The following is adapted fromThe Standout Experience.
When I say life is a game, I don’t mean the board game Life (though that is a fun game). I mean your actual, real life.
Just like a board game, there are rules and objectives and different ways to “win” in life. The game board is your environment, and the playing piece is you.
Also like a game, winning at life is not about a single roll of the die or draw of the card. It’s a cumulative process, with ups and downs.
The better you learn how to play this game of life, the happier, more fulfilled, and better off you and everyone around you will become. One outstanding moment can lead to another, and each of them can bring new hope.
To play this game of life well enough to experience those victories, you’ll need to understand the objectives, how to play, and of course…how to win!
Objectives of the Game of Life
You can’t play any game well unless you know what you’re trying to accomplish. Playing without clear objectives is like dribbling a soccer ball around an endless, boundaryless field with no goals. It might be fun for a few minutes, but you’ll lose interest quickly.
The first objective is toenjoy playing. Games are supposed to be fun, and life is the same. You can’t have long-term success if you aren’t happy in what you are doing.
The next objective is toplay strategically. You can’t approach the game of life randomly or without purpose. Think deeply about your strategy and plan carefully how you’ll reach your goals. Give yourself the flexibility to alter your strategy and change course as needed but keep your focus on how you’ll win.
The third objective is toalways set the bar higher. Unlike other games, the game of life doesn’t end until you die. In order to keep the game interesting and moving forward, you must constantly set new goals and create a new future for the way the game is played.
The final objective, of course, is towin. Winning is determined by one thing only…you. You need to determine what success and happiness is for you. Play the game your way, and make sure that your success is your success, not someone else’s definition of success.
How to Play
To succeed in a game, you must understand how the gameplay works. The game of life is especially tricky in this regard, because there are many different rules and strategies for how to play. However, there are a few fundamental, universal strategies to use.
Work Hard
Hard work is a basic requirement of this game. It gets you a seat at the game table and gives you a chance to compete, but you need a little extra to win. While most people work hard, they generally only give 80% - 90% of their true potential. Standouts are able to give closer to 100% more often than the rest. When an opponent does give the absolute best, Standouts have an extra gear and can reach an extra level. They are able to dig deeper and summon 110% in the key moment that matters most. They are never outworked.
Always Be Moving Forward
You can’t win the game of life by standing still. Nothing in this game comes to you. You must go to it. If you stay still, opportunities will pass you by.
Continue making strategic actions that propel you forward and make certain that you get up more times than you get knocked down. Standouts are champions that never stop, never quit and never wait for an opportunity to come to them. They either take advantage of the key moments or they create them.
Choose Your Direction
Don’t move just for the sake of moving. Be intentional with the direction of each step. Like any great team or player, you control the game and force others to react to you.
Sometimes, though, your movement might be based on a reactive decision you’ve been forced into. This is part of the game. Standouts are able to pivot and make a strategic reaction while continuing in the direction they were heading. They have a unique ability to learn and apply the lesson in real time, while the game is still being played.
Expect and Embrace Challenges
In this game, you will occasionally experience pain, losses, and setbacks. It’s an unavoidable aspect of our humanity. To the best of your ability, embrace these difficulties and use setbacks as fuel for driving forward to victory.
If you spend your energy trying to avoid challenges, you won’t have the energy, time, or focus needed to actually play the game well. In that case, you’ll be playing a game that minimizes the bad instead of enjoying the good. Most teams or individuals lose because they were too busy trying to protect what they could lose instead of going after what they could gain.
Always Be Competing
Competition is everywhere in this game. We all have desires, wants, and needs, and we must compete fiercely to get them. Compete every day, not just with others but also with yourself.
Everything that happens in your life is ultimately your responsibility. The successes are yours to celebrate and the failures are yours to learn from. If you don’t get the results you hoped for, accept responsibility for it and try to do better next time.
Everyone wants to win. Even fewer know what it takes to truly compete. Standouts go beyond competing, they dominate!
Winning the Game
So how do you win the game?
Let’s start by defining losing. At the end of your lifetime, loss equates to the gap between what you accomplished and what you really wanted. A loss is really a lesson and an opportunity to play again, only this time with more experience.
To win, you must accomplish what YOU really want out of life, not what others want for you. Also, keep in mind that winning in the game of life is a holistic concept. There won’t be one goal you can check off (e.g., “become a millionaire”). That might be winning a battle but it could result in losing the war. Think abouteverythingyou need in life to feel happy, successful, and fulfilled. That is winning.
By clearly defining what winning means to you, and understanding the objectives and rules, you can become a master at the game of life.
For more advice on living your most successful life, you can findThe Standout Experienceon Amazon.
John Walsh is an inspirational and successful executive, entrepreneur, author, husband and dad with a passion for impacting the lives of others. John faced many challenges, uncertainty and failures early in his life but he created a purposeful and happy life with a lot of hard work and help from others. Over time, he created a playbook that allowed him to make the journey from homeless in high school to a senior executive with Disney and Madison Square Garden. He is also the founder and CEO of a company whose mission is to inspire and help millions of young adults stand out in their own lives and careers.
