This year 2023, I made it my resolution to learn to play Chess.

It’s a very fun game, when you’re winning.

Not so fun, when you’re making mistakes and being picked apart.

Both sides have something to learn from.

This day, I had lost like 5 matches in a row..

When you play online against strangers like I do, it feels worse than losing to a computer.

Very frustrating.

I use Chess.com to play, and you have the option to play against other people, or against computers.

These computer “players” range from, beginner all the way to simulating a Grandmaster.

The Grandmaster is the highest rank amongst Chess players and takes years to acquire.

I decide to play against a Grandmaster,

and as you can imagine I was picked apart like toilet tissue..

I believe it was Checkmate in less than 12 moves.

Every move had a consequence and the Grandmaster didn’t hesitate to utilize it..

Now if you’re an asshole like me, you land on an idea 🤔☁️

I thought “Let me see how someone my skill level, fares against this Grandmaster”

Let me be on the inside, so here’s what I did..

I set up a match against a stranger online, and on my laptop, a match against the grandmaster.

Planning, I’ll do the moves the stranger does on my laptop,

and respond with the moves that the Grandmaster would do.

Kind of maniacal, sort of genius if you ask me..

Now here’s where it gets juicy, as expected I (using the Grandmasters moves) whooped that strangers ass.

Checkmate in about 6 moves.

I play another stranger, same set up..

Checkmate in 12 moves.

Another stranger..

Checkmate in 14 moves..

Then I begin to take note, why would the Grandmaster do this move and not what I would’ve done?

Why was that move the best move?

Why not capture that?

Why advance there and not there?

And most of the moves began to make sense,

The moves became agreeable,

I was beginning to understand more why those moves were made,

I was learning..

So after a couple more matches, just abusing strangers my skill level with this Grandmaster hack..

I play one match on my own..

With this new found vision, with notes mentally stored, with moves now in my bag to use..

What happened?

I won the next 5 matches,

Each of them checkmate in less than 20 moves..

It’s like I was a new player!

And I realized I had stumbled on yet another correlation between Life and Chess..

If you’re frustrated,

If you’re on a losing streak,

You’ve plateaued,

lost on how you can improve and overcome this..

Find a Grandmaster

Someone you know, someone you admire and can trust.

Someone living the desired life you’re after,

and get in proximity with them, the closer the better.

Work for them, reach out to them, invite them to lunch.

Be. A. Student.

When I say the closer the better, I mean seeing the pace they walk, how fast they talk, their likes, dislikes, their fears and frustrations, how the settle down, how they kick back into gear..

Then when you pick up on those things, you’ll start to live them..

You’ll see red flags, you’ll sense danger, you’ll know what a win looks like and you’'ll begin to hold those same standards.

Soon enough you’re life will reflect differently, you’ll have this newfound vision for things.

You’'ll be more equipped and the situations that held you back before, no longer do.

That’s when you’ll spark a new winning streak.

That’s when your life will change.

So seek out your Grandmaster, your coach, your mentor.

Reach out, get in proximity.

It’s truly the fast-track to the next level.