Today, I’ve got a story that’s equal parts heart and hilarity.
Meet Emmanuel—a guy who went from basketball star to comedy king.
But trust me, the path wasn’t exactly a straight line.
Let’s take it from the top.
Emmanuel was born in Egypt while his family fled the civil war in Sudan.
Not exactly an easy start, right?
By the time they made it to Winnipeg, he was just a kid trying to find his place between two worlds.
But basketball?
That was his escape.
He lived and breathed it.
Played through school, made it to the University of Winnipeg, even dreamed of going pro.
The guy could ball.
Until… he tore his LCL.
That’s right, one bad landing and poof—his basketball career was toast.
Ever had your whole identity yanked out from under you?
That was Emmanuel.
Who was he, if not a basketball player?
Spoiler alert: He was about to find out.
First, he gave insurance sales a shot.
He’ll tell you himself—it was a disaster.
Imagine a 20-year-old trying to sell life insurance to people three times his age.
Yeah, didn’t exactly scream “expert advice.”
But what Emmanuel diddiscover was that he was great with people.
Turns out, connection—not policies—was his thing.
Fast forward a bit, and Emmanuel lands at SkipTheDishes, working his magic in account management.
He was thriving, building relationships left and right.
Life was good.
But still, something was missing.
Then, he found comedy.
Now, let’s be real—most of us would rather swim with sharks than get on stage.
But not Emmanuel.
He dove in headfirst.
Started doing open mics.
The nerves? Through the roof.
The jokes? Surprisingly good.
Even when the pandemic hit, the guy kept writing new material every day.
No audience? No problem.
He was grinding in silence.
And guess what? It paid off.
Today, Emmanuel is headlining comedy clubs, performing across North America, and just signing with a major comedy label.
Not bad for a guy who started out selling life insurance, huh?
So, what can we learn from Emmanuel’s wild ride?
1. Life Throws Curveballs—Catch ‘Em
Losing basketball could’ve been the end for him.
Instead, it was the beginning.
Who knew a torn LCL could lead to comedy gold?
2. Find Your Superpower
Emmanuel’s gift wasn’t sports or sales—it was connecting with people.
Once he figured that out, he doubled down on it.
3. Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
From bombing jokes to switching careers, Emmanuel thrived by embracing the awkward.
Trust me, it works.
Now, Emmanuel’s living his dream, traveling the world, making people laugh.
It’s proof that sometimes the weirdest detours lead to the best destinations.
Until next time,
Bob
