The trajectory of sports mirrors the trajectory of life.

You start as a novice, bumbling through and mirroring those around you.

Then you start improving, enjoying it, and trying out things that are uniquely you.

Then you start being competitive and keeping score.

Then you start measuring joy by wins and sadness by losses.

Then you start being collaborative and cheering every play.

Then you start enjoying every game, win or lose.

Then you start being the window to what sport is really for: connecting, within and between.

Then you start giving back to the bumbling.

– Osasu Oviawe

Life will test you until you realize you are unbreakable.

Unbreakable until you break you.

The tests are to help you see you are unbreakable.

Your awakening will determine if it is true.

– Osasu Oviawe

Assume positive intent and positive outcomes.

Confront negative intent and negative outcomes.

Keep going.

– Osasu Oviawe

Every yes cages you. Make sure you like the cage you are choosing.

Every no frees you. Make sure you like the freedom you are choosing.

– Osasu Oviawe

Your crosses are your wings.

Though they may be a burden at the start, they will lift you up when you master them.

– Osasu Oviawe

In ball games, the quality of the follow-through is directly proportional to the quality of the hit.

And the quality of the follow-through is dependent on the commitment to practice.

You might not be able to know all that goes into practice, but the follow-through is always a good measure of the athlete’s commitment to it.

There are parallels to other aspects of life.

Follow-through is the single biggest signal of commitment.

– Osasu Oviawe

Growth is not slipping.

Growth is slipping and catching yourself before you fall.

Growth is not falling.

Growth is also falling but picking yourself up.

– Osasu Oviawe

Children love to play.

There’s no exception.

They also love to have a good laugh.

No exception.

The exception comes from adults, beaten and surrendered to life’s exceptions.

“Children aren’t joyful because life is easier for them; they’re joyful because they haven’t yet learned to negotiate joy away.”

Find play and laughter in each day, and you will find the pure river of joy you drank from in childhood again.

– Osasu Oviawe

This year, I started a finance company, bringing 23 years of investing into one vehicle to enable focus, accelerate performance, and simplify succession.

Gunofin Capital Ltd.

The name came from a business school game we played where my group gave itself a name – Gunofin (G because the name had to start with the letter G, and then the first letter of each of our names: Uju, Ndidi, Osasu, Francisca, Ify, Nicholas).

It was a footwear company, and we won the 10-year business strategy game in my class against 7 other teams.

Beyond winning, I really liked the team dynamics, so it was an easy choice for a company name.

You can read about the company here: gunofin.com

I will be testing every thesis I have about finance and investment using this vehicle going forward. It will be a fun learning journey.

– Osasu Oviawe

Any situation that can get worse, can get better.

Doing nothing is rarely the only choice available.

– Osasu Oviawe