Are there some people with a unique ability to glimpse the future and act accordingly? I have often wondered how certain investors anticipated phenomenal gains and held on to stocks or cryptocurrencies from their earliest stages, resisting public sentiment and market noise, only to realise extraordinary returns years later. At times, it feels as though they somehow knew not to sell, confident that prices would soar. These few investors defy expert opinion and disregard conventional patterns of profit-taking. It is almost as if they understand what lies ahead and patiently wait for the decisive moment before reaping the rewards. Could they have known in advance, and if so, how?
I refer to the financial world as one example, but the phenomenon extends far beyond it. Years ago, Lebanon, my country of origin, was experiencing strong economic growth. It was a prosperous and hopeful period for those living there. People were buying property and investing heavily in the country. Yet one person I knew, a jeweller, along with his parents and family, shut down their business, sold their possessions, and emigrated. Many found the decision baffling and even accused them of being irrational. A few years later, Lebanon descended into turmoil, a condition that persists to this day. How did they know, and what compelled them to leave at precisely that moment?
Is there something at work on a paranormal level, or is this merely a coincidence? Are such individuals simply luckier than most, or are they more perceptive, able to identify signals and patterns that others overlook? What inspires them to move against the prevailing current and ultimately benefit from doing so? I am reminded of the case of Stefan Mandel, a Romanian-Australian economist who applied mathematical analysis to calculate winning combinations and exploit structural loopholes. His method allowed him to win the lottery fourteen times and forced many lottery systems to revise their rules.
Perhaps the explanation is simpler than it seems. Maybe most of us miss what is plainly visible, while a rare few recognise it and have the courage to act. Who knows.
