Saw two movies this weekend. One of baseball and statistics and the other of the legendary Formula One driver. Movies, despite being mostly passive experiences, can nevertheless shift how we think and feel about certain things. We think we can distinguish fiction from reality but our brains are terribly inefficient at it. We flinch when we see something jumps out on the screen, we say ouch when someone gets hurt and we experience a full range of emotions and feel moved by them as if in first person. It's not our ability to relate but rather our inability to disassociate.
I was terrible at statistics while studying economics but the subject completely intrigues me. Money Ball, Liar's Poker, Bringing Down the House were all books we talked about in Stat class so when the movies came out I knew I had to see them. My current work really doesn't have anything to do with economics but the process of obtaining that degree has permanently changed the way I perceive things. Everyone knows that investment decisions can't be made based on emotions. That's easier said then done because not many people with stock shares can look at the market movements and feel completely emotionally detached. That's why I only look at my portfolio a couple of times a year. Econ has taught me to look at things more objectively, cut out the noise, evaluate opportunity costs and when the stake is high so can the reward. Fortune favors the bold in econ term means high risk high reward. Of course, risk tolerance is a very personal thing. Don't expect big rewards if you play it safe, don't expect to loose small when you play big, and definitely don't expect different outcomes when you do the same thing over and over again.
The documentary I saw this afternoon was completely opposite of cold stats except that we human beings can only cheat death so many times before our luck run out. The movie was extremely intense despite lack of suspension. The director masterfully waved interview clips, race footage and family videos to portray an extraordinary individual and the complexity of Formula One world. Everyone who walks in knows exactly what's going to happen at the end yet we sat there and watched a fatal crash in slow motion and all the meanwhile developing a deep spiritual and emotional connection to the main character almost involuntarily.
I'm always drawn to strong characters who pursue their passions with such drive, conviction and madness. Perhaps it's to compensate for my own lack of persistence. Passion is infectious. Consistent hard work is like running the last two miles of a marathon over and over again. A person can achieve mediocre success with talent and a little luck. There's no shortcut for persistent success.
The biggest flaw of mankind according to the ancient Greeks is hubris. To me hubris stands for arrogance, entitlement and the false belief that one is above life. We can have strong spirits and be physically fit but we're also undeniably frail. I'm not a religious person and I don't live everyday as if its my last. I have however developed more gratitude over the years for each day I'm safe and healthy and for every piece of the puzzle that put me where I am today. Life is more enjoyable when lived in gratitude.
I realize this is turning into a terrible blog. I'm not trying to write movie reviews here, just some thoughts and I feel like I'm rambling on. It's late, another week awaits. Time to catch some zzzs.
I was terrible at statistics while studying economics but the subject completely intrigues me. Money Ball, Liar's Poker, Bringing Down the House were all books we talked about in Stat class so when the movies came out I knew I had to see them. My current work really doesn't have anything to do with economics but the process of obtaining that degree has permanently changed the way I perceive things. Everyone knows that investment decisions can't be made based on emotions. That's easier said then done because not many people with stock shares can look at the market movements and feel completely emotionally detached. That's why I only look at my portfolio a couple of times a year. Econ has taught me to look at things more objectively, cut out the noise, evaluate opportunity costs and when the stake is high so can the reward. Fortune favors the bold in econ term means high risk high reward. Of course, risk tolerance is a very personal thing. Don't expect big rewards if you play it safe, don't expect to loose small when you play big, and definitely don't expect different outcomes when you do the same thing over and over again.
The documentary I saw this afternoon was completely opposite of cold stats except that we human beings can only cheat death so many times before our luck run out. The movie was extremely intense despite lack of suspension. The director masterfully waved interview clips, race footage and family videos to portray an extraordinary individual and the complexity of Formula One world. Everyone who walks in knows exactly what's going to happen at the end yet we sat there and watched a fatal crash in slow motion and all the meanwhile developing a deep spiritual and emotional connection to the main character almost involuntarily.
I'm always drawn to strong characters who pursue their passions with such drive, conviction and madness. Perhaps it's to compensate for my own lack of persistence. Passion is infectious. Consistent hard work is like running the last two miles of a marathon over and over again. A person can achieve mediocre success with talent and a little luck. There's no shortcut for persistent success.
The biggest flaw of mankind according to the ancient Greeks is hubris. To me hubris stands for arrogance, entitlement and the false belief that one is above life. We can have strong spirits and be physically fit but we're also undeniably frail. I'm not a religious person and I don't live everyday as if its my last. I have however developed more gratitude over the years for each day I'm safe and healthy and for every piece of the puzzle that put me where I am today. Life is more enjoyable when lived in gratitude.
I realize this is turning into a terrible blog. I'm not trying to write movie reviews here, just some thoughts and I feel like I'm rambling on. It's late, another week awaits. Time to catch some zzzs.
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