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Introduction

Playing chess is more than just a fun pastime, there are many benefits to playing chess that extends outside of just becoming a better chess player that is often times overlooked. There are many correlations between being a talented player at chess and having success in various aspects of life such as health, both mental and physical, relationships and business. Becoming familiar with chess and the rules of the game will enable you to master many skills that can have both tangible and intangible benefits outside of chess when completing tasks that require attributes such as discipline, patience, social skills, adaptability, pattern recognition and much more. A large percentage of individuals that have managed to achieve success in their life either attribute their success to the principles they have learned from playing chess or at least have admiration for the game of chess due to the principles chess has the ability to help individuals cultivate within themselves.

Here are three quotes from successful business leaders and entrepreneurs about the positive impacts of playing chess from a business perspective. Sabrina Chevannes the owner of a successful web development and creative media agency sheds light on this fact “ I went from being a professional chess player to being the CEO of a successful creative agency, transferring my skills along the way.” Chuck Gargotto a successful real estate investor is quoted as saying “I have found the mental training and discipline involved in the game of chess to be very applicable to the real estate investing process. The methodical thought process, deep thinking and end game orientation required in chess are parallel to the analysis, negotiation and contract work involved with real estate investing. I believe chess is excellent mental conditioning for the real estate game or any business endeavour.”Lastly Bill Pena the CEO of Simply Business states that “Chess has been loaded with a variety of ascribed “meanings” over time — war training, intellectual self-improvement, moral righteousness — but at its core chess is an enduring game of strategy. My family has played this game for generations, and in this inheritance are lessons I apply to business leadership to this day. There are analogies to many of the most critical concerns of a CEO — including people, strategy and adaptation — in the ancient game of chess.”

Employing The Strategic, Tactical and Visionary Skills That’s Required In Chess into Business

The best chess players are able to effectively use strategy, tactics and vision in order to create successful plans to win the game much like entrepreneurs are required to use strategy for tasks such as creating marketing campaigns, tactics for tasks such as deciding when and how to introduce loyalty programs in order to foster long term customer relationships and vision when looking into the future in order to identify potential upcoming challenges or opportunities for growth. Chess has the ability to teach individuals valuable skills that can be transferred into business that can be helpful when completing different tasks within the business sector which can set individuals and companies apart from those that have not been exposed to chess. Utilising the skills needed to be successful in chess into business endeavours is almost a guaranteed way of ensuring ones success for several reasons. Thinking strategically when undertaking business tasks will enable you to shortcut your path to completion without compromising the quality of your work which can save you time, money and maximise results. Employing a tactical approach to business endeavours such as hiring staff will ensure that positions within a company can be handed to individuals with a special ability to deliver unmatched results competitors will have a difficult time replicating.

Applying the visionary skills that excellent chess players utilise to identify likely challenges as well as opportunities during chess games can be immensely beneficial in business as it can help companies position themselves to be able to withstand challenging economic environments such as periods of low profitability or identify opportunities that can yield substantial profits such as occasions where stock or essential equipment can be acquired for significantly less than the market value. Chess is often compared to life as there are many similarities between the challenges that occur in real life situations such as business and the obstacles that chess players tend to experience during chess games which makes chess a great game to learn as it can help you to prepare for whatever life may choose to throw your way and develop the right mindset and methodical processes to overcome them. There are many instances in business where successful companies have utilised strategy, tactics and vision in order to benefit from the changes in trends such as the shift from the era of physical sales of music to the era of digital downloads and streaming which resulted in the rise of companies like Spotify, Tidal and Apple Music. On the other hand there are also companies such as Blockbuster and Polaroid that failed to recognise the shifts in the economic environment and lacked the strategy and tactics to make the necessary adjustments which ultimately resulted in these companies closing down permanently.

Transferring Problem Solving Skills Learned From Playing Chess Into Business Situations

One of the most essential skills all successful chess players, entrepreneurs and CEO’s must have is the ability to solve problems as they arise. In chess as in business there are endless problems that can arise at any point in time many of which can be anticipated and many of which can be hard to foresee. Chess players that transition into business have an advantage over their peers that do not play chess as through their experiences playing chess they have had the chance to cultivate the ability to come up with creative ways to solve problems which can be an extremely advantageous skill to have when faced with challenges in business. Being able to transfer the problem solving skills learned from playing chess into business is but one of the many things entrepreneurs admire about the game of chess which highlights some of the correlations chess has with various aspects of life as a businessman or woman. Whether it is recognisable or not there are principles that need to be understood and mastered in order for anyone to achieve success in business and in most cases finding success in one business profession can positively impact your ability to achieve success in another by uncovering the transferrable formulas for success even if they may appear to be unrelated.  

Many successful entrepreneurs attribute much of their success to their mindset and invest large sums of time, money and energy into improving their mindset via courses, books and mentorship programmes. The greatest chess players also spend much of their time learning from the best chess players and studying their games in order to better understand their thought processes when faced with various challenging positions during chess games. In both professions problem solving is one of the keys to success and in most business and chess courses, books and mentorship programmes the first lesson is often centred around mindset and problem solving. The main reason for the emphasis on learning how to cultivate a problem solving mindset is so that rather than giving up when faced with obstacles in business or in chess games students will instead look for creative solutions to the problems that are in the way of their success. Essentially every business is built off of the need for solutions to the problems people face in everyday life and the most successful companies are the ones that are able to solve these problems the best. There is rarely a one size fits all solution in business as each problem that businesses have to solve is usually unique to the circumstances that birthed them so the solutions to the problems must also be unique. Entrepreneurs must have the ability to solve problems which is a skill that’s almost impossible to teach due to the dynamic nature of problems however a problem solving mindset can be developed and playing chess is a great way to do so.

How Patience, Adaptability and Disciplinary Skills From Chess Can Be Useful In Business

Business is extremely competitive and competitors are always looking for new ways to increase their share of the market which can negatively impact businesses that lack the ability to manoeuvre in such a fast paced and constantly evolving environment. Every day comes with a new set of challenges which requires the right set of skills to overcome them such as patience, adaptability and discipline. Tasks such as hiring and training new staff can take a considerable amount of time, changes in the economic climate such as new legislation or disruptive innovations may require businesses to quickly adopt new business models and staying consistently motivated when setting out to achieve long term goals that may initially seem difficult to achieve requires an immense amount of discipline. Chess is a great way to cultivate patience in entrepreneurs for several reasons. There are a number of time controls in chess from bullet which is a one minute chess game, blitz which is a three to ten minute chess game, rapid which is a ten to sixty minute chess game and classical chess which is usually ninety minutes and over. Although the length of chess games can vary in time depending on the type of chess game initiated most chess coaches and tutors will encourage their students to play longer chess games as longer chess games teaches chess players the importance of patience in chess and the importance of dedicating time to plan out strategic and tactful moves which is also a key component to success in the business world that the majority of the most successful companies have eloquently demonstrated. The ability to adapt to changes in the economic climate is crucial for businesses to succeed as there are a plethora of circumstances that can arise in business that will require businesses to be able to adapt. Adaptability is also one of the major keys to success as a chess player as the best chess players are also able to successfully adapt to handle challenging positions on the chessboard.

A great example of some businesses that have thrived during difficult economic climates due to their ability to adapt are Netflix, Amazon, Microsoft and Tesla. Netflix originally started as a DVD rental by mail company but had to pivot to the online streaming business model during the era of digital transformation which was mainly caused by the mass adoption of the internet. Netflix focused on the production of original content and affordable online subscriptions and ultimately thrived where other companies such as Blockbuster and Borders declined by failing to adapt to the changes in the way people consumed media. Amazon started in business as an online bookstore during the dotcom era and was not only able to survive the dotcom crash but thrived by being able to foresee the approaching challenges in the economy and positioning itself to be able to withstand the difficult times ahead. Amazon eventually pivoted from primarily selling books online to selling a wide range of consumer goods and Amazon has been a dominant force in the e-commerce sector ever since because of their ability to adapt. Microsoft initially started as a company that focused on producing software for personal computers but has continually pivoted relative to the changes in the economic climate which has allowed Microsoft to maintain it’s relevancy in the technology sector. Microsoft has mastered the ability to adapt it’s business model in accordance with the societal trends by launching products such as Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Azure which is one of the major keys to the company’s success over the last few decades. Tesla is another great example of a business that has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt by identifying changes in societal trends and positioning itself to thrive in a new economic landscape. The emerging shift from the widespread use of petrol powered vehicles to electric vehicles has essentially cemented Tesla’s position as a pioneer in the electric automotive sector and the first choice for drivers in search of electric zero carbon vehicles as well as other renewable energy products such as solar panels and energy storage solutions.

In addition to patience and adaptability, discipline is also a distinguishing characteristic of both the best chess players and the most successful companies. Having a strong background in chess can positively impact your ability to remain disciplined in business and vice versa which is why chess can be an extremely beneficial pastime for both current and aspiring entrepreneurs. The ability to remain focused in the pursuit of achieving both short term and long term goals requires a considerable amount of discipline. Most businesses measure their success and the likelihood of achieving their short term and long term goals by their ability to meet their (KPI’s) key performance indicators which are performance metrics that determine a company’s success in certain areas over a specific period of time. In business there are numerous unforeseeable events that can arise at any point in time which can affect a business’s ability to reach their goals set out in their KPI’s however staying focused and motivated especially when facing obstacles along the journey to achieve such goals will require a level of discipline that can scarcely be taught. In order to rise up the ranks as a chess player there will also be many obstacles along the way which can take the form of more experienced opponents and an unfamiliarity with certain positions on the chessboard. Chess can teach entrepreneurs the value of discipline and the value of staying committed to a particular course of action in an entertaining format without the stress of not reaching significant company goals or the fear of losing money.

The Benefits of Utilising The Innovative and Creative Principles Needed In Chess For Business

In chess there are many situations that call for chess players to take an innovative and creative approach in order to successfully overcome challenging circumstances. There are many benefits that can be gained from employing skills such as innovation and creativity learned through playing chess in business situations as an entrepreneur that will enable you to drastically distinguish yourself from your competitors in business. Innovation and creativity are some of the hallmarks that differentiates the most successful companies from less successful companies in the realm of business. Having the ability to bring forth innovative ideas in business can be very useful for tasks such as creating clothing designs for fashion brands, creating product designs for manufacturing businesses, improving software functionalities for technology based businesses, creating new songs for music artists, coming up with new ideas for authors and much more. Essentially every type of business and every department within a business can benefit from the introduction of innovative and creative ideas. In business there are many ways to complete a particular task although its very common for these tasks to be completed in ways that may be inefficient or outdated. Having tasks completed by individuals with an innovative and creative mind or at least allowing innovative and creative individuals to make suggestions on how to improve the way tasks are completed in a business can significantly increase the success of a company.

Chess is an excellent game that can improve ones ability to think in innovative and creative ways which can ultimately improve the way tasks are completed in everyday scenarios which includes in business operations. Chess players have to be able to find innovative ways to navigate challenging positions on the chessboard especially since there is an enormous number of ways a chess game can unfold. Playing chess is a great way to practice and cultivate thinking innovatively and creatively which is why so many entrepreneurs and CEO’s of successful businesses admire chess. A great example of a successful businessman that admires chess is the founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates who recently played a chess game against chess Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen. Although Bill Gates lost his chess match against Magnus Carlsen his willingness to play chess at all especially against a former world chess champion and a current chess Grandmaster demonstrates his admiration for the game. It’s very likely that Bill Gates has utilised many of the principles of chess within the formulation and execution of his business decisions which may have contributed to his success during his time as an entrepreneur. Whilst the exact number of entrepreneurs in business that utilise the strategies and thought processes needed to be successful in chess for their business ventures is unknown it’s very likely that a large percentage of entrepreneurs do in fact employ the mindset of a chess player when making business decisions whether knowingly or not.  

The Importance of Thinking Outside The Box In Chess And In Business

The ability to think outside the box is necessary in chess and business as it enables chess players and entrepreneurs to implement strategies that an opponent or competitor may have overlooked or may be completely unaware of. It’s very common in chess as well as in business to find yourself in situations that can be hard to navigate however chess is a great game that can help individuals practice thinking outside the box without the stress of losing money which can be very reassuring. Some examples of how thinking outside the box can be useful in chess and business includes identifying patterns which is crucial in chess for spotting potential traps and recognising attacking opportunities and experimenting with and implementing new ideas. In business being able to identify patterns such as trends in the market and customer behaviour will enable companies to better understand how changes in trends can impact their business over longer periods of time as well as how customers may respond to market trends and how to properly position themselves to thrive as a result of such changes. Thinking outside the box is also useful for tasks that require experimentation which is beneficial for tasks such as the creation of marketing campaigns, the creation of product designs and the modification as well as the improvement of administrative procedures.

Thinking outside the box is similar to other attributes such as patience, adaptability and discipline in that it can be a difficult subject to teach however it can be cultivated by engaging in games like chess. It’s very easy to fall into the routine of thinking and behaving in a repetitious way which can lead to becoming too predictable in both chess and business however cultivating the skill of thinking outside the box and implementing new methods of accomplishing tasks will allow you to stay two steps ahead of opponents in chess and competitors in business. In chess Bobby Fischer is known for his unconventional playing style as he would use openings and strategies that many chess players were unfamiliar with to gain an advantage during chess games which may have played a significant role in enabling him to win eight US chess championship games at the age of 14. In business Steve Jobs is known as an entrepreneur that consistently thought outside of the box and firmly believed in the importance of innovation in business his unique method of thinking ultimately lead to the creation of the Apple iPhone in 2007 and later the iPad in 2010 which both revolutionised the technology sector and garnered widespread popularity by changing the way people used mobile phones and tablet devices.

How Chess Can Improve Your Thinking Skills And Help You Achieve Your Most Ambitious Goals

Chess has been known for a long time to be a game that stimulates multiple areas of the brain which can positively impact the way the brain functions and the thinking ability of those who play chess on a regular basis. The main areas of the brain that’s stimulated by playing chess is the Neo Cortex which encompasses areas of the brain such as the prefrontal cortex and the frontal lobe and is responsible for functions such as abstract thinking, creativity, language processing, planning, decision making, working memory, attention, impulse control, creative thinking and problem solving, the hippocampus which is responsible for tasks such as the formation of memory, memory retrieval, processing short term memories and storing long term memories, learning, navigation and the processing of emotions, the basal ganglia which is responsible for motor learning, sequence learning and reward based learning, motor control as well as the formation of habits and the posterior parietal cortex which is responsible for tasks such as navigation and spatial awareness. Due to Chess’s ability to exercise multiple regions of the brain it can benefit the overall functioning of ones mind which can as a result lead to an improvement in chess players mental acuity.

One of the main benefits of an increase in mental acuity is the ability to make better decisions which can ultimately lead to much more success when setting out to achieve goals whether large or small. Having a sharper mind will also enable you to formulate stronger, more sophisticated and ambitious goals as well as the mental fortitude to achieve them. Such improvements in one’s mental capacity can be attained by playing chess regularly which is extremely beneficial for entrepreneurs in business but can also benefit individuals in any other occupational field. Incorporating chess into your daily or weekly routine as an entrepreneur will not only have short term benefits such as improvements in working memory and creativity but the long term benefits of playing chess is even more significant as it can aid in the process of staving off a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. As an entrepreneur it’s important to engage in activities that have the ability to prime your mind to work more efficiently which will ultimately lead to greater success in your endeavours. Chess is often referred to as the game of kings and was the game of choice for kings and nobles for centuries and later became the game of choice for the rich and the wealthy as well as those aspiring to attain a higher standard of life because of the many similarities between chess and life.

Conclusion

Chess is a game that has been admired by some of the most influential people throughout history which has both directly and indirectly contributed to their ability to accomplish numerous tasks. Chess has the ability to help individuals cultivate numerous skills such as patience, adaptability, discipline, problem solving, innovation, creativity, strategy, tactics and vision all of which are essential components of personal development and interpersonal development. Chess is similar to business as there are numerous moving parts and having the ability to understand how each chess piece moves and how to utilise various chess pieces harmoniously and in synchronicity can be extremely beneficial when engaging in business. The various departments within a business is similar to the different chess pieces on a chess board and what distinguishes a successful company or chess player from a less successful company or chess player is the ability to effectively coordinate each piece in order to accomplish a particular goal.

Thinking several steps ahead or thinking like a chess player are some of the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs which is directly linked to chess and the characteristics of a good chess player. Many skills such as thinking outside the box, innovation, creativity, adaptability, discipline and problem solving that’s required to achieve success in business can be difficult to teach but can be cultivated in individuals by way of games like chess. One of the reasons for this is that tasks that require these skills are unique in their nature and tend to require a unique solution each time around. Having the ability to find creative solutions to problems on a consistent basis requires a mind that’s primed to do so and without being exposed to situations that require the mind to exercise it’s creative faculties by being already familiar with business a great alternative is to take up games such as chess.