Business is a game, not a job

Story: Business is a game, not a job

As many of you know, I taught English in schools for many years.

I learned a lot while exploring different cultures, but after a while, it got repetitive.

The main frustration wasn’t the pay, the schedule, or the day-to-day challenges.

It was the boredom.

I wanted to do a great job—maybe even innovate a little. But I quickly realized it didn’t matter.

My efforts weren’t recognized. There was no way to level up. The game didn’t get more interesting. In fact, if I pushed too far, I might even get in trouble.

In essence, I was getting paid to show up.

As long as I wore pants, a shirt, and arrived on time-ish, I kept the job. Just another cog in the machine.

And that’s not just a boring-ass game—that’s zombifying. It kills your soul.

If that works for some people, good for them. It worked for me for a long time, and I respect that.

But I couldn’t take another day.

Business, on the other hand, is 100% a game. Like sports, or a video game.

The more you treat it like a game, the more likely you are to win.

If you treat it like a job—like many do—you’ll think just showing up is enough. It’s not. You have to play well.

Nothing is handed to you. You have to earn it.

And if you’re only in it for the results, I doubt you’ll go far.

Because if you want to succeed…

You have to love the game.

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Strategic Note 8: Aim Before You Shoot

Squeezing the trigger is easy. It’s the aiming part that’s hard.

In business, aiming is goal-setting and sharpening your vision.

You can do it sloppily, or you can search for precision.

When you sit down to write your goals, you’re doing something much more profound than just writing goals.

You’re aligning your whole brain with your purpose.

It’s not just a rational exercise—it’s deeper than that.

In religion, people pray. Praying is like aiming. It’s a way of realigning.

Whether you’re religious or not, that practice has emerged in many cultures, resonated with millions, and survived thousands of years.

There’s something to it.

When you aim, you eliminate alternatives.

And get real about what you want.

Why am I getting a bit psychological—or even esoteric?

Because most people run their business emotionally, especially at the beginning.

We get frustrated, we overreact, we give up…

And most of that is emotional.

Knowing your target is one thing. Aiming is another.

If you want to regulate your emotions: pray. Or rather… aim. (Same thing.)

Stay aligned with your goals.

A Formula 1 driver enters a race with at least three plans. They’re not just trying to go as fast as they can. (Watch the Formula 1 movie with Brad Pitt.)

Same of whatever you do.

Don’t just show up.

Aim first.