Warren Buffett’s Insight
Long ago, someone asked Warren Buffett an interesting question.
How can you beat the world chess champion Bobby Fischer?
His answer was surprisingly simple.
Play a different game that you are better at than Fischer.
This answer might sound amusing, but it carries a deeper meaning. If you want to win a game, you need to play your own game, not someone else’s. This principle is very important in life, work, and investment.
Play Your Own Game in Life
In everyday life, we often feel pressured to meet societal expectations, such as pursuing certain careers or following specific lifestyles. However, the important thing is not to conform to others’ expectations, but to find your own path.
For example, suppose you love painting or writing, but people around you place more importance on sports. Trying to fit in with them through sports might leave you feeling frustrated and unfulfilled. Instead, focusing on painting or writing, which you love, will bring you more happiness and a sense of achievement.
When you play your own game in life, you stay true to yourself. You should make decisions based on what makes you happy and fulfilled, not on external pressures.
People Who Chose Their Own Game
Let’s look at why following your hobbies and passions is important. Famous artists and writers often started on paths different from societal expectations. But by following their passions, they eventually achieved great success. Their success resulted from choosing their own game.
Now, think about it. What do you love? What makes you happiest? Answering these questions will help you find your path. Following your passions and interests is the true way to success.
Play Your Own Game at Work
The workplace is full of different paths and roles, and it is easy to get caught up in what others perceive as prestigious or high-paying jobs. However, the truth is that success comes when you leverage your own strengths and passions.
What if you are working at a job considered prestigious or that offers a higher salary but you do not enjoy the work? It will be difficult to put in the same level of effort and passion as someone who loves their job. On the other hand, choosing a job based on your interests and strengths will likely lead to better performance and greater satisfaction.
Understanding Your Strengths
Understanding your strengths is crucial. You need to identify what tasks come naturally to you, what problems you enjoy solving, and what skills you are good at. This helps you choose roles and projects that play to your strengths.
Play Your Own Game in Investment
The world of investment is full of noise. Everyone has different opinions on what to buy, when to sell, and where to invest money. But good investing is not about following the crowd; it’s about developing a strategy that suits you.
For someone who cannot handle high volatility, focusing on small or micro-cap stocks because others are doing it can be disastrous. Instead, you should play your own game.
Developing Your Investment Strategy
Understanding your financial goals and risk tolerance is essential, and you need to develop a strategy that matches them. Whether it is long-term investment in stable companies or diversification across various assets, investing in a way that suits you is crucial.
Conclusion
Playing your own game means understanding who you are, what you want, and making choices that align with that understanding. In life, follow your passions and interests; at work, leverage your strengths; and in investment, develop strategies that match your goals and risk tolerance.
Play your own game. Do not succumb to external pressures, stay true to yourself, and follow your own path. That is the way to true success.
Reference: Safal Niveshak, “Play Your Own Game”