5 chess techniques that apply to real life

 

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Chess, that timeless classic, some would say is at a crossroad between arts and science! This board game is so popular that some of its jargon has crossed over into everyday language: checkmate, or pawn, among others, have become common expressions. Not only is it a great, brainy passtime, but chess is also a useful exercise for the mind in terms of strategy and preemptive thinking. And the coolest thing about it is that the skills you develop while playing chess can also be applied to real life! Exactly. Regular chess players have trained their brains to think ahead, anticipate their opponent's moves, and make calculated decisions in order to achieve their objectives. Wouldn’t you say that’s a useful set of skills for real life?

Thus, here are five chess techniques that can be used in everyday situations:

1. Predict the chain of events following your actions

When you play chess, you’re probably reasoning like this: “If I do this, he's gonna do that. Then I would do this, and he'll probably do that, etc.” … This is the essence of chess, anticipating your opponent's next moves. And this is also how you should be thinking in real life. It’s amazing how many people I know never look past the tip of their noses. “Look before you leap”; we’ve heard that advice repeatedly since we were kids. Yet, so many people still act impulsively, rush into things, and don't think about the consequences of their actions or their words.

A chess player wouldn’t commit that mistake. He has developed the reflexes of holding back, pondering, and only then, acting wisely. In real life, whether it's in a business negotiation, a political debate, or a personal relationship, that is certainly a good reflex to acquire.

2. Kill two (or more) birds with one stone

In chess, the best moves are the ones that have multiple benefits. For example, blocking the way for your opponent’s bishop and at the same time developing your pawns into a more central position; or protecting one of your pieces, and simultaneously opening the way for your queen to attack, etc. …

The same can be said in real life; the best opportunities are the ones that accomplish multiple goals with a single action. For example, if I’m designing a product, the more versatile and standardized I can make it, the wider the audience I can reach, and thus the more prototypes I can sell. Another example; if a company considers making a donation, apart from the humanitarian side of this action, it would also benefit from tax reductions, positive publicity and thus potentially, an increase in sales. In general, just like in a game of chess, it’s always a good idea to make each of your actions aim for multiple goals.

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3. Use pinning

In chess, a "pin" is a move where you nail in place one of your opponent’s pieces, usually one of lower value, in such a way that, if it moves, you’d take a piece of greater value. For example, let’s say you threaten to take your opponent’s knight with your bishop, and behind his knight along the same diagonal is his queen, then he won’t be able to move the knight, until that situation is fixed. That’s called pinning.

If we extrapolate this strategy into real life, what do we get? Well, we get a valuable, although a hostile, method of action. Life is not always peaceful, and sometimes you have to show some teeth in order to be respected. Use veiled threats, subtle hints of a potential counter-strike from your part (whether legal or otherwise) to sway things your way. For example, if you’re arguing with a neighbor about some border issue, you could use arguments like: “let’s do this here, and we’ll forget about the other transgression there” (implying that, otherwise, you’ll resort to legal action). Or use phrases like: “if you insist on doing this, we’ll have no other choice but to do that”, etc. You get the picture. Of course, the threat must remain subtle, otherwise you’d be exercising blackmail, which is not exactly legal.

4. Exchange cheap assets (pawns) against valuable ones

In chess, players often sacrifice small pieces (such as pawns) to take out more valuable ones (such as knights or bishops) from their opponents. In order to do so, they put their opponents in such a position where they have no choice but to accept the exchange.

Similarly in real life, whenever you can put the others in a position where they have to accept a deal that is beneficial for you and detrimental to them, you’re winning. For example, if a company is eager to sell something, you can negotiate to get it for the lower price. If, on the other hand, a company is eager to buy something from you, then you can sell it at the highest price possible. Once again, it’s not very cool to do so, but it’s certainly efficient. ‘Better to eat than be eaten, right?...

Photo by Vlada Karpovich

5. Never waste time

Finally, chess players know this universal truth better than anyone: time is of utmost value! During a game of chess, every move counts! It’s even said that one move is worth one third of a pawn. One third! That’s a lot! If you waste three moves, it's like you’re losing one pawn.

In real life, as the saying goes, “time is money”. It’s an extremely valuable, non-renewable resource that should be used very wisely. It is only by managing our time effectively and prioritizing our tasks, that we can get ahead. Also, we only live once, so we’d better make the best out of our time on Earth.

5 simple habits to boost your productivity

 

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If you’re planning to work on a creative project, whether it is writing your next novel, composing a musical masterpiece, building an amazing app or a complex website, you’ll need all the productivity tools you can get in order to bring this project to completion. But, as the saying goes, “life” often stands in the way: it can be challenging to maintain focus and momentum in the long term, especially in the face of professional and social duties, chores, and distractions, ubiquitous in today’s world.

So how do I manage life’s responsibilities without giving up on my dreams? Well, there are certain habits you can develop which will boost your productivity significantly, and help you get a lot more done in your personal projects. Here are five of them:

1. Wake up 1 hour earlier to work on your craft

First thing you will need are big chunks of time exclusively dedicated to your project; it needs to be quality time, where you’re “in the zone”, fully concentrated on your task. Where can you find such a time? Well, the first few hours of every day can potentially be THE most productive time you can ever find, and that is for two reasons: first, your mind is still fresh from a good night’s sleep (unless you suffer from insomnia, but that’s a different matter…). Second, and most importantly, this is really your “me” time; there are no distractions likely to happen at 5 AM. No one's gonna call you on the phone at this hour to catch up; you won't get any "urgent" emails, and no one is posting feeds on their social media stream yet. Everyone's asleep, except you; you're working on your goals.

And even if you can only find one hour per day, you would still get 7 hours per week of uninterrupted time dedicated to your personal project, which is great…

2. Take notes on the go

Our minds are constantly brooding and reflecting on our long term goals, and the world around us is so full of inspiration and beauty. Thus, chances are we might experience "eurêka" moments when we least expect them, and it can be easy to forget those ideas that come to us in the moment. Therefore keeping a notepad, or a note-taking app, with you at all times is an excellent idea: this way you can jot down your thoughts quickly, before they slip away. Once you have captured those furtive ideas, you can revisit and develop them later, in the comfort of your workspace, when you're ready to tackle them.

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3. Get inspiration from different material

Sometimes, we get stuck in a creative rut, and it's hard to come up with new ideas. When this happens, one of the best ways to break free from this state is to take a look at work made by other authors. It could be something similar to what you're working on, and even better, it can be something completely different! Let’s say you’re writing a science-fiction story, and you seek inspiration from let’s say a western, you’ll get a completely original material, some kind of hybrid between the two genres (this probably happened to the writers of the movie “Cowboys and Aliens” or the TV series “Firefly”). Also this way, you’ll avoid the trap of plagiarism, since the result is something completely unique.

4. Don't seek perfection

Don’t get me wrong: every author should bring his creation to the highest standard possible. However, perfectionism, which is the obsession of creating something perfect right from the start, is one of the biggest productivity killers. When you strive for perfection at the early stages of the creative process, you become bogged down in details and lose sight of the bigger picture; then you’ll most likely discourage yourself, and give up. Don’t make that mistake; don’t let your inner critic smother the creative in you.

Instead of trying to make everything perfect from the start, focus on making progress. Be willing to make mistakes and to adjust them later. Done is better than perfect, so don't let the fear of not doing something perfectly hold you back. Remember: it’s easier to edit something than to create it out of nothing. The hardest thing for an author to confront is a blank page.

5. Set deadlines

Deadlines are a powerful tool for boosting productivity because they create a sense of urgency. When you set a deadline for yourself, you are more likely to focus on the task at hand and make progress. It’s also a remedy against perfectionism (detailed in the previous paragraph), because you have to get the job done before the timer goes off. Feel the adrenaline rush! This is what we call “timeboxing” in management, and it’s one of the principles of Agile methodologies, and probably one of the reasons they are so efficient.

And finally, when you meet your deadlines, it gives you a sense of accomplishment, so there’s a motivational aspect to it. However, make sure to set realistic deadlines, otherwise you’ll get the opposite effect; you’d most certainly miss your deadlines, then discourage and hate yourself. Don’t do that.

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By incorporating these five habits into your daily routine, you'll be able to boost your productivity and advance in your creative projects. Remember: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”, so be patient with yourself and keep at it until you succeed.

6 modern-day lessons from Machiavelli

 

Niccolò Machiavelli was an Italian political philosopher and writer, famous for his book "The Prince," written in 1532. The Prince, dedicated to Lorenzo (Il Magnifico) De’Medici, is a political treatise that discusses the ways in which a ruler can maintain power and control over his country.

Although the book was written almost 500 years ago, the lessons it contains are still relevant today, notably in the world of leadership and management. And despite its ill reputation, “The Prince” is not all vicious and cruel: even if it does include several ethically questionable parts (to say the least), it also contains truly virtuous and honest wisdom. Here are five modern-day lessons we can learn from Machiavelli, which are not completely cold-blooded:

1. Be respectable to inspire respect from others

“A prince is despised if he is considered changeable, foolish, weak, mean, and uncertain. A prince should avoid these characteristics […]. In his actions he should try to show greatness, courage, seriousness, and strength” (chap. 19)

What makes a strong leader, and what makes a weak one? Do you ever hear of some manager criticized for being “too nice to be a good boss”? Well it’s not about being nice or mean; it’s about decisiveness, character and confidence. A leader should always display a strong personality. It should be obvious in everything he does: the way he dresses, the way he stands, the way he speaks. For example, self-deprecating humor, while funny in a social gathering, is a leadership killer in any professional setting. Even small details, like poor posture, can weaken a leader’s credibility.

In the movie “U-571”, Harvey Keitel tells Matthew McConaughey, the second officer in command who just got in charge of the whole crew, "the skipper always knows what to do even when he doesn't". In leadership, there is no place for doubt and second-guessing; only assertiveness and action will keep you at the head of your team.

2. Don't be hungry for women or money

“What would most get him (the Prince) hated is his being a grabber, a thief of his subjects’ property and women; he mustn’t do that. Most men live contentedly as long as their property and their honor are untouched” (chap. 19)

And another excerpt:

“When he has to proceed against someone’s life he should have a proper justification […]; but above all things he must keep his hands off people’s property, because a man will forget the death of his father sooner than he would forget the loss of the property his father left to him.” (chap. 15)

Machiavelli warns rulers against corruption, noting that lust for money and women can distract a ruler from his duties and quickly lead to his downfall. In the modern world, this is more topical than ever. Harshness, even ruthlessness can be forgiven, as long as your goals remain selfless and, on the long term, in the best interest of your team. People will inevitably feel if you are using them for your own benefit, or if you’re truly on the same boat with them: in the first case, you will only stir up their hatred and lose any authority you may have over them. In the second, you’ll remain their respected leader.

And obviously, humiliating your constituents in any way, thinking of yourself as the “Don Juan/Alpha Male” type, sexually harassing anyone in your team or related to them, would not only get you fired from your company, but would also land you in court, facing some rabid lawsuits.

3. Mingle with your people

“One of the best things that the acquiring ruler can do is to go and live in the newly acquired state, which would make his position more secure and durable. […] Subjects who are well-disposed towards the prince will have more reason to love him; and those who aren’t will have more reason to fear him.” (chap. 3)

Machiavelli advocates for rulers to have knowledge of their lands and the people living in them. How does that apply in the modern world? Well, be close to your team, be present. Break bread with them. Attend weddings, attend funerals, have lunches with your partners or business associates, create human bonds. This is especially important in today’s world, where telecommunications make it so easy to be evasive and distant. Don’t fall into that trap.

Get to know your team. Go grab a drink with a couple of colleagues to finish up discussing some project. Organize some sporting competition for your team, or some Sunday outing. Meet their families. By mingling with them, you learn more about them, about their strengths and their potential, and they appreciate you more.

Of course don’t overdo it; don’t be like Steve Carell in the TV series “The Office” who’s so desperate for his team’s affection that he gets the exact opposite… Let’s stay moderate.

4. Empower your team

“When any new prince has found the people unarmed he has armed them. Why? Because, by arming them you make those arms yours: the men whom you distrusted become loyal, those who were already loyal remain so, and your subjects become your supporters.” (chap. 20)

And also:

“A prince ought also […] to honor those who are talented in any art or craft. And he should encourage his citizens to carry steadily on with their ordinary occupations—in commerce, agriculture, and so on […]. The prince should create incentives for doing these things and for doing anything else that improves his city or state.” (chap. 21)

Invest in your team. Get them to learn new skills, give them responsibilities, and rely on them. Some weak bosses don’t want their staff to evolve, fearing they might one day surpass them and take their place. But trust is a two way street: if they feel that you’re keeping them from growing, they’ll most certainly look for another workplace, more supportive and appreciative of their talents. Also, while your staff evolves, you’re evolving too, probably much faster than them, so it’s really stupid to let your team stagnate, especially in today’s competitive market.

5. Be frugal

“If he is wise he won’t be afraid of being thought to be a miser, because no-one will think that about him when they see that by reining in his spending he leaves himself with the resources needed to defend himself against all attacks, and to tackle various projects without burdening his people. His management of his wealth, therefore, works well for the countless people from whom he doesn’t take anything.” (chap. 16)

A good leader is thrifty; he’s careful with the company’s money, just as a father should be very cautious with the family’s expenses. A great part of leadership is managing the assets, most importantly the financial assets. A free-spender, even though agreeable and fun to be with, will be (justly) perceived as irresponsible, even dangerous for the company he’s running, as he might drive it to bankruptcy from bad financial management. On the other hand, you have a tightwad; now this guy is really cheap, he’s no fun at all, but when it comes to running the books, he can be trusted with the company’s expenses, you can be sure of that. Between the two, for the leader role, you take your pick…

6. Show courage and initiative

“Nothing builds a prince’s prestige more than his undertaking great enterprises and his setting a fine example by his personal conduct.” (chap. 21)

By “great enterprises” in today’s context, as opposed to early 16th century Italy, we’re obviously not talking about “waging war against neighboring cities” or invading Canada (although that might be fun, but no…); we’re talking about initiative, entrepreneurship. Be proactive (as Stephen Covey would advise), have an entrepreneur spirit, come up with creative ideas and new projects that might benefit your company, plan them wisely and put them into action; that’s really the best way for you to shine as a leader, and prove you’re a worthy and inspiring headman.

In conclusion, it’s probably worth giving that timeless classic a re-read, and soak up in the pragmatic philosophy and ingenious sense of strategy of our favorite (although disreputable) Italian philosopher. You might encounter the risk of coming out as a deranged sociopath to the librarian lending you Machiavelli’s The Prince, but hey, it’s definitely a risk worth taking.

Or you could just buy it online: here's a good edition.