which is close to my heart ❤️.Enjoy
