The principle of investing is easy. The application, not so much. Let me phrase it a little differently than you will have heard from most financial experts.

Financial Expert: Invest an amount (money), it pays more back to you over time.

Rephrased: Invest of yourself, the rewards cannot be measured.

Exploring a new mountain bike trail, I thought it would be fun to experience some unexpected obstacles. Perhaps there are different definitions of fun. After a great 30 minute ride, I turned a corner and screeched to a halt. Blocking (in my opinion) the path was a mound of boulders. An insurmountable object. I thought to myself, “What idiot put these here?”

I was confident that I could get my front tire onto a boulder along the bottom, but my principle of “Just Keep Pedaling” was not going to succeed at getting up that mound.

Examining the obtrusive pile of boulders before me, another biker approached. I slid to the side ready to observe what speed it was going to take to get up that mound. Instead of speeding up, he glided to the bottom rocks, then began a series of hip hops rebounding from the back wheel to the front wheel weaving his way up the mound. Stary eyed I stared in wonder when he reached the top of what he made look like a steady incline, then rode off.

I did not know what just happened.

“Life is like a bike ride on the trails in the woods…. just keep pedaling. And when the obstacle arises that cannot be beat, stop, learn, and practice.”

The young man had made an investment. He learned and then practiced probably on lesser piles of rocks. The pay off was now he could work his way through what others thought to be impassible obstacles. Inspired by his efforts, I did exactly what you would expect: I picked up my bike and carried it up the rock pile. Mounting the bike again I was ready to proceed down the course – for about 20 more minutes when I reached the second rock mound.

This time I looked at that pile with great determination, glided to the bottom, then pulled my front tire onto the bottom rock. Stepping off the bike, I laughed. I dismounted and carried my bike up the rocks.

“Not today, rock pile.” Actually, probably not any day, but I will teach one of my grandkids to best this pile. Revenge will be mine.

Have a Happy Friday.