Learn the Success Secret of the World’s Greatest Chessplayer: Making Fantasy Pay
By Tom Chandler on Jun 10, 2008 in Business of Freelancing
Garry Kasparov is the greatest chess player the world’s ever known. While few of us can replicate his impressive mental powers, we can leverage the methods he used to achieve the chess world’s highest ever rating.
His secret?
He played the game backwards.
A Strategy For Success
Most chess players view a game’s current position as a starting point, and simply search for ways to improve their position.
Kasparov’s method turned that thinking upside down. According to chess writer Jacob Aagaard, Kasparov envisioned what he wanted to see on the chessboard – creating a “fantasy” position in his head - and then calculated a way to make that fantasy chess position a reality.
The result was the highest rating ever achieved by a chess player, and an unparalleled run as world champion.
Chess teacher Jeremy Silman outlined a similar method in his hugely successful chess training book, so clearly, it’s an idea with legs.
The parallel for marketers and copywriters is plain.
You can invest your energy incrementally improving your current situation (your life, your business, your latest campaign).
Or you can decide where you want to be, then find a way to make it happen.
The difference is subtle. But significant.
One method moves you forward, but slowly.
The other finds you working towards your dream situation.
The Application of Fantasy
What do you really want to write? Who do you want to work for? What kind of work situation would you like?
Construct that situation in your head. And then figure out what it takes to make it happen.
To help, I’m offering you the design for a simple worksheet – something I adapted from a leadership workshop I attended years ago.
It’s simple and effective. You simply outline the current situation in the lowest box (Now). Then create your fantasy scenario in the top box (the Wow).
What then becomes apparent are the steps in the middle – the things you need to do to make your situation come true (the How).
Write down the steps, editing out those that aren’t truly necessary or don’t move you towards your goal.
What’s left is a simple set of steps that lead you to your fantasy situation.
Best part? You can use this simple worksheet to complete short-term goals, or even while taking individual steps towards your larger goal.
It’s a simple idea, but one that turns most people’s thinking upside down.
Figure out where you really want to be, and only then figure out how to get there.
Keep writing, Tom Chandler.
I love this! It strikes me as a useful variant on ‘decide what it’s not before you decide what it is’ approach.
But how will this work to ensure I win the Mega Millions - don’t need the huge $$$, a few mil would more than suffice.
Roberta Rosenberg | Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
This is a simple but very useful tool that you can use for any area of your life.
Want to improve your tennis game?
Want a better relationship with your sweetie?
One point to consider: some studies by psychologists have found that goals (the “Wow”) that are too unrealistic can actually be demotivating. For example, if you make 60 grand a year now, and you tell yourself you want to make 6 mil next year, your brain may not think it’s possible, and the disconnect can be depressing.
See the book Psychological Foundations of Success by Stephen Kraus for the scientific take on the whole subject of self improvement and goal achievement. It’s been very useful to me.
John Soares | Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
Roberta: As soon as you figure the Mega Millions thing out, let me know. You will, won’t you?
John: Thanks for weighing in. I’ve found this method to be most successful when used with specific goals, and you’re certainly right; a dose of realism is required or disappointment is an inevitable result.
Like your hiking books.
Tom Chandler | Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
Tom,
Great piece. I don’t know if that was earth-shaking information (seems like self-help books are all about goal-setting). But for some reason the simplicity of the little worksheet really hit me and made me think: Sometimes I’m too hesitant/scared to follow through on the “How”. Does that make sense?
I know where I am now. I know where I would like to be. Writing out each step of how to make it happen would require me to think about some steps I’d rather ignore. Kind of the idea that it is easier to dream than to work.
Maybe writing it out is good so you can reassess the Wow! part–maybe you really don’t want that goal if it’s going to require x, y and z and you really don’t want to do y. Then you can come up with a new Wow! goal that is achievable.
Or maybe writing it out is good because you can keep trying alternatives (x, q and z) until you find the way to make it happen that is doable.
How about an elaborate flowchart instead of the simple worksheet ;-).
Thanks for making me think!
Scott C | Jun 14, 2008 | Reply
Scott: Goal-setting isn’t exactly new, but I do appreciate the simplicity of this approach. People often think more about where they are instead of where they want to be, and the worksheet exists so — once you’ve created some kind of fantasy position — you’re forced to recognize the steps needed to get there.
Then there’s the little matter of the worksheet staring you in the face every day…
Tom Chandler | Jun 15, 2008 | Reply
Tom,
This is really excellent stuff. Thank you. It’s strange how uncommon common sense is. At least that’s how this strikes me.
Be well,
Bob
Bob Souer | Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
Hey Tom!
This is a great fisrt step to WOW! A great way to start focusing yourself…what’s amazing is that as you start this process there are other situations (”Hows”) that present themselves & that move you along even faster…that you would never have even thought of (let alone listed) if you hadn’t taken that all important first step!
Very Cool!
Peace!
Liz
Liz de Nesnera | Jun 26, 2008 | Reply
Hi, Tom. Thanks for the insightful observations. I actually have been following this process to fulfill my dream of becoming a voice talent ever since reading Barbara Sher’s amazing book Wishcraft, which she has generously made available as a free download.
Chess players work alone, but the rest of us often need help in achieving our goals. In the book, she also offers practical advice for ways to get help at each step. As Sher says “isolation is the dream killer”!
Karen Commins
http://www.KarenVoices.com
http://www.KarenBlogs.com
Karen Commins | Jun 26, 2008 | Reply
FYI — If the link to the Sher book in my previous message doesn’t work, the book is available at http://www.wishcraft.com.
Karen Commins
http://www.KarenVoices.com
http://www.KarenBlogs.com
Karen Commins | Jun 26, 2008 | Reply
Bob, Liz & Karen: I got a handle on the worksheet at the Wings Seminars (located in Southern Oregon), where the whole deal immediately made sense.
It’s hard to discuss my life in terms of “systems” and “processes” (at least with a straight face), but I am aware enough to realize that replacing one process with a simpler one is better than the reverse.
The worksheet works, and it’s simple.
Tom Chandler | Jun 26, 2008 | Reply
Hi Tom, Can you tell me where Jacob Aagaard talks about Kasparov’s play? Thanks
Apples | Jul 21, 2008 | Reply
Apples: I’m on vacation and away from my books right now. I’ll dig it up when I get back, assuming I still have that Aagaard book.
Tom Chandler | Jul 22, 2008 | Reply