Do any of you play chess? It has to be one of the greatest strategy games of all times. My father taught me chess – he was a champion player. Wish I could say the same about myself but alas, no luck there! One thing I did learn is that there are so many comparisons between chess and everything that we do in life, both personally and professionally. Mainly, the risk-reward and consequences of decisions.
To be a good chess player and to be successful in life, you must always be 5-7 moves ahead and considering all the various outcomes and possibilities of each one of those moves!
When was the last time when you decided to accept a role that you thought about your next 3-5 moves in the future? The ripple effect in taking the job at hand and the impact it will have on your long-term path? What about deciding on whom to select for a key opening that you have in your organization? Or discharging a key staff member and the ripple effects that it will have? I could go on and on, but I’m sure you get the point.
Don’t have life, work and everything else give you a check-mate! Think ahead and always be prepared to act not only in the present but 3, 5 and even 7 moves ahead that way you will hopefully never have to deal with a stale-mate or worse a check-mate!
Like I always say, there are two things you can do: either you do it or you don’t!
At Your Service,
Aurelian A.
