The recent turn of the calendar from December to January brought not just a new year but also a new decade. It also brought more reading and reference material than any one person can possibly consume. For me, this means an endless supply of rearview perspectives outlining what happened, to whom and why for economies and financial markets over the past 10 years. It also means a parade of forecasts and prognosticators highlighting future investment opportunities and trends to capitalize on and/or avoid.
One of the more insightful resources is from our internal team and part of the RBC Thought Leadership initiatives. It is called ‘Navigating the 2020’s, How Canada can thrive in a decade of change.’ Using four areas of profound change in our economy – climate change, demographics, technological advancements and growth – it identifies the challenge each presents in terms of the current state and/or need for change, and then presents the opportunity that Canada has to not only address the challenge but to be a global leader in developing solutions and driving outcomes.
A link to the publication is here.
The recent news of the tragic accident involving Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others left a noticeable void for me. I am a ‘sports junkie’, a basketball fan, and I admired Kobe for the successes he had in his career and the commitment he had made to himself and his teammates and coaches to achieve that success. The news reminded me of a similar void that was left when the news of Roy Halladay’s tragic accident was first reported. Kobe’s life was no more valuable that any of the other eight lives lost, yet many people, including myself, will associate this tragedy as one that took Kobe’s life.
I feel as though I knew Kobe Bryant. I didn’t know him personally, and it wasn’t a special connection through a friend or relative. It was by the nature of his career and his public image that was created by his successes. We all ‘knew’ Kobe in some way.
His death feels even more tragic because of the price he paid for his successes. I am fortunate to be able to dedicate myself to a successful and growing practice and to be able to enjoy the pleasures of time with my family and of contributing to my kids growing up. Professional athletes are required to commit more of themselves, and starting or contributing to family life in a full time role often has to wait until their career is over. Kobe’s basketball career window was open longer than most having spent 20 years as a Laker. Since his retirement in 2016, he was making up for the lost time with his wife, with his four daughters, and I imagine with many others that were important to him. That time is up now. Knowing that makes his death more difficult for me.