Real vs Virtual

By Alex Story

Few sounds in life are as uplifting as the pitter-patter of tiny feet rushing towards an opening front door, accompanied by little voices shouting "Daddy! Daddy!" at the top of their lungs. Filled with unconstrained love and joy, these moments make your return home after a long business trip abroad truly special.

That brief instant makes everything worthwhile: soulless airport lounges, plastic in-flight meals, endless security checks, cancellations, and reschedulings. All it took was a short affectionate moment with my young children to wash away the stress.

These moments mean so much. Only when they stop does one notice how much they meant and how much we lost when they were gone.

One day, after a particularly average mid-winter trip, I landed back in Salzburg, Austria. I went through border control and jumped into a cab. In ten short minutes, I stood in front of my door. I dropped my bags on the floor in preparation; I would have to bend down very low to pick up the flock of children as they ran down the corridor and jumped onto my ageing frame.

However, when I opened the door, I was greeted by a deadly silence. It was a crushing, yet vague, disappointment. Was there no one home? Was I at the wrong address? Or more likely, had I landed in another dimension?

Stillness—unbearable stillness. That was it. I opened the door fully, picked up my bags, and with a heavy sigh, ventured into the darkness. I walked down the corridor and headed towards the living room, a little way down on the left. I chanced upon an entrance.

The four children were there, slouched on the sofa, their souls entranced by devices I didn't know they had been given and entirely consumed by worlds beyond their screens. As I stared in disbelief, one of them looked up and grunted a distracted "hello." Within a second, he returned to the virtual world he had briefly left.

My anger boiled over. There would be no negotiations, no compromises. A choice had to be made: Either I would allow them to leap into a world way beyond our family and neighbourhood, or I would stop this and bring them back.

I walked toward them, grabbed the devices, threw them all in the bin, and banned them for eternity from our household.

Awaking from their addicted slumber, they hollered, begged, and threw themselves on the ground. Within half an hour, though, crying gave way to childish laughter. Finally, they saw "Dad" and jumped into my arms. Tears of joy nearly formed in my eyes. They had returned to the real world in which they had been born and were destined to live. For my part, I promised that if they were banned from devices, I would walk the walk by reducing my time on devices to 30 minutes a day.

Over time, the rules have relaxed somewhat, but we play, talk, and read together as if it's 1999. And life, you will find, is just as fun now as it was then.

—Alex Story, June 23, 2024

About The Author

Alex Story

Alex Story is a seasoned professional in Private Placement and Flow Business, serving as Managing Partner and Founder.

An accomplished athlete, Alex competed in the Olympics as a rower and secured victory for Cambridge in the prestigious Boat Race against Oxford. He holds both an undergraduate degree and an EMBA from Cambridge University, reflecting his dedication to excellence.

Before transitioning into finance, Alex's career included notable political experience, bringing a diverse perspective to his work. His unique blend of athletic, academic, and professional achievements defines his approach to leadership. Alex's journey from elite sports to high finance is a testament to his relentless pursuit of success.

Connect with Alex Story here.