let's play SHESS

Introduction

Welcome to the exciting and clever world of SHESS where you are inspired to learn a fun game of chess and motivated to play your “game of life”—your way. With so many choices of self-help and business publications available today, it’s no wonder one has to be enticed to read something interesting. This one-of-a-kind book, however, provides a very unique approach to self-help and business simultaneously.

Let’s Play SHESS is written to inspire and shake up women of all ages and backgrounds to take a chance and learn something new and to believe in their abilities. This book provides a fresh entertaining approach to exploring every woman’s inquisitive mind and entrepreneurial passion by playing chess. The fascinating and realistic correlation between transferring the chess-playing skills into your real life activities is revealed, as well as the rewards and benefits you gain as a result.

In the end, this book hopes to create a global movement, which stimulates an intellectual state of mind by encouraging girls and women to: (a) Become interested in playing chess because it is a fun and challenging game. (b) Transfer chess-playing skills (such as critical and logical thinking, analytical reasoning, and strategic planning) into all aspects of their lives; and, (c) Think for themselves, develop confidence, and make better decisions.

How is this possible? Well, think about it for a moment. Chess is a game that mimics the art of battle in a war of two minds. The main goal is to capture your opponent’s King and win the game. SHESS, on the other hand, mimics the art of battle within your own mind and your opponent’s mind. Your battlefield is everything that occurs in your life whether on a personal or professional level. As a SHESS player, you fight your battles using your intellectual weaponry, confidence, and resiliency against any opponent or obstacle.

There is no winning or losing in your game of life because trying to accomplish a goal is far better than not trying at all. Either way, you cannot lose in SHESS; you simply learn from your mistakes, deal with new changes, dust yourself off, and regain strength for your next move. SHESS instinctively prepares you to face your adversaries in your life and marketplace. You learn to accomplish your goals successfully as you develop and utilize your chess-playing skills.

Imagine for a moment all of the things that are occurring on your battlefield right now. Do you feel overwhelmed and find it difficult to handle? Can you pinpoint the distractions and deterrents that confront you daily and haunt you at night? I know that obstacles can be very strong opponents. Whether you want to get a promotion, change your career, or start your own business, recognize that these hindrances can dissuade you from fulfilling your dreams.

In setting your goals for growth and development, consider what skills you have or lack, or what you contribute to your own battlefield? Sometimes you can be the direct cause of your own detriment and you make excuses not to invest in yourself. You may even procrastinate and too often surround yourself with nonsupportive and negative people.

No matter how you analyze it, you are the only one who can identify what you need for further change. Perhaps you need more education or hands-on training. But you’re not making the necessary sacrifices to make those improvements. Keep in mind that negative thinking, hanging on to the past, resentment, anger, bitterness, lack of self-confidence, and self-doubt are contributing factors, which inhibit your greatest potential in life.

What is incredible about the connection between playing chess and SHESS (your game of life) is that the skills required to play both well are exactly the same. For instance, critical and logical thinking, as well as analytical reasoning are skills used to solve problems. When facing your opponent, there is always that element of change in the tactics used against you, and you learn to adapt and deal with that new change as well. Both games teach you that there is a better way to think, analyze problems with a different lens, and provide confidence to believe in your abilities. The type of SHESS player you are will also help you to determine how you think and handle all matters in your life. The truth is we all have different circumstances, experiences, abilities, and battle stories to tell. Some of us are successful, outgoing, and ambitious and others are very timid, less aggressive, and noncompetitive. But that’s okay. The point is that each of us brings something special to our respective battlefields and we all have extraordinary potential.

Every aspect of your life deserves your attention and care. No matter what type of job you have or hobby you enjoy, developing your skills in any field is critical for success. Your potential is endless, but you have to have an open mind. You have to believe in yourself and your abilities in order to make things happen. Actually, it doesn’t matter what personality traits you possess because having the determination to learn to play chess and striving to become a successful SHESS player in your game of life, at your own pace, is what counts.

Everyone has the ability to learn chess. You have the intelligence and capability to understand and develop the transferable chess-playing skills. Playing chess brings out the best in your abilities, and it teaches you to show respect for your opponent.

The perception that chess is only for men or that chess is too intellectual or tedious is old fashioned. The truth is that SHESS inspires you to play chess and improve your life skills in your game of life. By transferring the chess-playing skills into all aspects of your life and business development, you will be one step ahead in both games.