How Life Imitates Chess

When we regularly challenge ourselves with something new—even something not obviously related to our immediate goals—we build cognitive and emotional “muscles” that make us more effective in every way.

Pablo Picasso nailed it when he said that “computers are useless. They can only give you answers.” Questions are what matter. Questions, and discovering the right ones, are the key to staying on course.

These intermediate objectives are essential if we are to create conditions favorable to our strategy. Without them we’re trying to build a house starting with the roof.

You won’t know what you are looking for until you are aware what conditions will satisfy you.

frequently changed strategy is the same as no strategy

doesn’t matter how far ahead you see if you don’t understand what you are looking at.

The moment that confidence weakens, indecisiveness and concrete failures usually follow. If we aren’t confident, we begin to postpone decisions and this leads to a destructive cycle of anxiety and time pressure.

Here was a strategist who knew that not having anything to do didn’t mean doing nothing.

these times, a true strategist shines by finding the means to make progress, to strengthen his position and prepare for the inevitable conflict. And conflict, we cannot forget, isinevitable.

Questions, and discovering the right ones, are the key to staying on course.