Knight Moves - A chess player's guide to succeeding in life - Jacques de Villiers
The Pawn
The Pawn is your worker ... your perseverance and persistence. Although the Pawn is, on the face of it, the weakest piece on the chessboard, it is powerful when coupled with any of the other pieces or another pawn. It is not pretentious. It's just a hard worker and gets the job done. When you have a sound strategy in place, a vision and purpose, you'll have the faith to continue working even when it seems like you're not getting the results you want. If the Pawn has such a belief in the strategy presented by the others it will never falter. It never gives up. I know that you won't give up on your dreams if you really believe in them and the strategy you've devised to achieve them. Sadly, many of us give up on our hopes, dreams and goals too soon. Unfortunately, we don't have an almanac which let's us know when and if we succeeded in our endeavors. Thus, we need faith that we need to keep working our plan.
Have you ever noticed that when you start a new project there is a lot of energy and enthusiasm initially. But it is in the middle of the project that energy, enthusiasm and determination flags, isn't it? And, when it is near the end of a project we pick up our pace because the home stretch is near. Sometimes in the middle stages there seems like there's nothing to do and no end in sight. Having nothing to do does not mean that you do nothing. Sometimes in chess there is a period when it seems like it doesn't matter what you do, you can't seem to get ahead to best your opposition. This is the time when you have to be on your guard and start working on your positional play. Basically, get all your ducks in a row. For example, if you're a soldier and there's nothing to do. You can still do something proactive like clean and oil your rifle so that when it is time for action, your weapon will perform at it optimal and won't let you down. When there's down time, how many of us watch TV or just laze around instead of focusing on tasks (no matter how insignificant they may seem) that will help us move forward and achieve our goals. And, the bonus of hard work is that it actually makes you feel good. Don't you feel fantastic when you really done a hard day's work? I know I do because I feel satisfied, worthwhile and at ease with myself. I recall a French saying that goes something like this, "Nothing makes a pillow more comfortable than a hard day's work." I can own that feeling. I know that when my work ethic slips, I don't go to bed with a clear conscience and my sleep does invariably suffer.
You are the Grandmaster of your Life
I doubt I can change your life in 3000 words. But my hope for you is that the chess metaphor has resonated with you and that you'll realise that you are the Grandmaster in charge of your life. You were destined to be great and you deserve to be great. Develop a life strategy, work it and develop the strength of character, self esteem, confidence and work ethic to be the success you know you can be.
The Business Generator, Jacques de Villiers helps orginisations make sense of sales and marketing for real return on investment. He is a keynote speaker, consultant and trainer focusing on sales training, sales management training and internet marketing.
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