Naive Belief

High-impact moments don’t always come with preparation. Sometimes, they come as a phone call, a plane ticket, and a coach you’ve never met who believes in you more than you believe in yourself.

This week’s Polaris Perspective is about what happens when someone bets on you and a movement early, when they see something you haven't yet proven. It's a story about GG, a man who opened a door that changed my career, my friendships, and the future of Canadian beach soccer forever.

We’re going back to a beach in Italy, where one unexpected “yes” led to captaining Canada, building a youth program, and playing the game on a world stage. All because one man believed.

Agenda:

• 3 Lessons from GG – How belief and kindness set the stage for growth.

• Events You Shouldn’t Miss – A curated list of upcoming gatherings worth your time.

• Media I’m Consuming – Articles that sparked thoughts this week.

⏲️ Estimated read time 7 minutes.

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It started with a tracksuit and a plane ticket.

We were standing at the airport gate, about to fly across the world, when GG turned to us and said:

"Well, I hope you know how to play beach soccer."

None of us did.

But that moment, confused, excited, standing there with borrowed gear and a free ticket, changed my life.

I was 24. I got a call in July just as we were about to enter our half quarter end, which in sales speak is almost equivalent to fiscal year end. 

It was from a friend Andre who said that he had a plane ticket, tracksuit and a bag to go be part of the Canadian beach soccer team and play a tournament in Italy. 

I thought he was lying up until the night before we were supposed to fly out. 

We joined a practice and sure enough we got:

• A plane ticket

• A tracksuit

• A bag

I was with a group of players from Toronto and all over Ontario that I didn't really know apart from a friend, Naim. 

This strange, strange moment in my life led to so much. Ultimately I said yes, and off we went.

GG opened a door for a group of 20–30-year-olds he barely knew. He gave us an opportunity none of us deserved yet. And in doing so, he changed the trajectory of my career, my friendships, and a part of Canadian sports history.

Over the next five years, I captained Canada’s beach soccer team three times, played 30+ games professionally, helped build a youth camp, and saw Canada ranked 16th in the world.

All because one man, who didn’t owe us anything, believed enough to extend a hand. And that’s what today’s Polaris Perspective is about:

The people you meet in your life that open up doors, most times don’t think about or can’t comprehend the impact they have or will have on you. They don’t do it for anything in return, they just do it, for me GG was that man

3 Lessons from GG:

1. If you don’t believe in your kindness, no one else will.

GG believed Canada, a country with no beach soccer pedigree, could hold its own against world-class pros. His belief was irrational on paper. But conviction is contagious. Three years later, he was right.

2. Kindness is a long game

GG didn’t expect anything back. He didn’t know what would come of it. He just planted the seed. Years later, that seed turned into professional teams, lifelong friendships, and a youth development pipeline.

3. Opportunity often looks like chaos at first.

Strangers in an airport. A tracksuit I’ve never worn. A coach making jokes before boarding a plane. Big moments don’t always announce themselves. They usually look messy, confusing, and way out of your comfort zone.

Today’s Polaris Perspective:

• Look for one person you can open a door for this week.

• Expect nothing back.

• Trust that belief, when given freely, multiplies over time.

Rest in peace GG thank you for everything.

Events you need to attend

Welcome to The CC Summer Retreat.

Don't miss the 3rd annual Collective Summer Retreat to kick-off summer.

Join leaders from around the state on an 80-acre farm near Woodstock for a day (or more) of hiking, yoga, product tastings, incredible food and time-spent with our NY cannabis community.  

This event is curated to help exec leaders rest, recharge & rejuvenate for a big back half of 2025!

 Thursday June 19th:

• Summer Retreat: 10am-7pm

• VIP Executive Dinner the night before (18th) in-town

• Kick-off to Mountain Jam private music event on Thursday night

• Mountain Jam Fri - Sun 20th-22nd w/ Cannabis activations

Come to the Catskills and stay for a few nights:

• Camping on-property (with showers available) 

• AutoCamp just minutes away

• Many hotels in the area, Cannabis Collective will be working to secure group rates, more info to come

🚀 Science in the City 2025: The Future of Medical Cannabis in France! 🍷🌱

Big things are happening in Bordeaux this October! After making history as France’s first-ever medical cannabis conference—featured in Forbes, no less—Science in the City International is back and bigger than ever.

A one-of-a-kind, full day of immersion encompassing elements of lifestyle and medicine that speak directly to all medical communities at large. They are offering continuing education on integrative and functional medicine, experts actively practicing in plant based research and scientific presentations on outcomes, healthcare provider health and wellness, practice design, tech, fashion, music and more! If you want to attend tickets are here, if you want to sponsor reach out and I’ll connect you!

📅 Champagne Reception @ InterContinental Bordeaux France
📅 Main Conference @ La Cité du Vin France

This female-led event is THE place to connect, learn, and shape the future of cannabis innovation. Secure your spot now—sponsorships and tickets are moving fast!

🔗 Join us here

3rd Annual NY Tech Week Soccer Championship #NYTechWeek

Come join the NYC Tech Eco-system for the 3rd Annual NYC Tech Week Soccer Championship! ​Put on by Pitch on the Pitch and kick off FC, This game is open to ALL skill levels of soccer, but limited only to those operating as a Founder, VC, Operator, or Partner in the Tech NYC Ecosystem.

RSVP HERE

Have you enjoyed this newsletter? Is it providing value? Do you know somebody that would find it useful? Send them this newsletter and if you refer 5 people your next coffee run will be on me. (3 referrals = $15 Starbucks)

As the world becomes more complex, it becomes more and more challenging to stay grounded, focused and aligned. Stay ahead by fostering unity, innovation, and trust across your teams and yourself. Don’t miss out on upcoming events and insights that will help shape your success in the months to come.

- SKV