The Principles of Successful People #4
Always ask: What game am I playing? Do I truly want the prize this game offers?
Game - A competitive action involving skill, chance, or endurance on the part of two or more people who play according to a set of rules.
Prize - Anything striven for, worth striving for, or much valued.
We are always playing games in life, whether we recognise it or not. At work, home, or even the supermarket, there are rules, rewards and consequences that we don’t consider. That we play these games so blindly can lead to us playing a game without questioning if it aligns with our goals or values. It’s here that we need to explore the relationship between the games we play and the prizes we are competing for. We can achieve success in a field for the sake of success, and only when we look back do we realise that the prize feels unsatisfying. If we always ask “what game am I playing?”, we become aware of the consequences of our choices. By asking this valuable question, we ensure our efforts are meaningful, and not in pursuit of an automatic victory that doesn’t fulfil us. Don’t just play any game, choose the right one.