Question for you all… Let me set the stage first though…
We all know the world can be… Hmmm… Not nice at times. Some people view the world as a zero sum game. They see the world divided into winners and losers. Those with power and those without. They’re social Darwinists through and through. Survival of the fittest. Some of them are even super religious in their own minds, yet still view the world through this hyper competitive lens. Everything is a giant chess game. They look at the animal kingdom and see how animals battle and compete for territory, food, and mates. They think this is just “the way things are”…
They maybe don’t start out this way or maybe they do… Maybe they were shaped and molded by family and their environment to play this game… Or maybe after some harsh experiences in life they’ve concluded this is the way the world is. They started out “nicer” and now they’ve wised up. They’ve learned what some fools have yet to figure out.
I’m 33 years old. I don’t have the AUDACITY to think I have everything figured out. I love when I hear other people my age or even younger talking about “the keys to life”… I can only speak from my experience and what has worked for me UP UNTIL THIS POINT IN MY LIFE… but I realize life is long and I’m always learning. I think that makes me a good coach. I’m always learning and improving. I’m a student before I’m a teacher. I try to listen and observe MORE than I speak and am observed… or I at least strive for a BALANCE. I strive for a balance of receiving and giving.
Here’s my take on the “game” of life that seems so prevalent in today’s society… Ready…
You can’t fool people. People can sense when you just view them as a pawn in your little chess game. People will not be used by others. When someone gets the vibe that you want to use them, you’re out of their good graces. Good, smart, intelligent people don’t mind you trying to INFLUENCE them in a positive mutually beneficial way… Who doesn’t want to be around someone like that? Trying to control others for your own gain though? Good luck building sincere, authentic, long lasting professional and personal relationships with a controlling mentality. You may fool some naive, young, unintelligent people with your subtle under the radar games… OR… You might attract other people that are “playing the game” as you are, but what kind of relationship/friendship is that? That’s a pretty sad nerve racking transactional pseudo relationship… Not something real.
What do I know though… I’m 33 years old. Maybe I’ll wake up one day and realize how the world REALLY is…
“There’s a difference between the way the world is and the way it ought to be Erik. That’s what the study of ethics is about. Ok… This is the way the world is, but what kind of world would I like to see? How can I make it better?” ~ My ethics professor in college
Make no mistake, there’s a time to defend yourself from those that wish to do you harm. If someone is attacking me I’m going to deceive them with a fake punch to the body and a straight punch to the face! LOL. There’s a difference between being a manipulator and defending yourself right?
So what do you do in this world that can be so shallow sometimes? Do you play the game? Do you look at the Jordan Belforts of the world and strive to be like them? If you don’t know Jordan Belfort was who was depicted in the movie “The Wolf of Wall Street”… Or do you want to be an Elon Musk? Elon is the creator of Tesla, Solar City (co-creator), and SpaceX… He says he would retire, but he has too strong of a desire to help the future of humanity. He wants to transform the automotive industry with ground breaking electric cars, help transition the world to renewable energy, and further space exploration.
Elon could have retired in his thirties with hundreds of millions of dollars in the bank. He’s only 44… What would you have done with like $150 million in the bank in your thirties? Musk still works like 100 hours a week! Strains his family life sometimes… Maybe not the best example, but you get the point right?
So is this the way the world is? Should we just learn to adapt to it and play the game? Or do we make our own rules? Do we decide the world we want to live in?
