Michigan, Michigan State, Investors-When They Need Their Coaches The Most

When Players & Investors Need 

Their Coaches The Most

by: Brendan Magee

To borrow a line from Forrest Gump, College football and a box of chocolates have one thing in common, from game to game, "You never know what you're going to get." This past Saturday's Michigan vs Michigan State game fell right into that category. With just 10 seconds to go in the game and leading 23-21, Michigan lined up for a punt that if completed successfully would have made it all but impossible for Michigan State to win the game (I am having visions of the Eagle's "Miracles at the Meadowlands as I right this).

In good order the ball is snapped back to the Michigan punter, Blake O'Neill, and the blocking is good enough for him to have enough time to punt the ball away. Unfortunately, he drops the ball and rather that fall on the ball or just get tackled, he flings the ball in the air. The ball lands in the hands of a Michigan State defender, Jalen Watts-Jackson, and he races some forty yards for an improbable game winning touchdown.
Michigan State breaks into a euphoric celebration and Michigan is left to figure out "What happened to their all but in the bag victory. For better or worse, O'Neill and Watts will be a part of college football history.

College football coaches like Michigan's Jim Harbaugh and Michigan State's Mark Dantonio get paid big bucks to deal with circumstances like this, and their teams will need them now, more then ever. How does Michigan pick up the pieces, especially their punter, and get ready to play next week's game with the memories of Saturday's game? How do they exercise the demons? Michigan State needs to come down of f their high. How do you not have a once in a life time play distract you from getting ready for next Saturday's game? How do you make sure the hangover doesn't interfere with preparing their next game? The seasons for both teams could be hanging in the balance of just how well their coaches perform their duties this week.

The same can be true for investors. How well investors handle the unexpected determines how successful they are. For example, you have your money in what you believe is a diversified portfolio. You believe with this portfolio you will never lose money. You see two or three quarterly statements of negative returns. This isn't what you were expecting at all. Something has to be wrong! Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't. Before you throw out what could be the portfolio that will bring you the security you were after, you better get someone to help you deal with your upset. That better be your coach. Alone, we rarely do a good job of policing our emotions.

It can also work in reverse. That diversified portfolio has one of the investments that is up 35%. It's been on an upward trend for the past two years and you want more it. The other parts of your portfolio aren't doing nearly as well, some have even lost a little money. You say it's time to dump all the poorly performing investments and load up on the highest performing investments. You want to be on the float for the victory parade. Before you enlist in the Japanese Navy on December 8, 1941, you better have someone help you to temper your enthusiasm. Something that can go up 35% in two years can and most likely will go down 50% in a month.

When it comes to sports and investing, the one thing that we can count on is that there will be the unexpected. Out of the blue when you least expect it, you will see something you never saw before. How you deal with the unexpected will have a lot to do with the long-term success you experience or don't enjoy. For the overwhelming majority of football players and investors, they are going to be much better off with a coach.


Brendan Magee is the founder of Inevitable Wealth Coaching. With comments or questions go to www.coachgee.com or call 610-446-4322.