Rolling to the top: 3 lessons learned while bowling

A few days ago, I had an experience that left me with valuable lessons, and I would like to share it with you. I joined a bowling game with the company’s management team. At first, I felt challenged: it had been years since I last played, and I felt completely "rusty." However, with every obstacle that I overcame, I started to figure out which strategies worked best for me and which ones I would rather avoid.

One of the most interesting things I discovered was the importance of vulnerability. Showing my mistakes in front of my colleagues opened the door to connection. Sure, I got a few laughs when I missed, but I also received applause when I improved. That shared dynamic built trust and strengthened our bond.

The highlight of the night came when our manager —who turned out to be a secret bowling pro— shared some tips to help me improve my technique. After applying his advice, I focused, prayed, trusted in myself, and managed to knock down all the pins in a perfect strike! Between laughs, I said, "See how important a good coach is?" His eyes widened as he watched the scoreboard and realized I had knocked all of them down. He exclaimed: "Wow!" —he was amazed, speechless! We laughed together with our HR manager, too, and I walked away that day with a powerful reminder:

There’s always someone willing to guide and help you succeed, even in the most unexpected situations.

One of my favourite parts of the experience, though, was when I pulled out my phone to capture the best moments. Interestingly, these turned out to be mainly the photos we had from that bowling night, making them extra special. This taught me another important lesson: never stop being yourself. Enjoy every moment, and don’t hesitate to document the highlights. Capturing and sharing these memories is also part of the journey.

What I appreciated most was not just learning to bowl better but connecting with my colleagues in a setting outside of work. Often, the daily routine doesn’t leave much time for meaningful conversations, and activities like this provide a chance to see the human side of the people we work with.

Here are three lessons I took from this experience that I hope inspire you:

1. Allow yourself to be vulnerable. It’s a doorway to building trust with others. Be authentic and enjoy every moment.

2. Seek a mentor or coach. Their guidance can help you reach your goals faster. To get feedback and inspire you to continue learning, growing, and improving.

3. Step out of your routine. Trying new activities opens the door to unexpected opportunities to learn and grow. Don’t shy away from documenting and cherishing special memories.

I encourage you to embrace activities that challenge and inspire you, whether it’s through a game, a conversation, or a spontaneous experience. You might be surprised by the results!

Thank you for reading my story; I would love to share and know your opinion of this article I created. I am looking to share my experience and inspire others to grow in their careers, be vulnerable, and have fun during this process of constant growth.

My name is Diana Romero, and I am a strategist in sales management, marketing and public relations. I can guide you to achieve your professional goals to discover your unique sales and branding advantage from your core values to drive strategic growth.