Arigato, {{ first name | dear investor }},
One of the best things I did during this trip to Taiwan:
Learning a completely new sport — FREE DIVING.
I've always loved the sea.
The different shades of blue.
The colourful fish.
The feeling of being surrounded by the magical nature.
So when my fiancé suggested that we learn freediving together, I immediately said yes.
For those who are unfamiliar, freediving is exactly what it sounds like.
You dive underwater without an oxygen tank.
Just one breath.
That's it.
To obtain our freediving certification, we needed to dive to a depth of 12 metres.
Sounds simple?
Not quite.
Our coach told us that the first-attempt passing rate is only around 10%.
The deeper you go, the harder it becomes to equalise the pressure in your ears.
On top of that, we had to learn proper diving techniques, safety procedures, body positioning, and how to remain calm underwater.
After three days of intensive training...
Did we pass?
Nope.
Not even close.
The deepest we managed was around 7 metres.
Anything beyond that and our ears became extremely painful because we hadn't mastered the pressure equalisation techniques yet.
To be honest, going deep into the ocean was also far scarier than I expected.
When visibility is low, all you see is endless blue.
No walls.
No floor.
No reference point.
Just blue.
And naturally, your imagination starts running wild.
"What's behind me?"
"A sea turtle?"
"An octopus?"
"A jellyfish?"
"A shark?"
Okay, Taiwan's waters don't really have sharks around the islands, but my brain didn't seem to care. 😂
Thankfully, on the third day, the weather was beautiful.
Our coach Kobe brought us out for a fun dive.
We swam alongside sea turtles.
We saw colourful tropical fish.
And most importantly...
That was when the surprise proposal happened.
A memory I'll cherish for the rest of my life.
Although we failed our certification test, we genuinely enjoyed the entire experience.
In fact, after the course ended, we continued practising.
Little by little, we improved.
With every dive, our confidence grew.
With every piece of feedback from our coach, we became slightly better.
Most importantly, I slowly started overcoming my fear of diving deeper into the ocean.
Later, our coach Kobe shared something that completely surprised me.
He told us it took him eight months to finally pass his own certification after failing his first attempt.
Eight months.
I couldn't believe it.
Because today, Kobe is incredibly professional.
He can comfortably dive 40 metres deep.
Watching him underwater feels effortless.
Yet once upon a time, even 12 metres felt impossible for him.
And that's when I realised...
Investing is exactly the same.
Many people start investing expecting immediate results.
They want to make money quickly.
They want their portfolio to go up every month.
They want to master everything after attending one course, reading one book, or watching a few YouTube videos.
But the reality is that investing is a skill.
And like any skill, you won't be good at it on Day 1.
You'll make mistakes.
You'll buy at the wrong time.
You'll panic during market crashes.
You'll doubt yourself.
Sometimes you'll even wonder whether you're cut out for investing at all.
But none of that means you're failing.
It simply means you're learning.
The investors who eventually succeed aren't necessarily the smartest.
They're usually the ones who stay in the game long enough to improve.
Just like freediving.
Nobody starts by diving 40 metres.
You start with 3 metres.
Then 5.
Then 7.
Then 12.
And eventually, one day, you look back and realise you've become someone you never thought you could be.
So if your investing journey feels difficult right now, don't be discouraged.
Progress is often much slower than we want.
But it's also much faster than we think when we stay consistent.
After all, even the coach who dives 40 metres today once failed at 12 metres.
If you'd like a coach to guide you step-by-step and help you develop the right skillset and mindset to become a profitable and consistent investor, join me at my upcoming 3-Day Options to Freedom Bootcamp in July!
Over the 3-day bootcamp, I'll show you the exact ETF and options strategies I've used to build my portfolio to over US$1 million, while helping you avoid the common mistakes that cause many beginners to lose money.
Most importantly, you'll leave with a clear investing plan and the confidence to start your journey the right way. 😃
Would love to have you join us,
and keep learning together—the Arigato way 💛
Arigato!
Chloe
Arigato Investor
Just a quick heads-up 🌸 Except for Instagram, where I may reply if you comment on my posts, I’ll never initiate a private message to you on any platform. So if you ever get a DM from someone claiming to be “Chloe” or “The Arigato Investor” on Telegram or TikTok — please know that’s not me. It’s a scammer impersonating my account. Stay safe and always double-check 💛
The information provided in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Readers should seek their own independent financial advice before making any investment decisions. Please note that the opinions expressed in this newsletter are Chloe's own and do not represent the views of any organization. Always perform your own research and due diligence before investing. 💛
