[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As an HR professional, I have always found myself reading and analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of anyone I come across. It’s my instinct to further try to help them improve the wanted and eliminate the unwanted. That is how chess careers are formed. Even though these strengths and weaknesses are fundamental factors that make us unique and gives us our identity, we cannot deny the fact that change is inevitable. In fact, change is, most often, necessary. Having been around this brilliant game for a while now, I have come to look at things as if they’re a part of the game. Life is like chess kits, it makes sense when all of it is held together. We lose some bits in the journey, but that only means we are playing.
Growth and Change are beautiful, always.
In the world of chess, where the mighty Queen, giant Rooks, cunning Knights, and sophisticated Bishops are guarding the board and efficiently defending His Highness. A piece that may look like the weakest link can do wonders if given a chance. Even though it is a single-player game, chess competition teaches us teamwork. Every piece in the game is somehow accountable to the other.
All it requires is assistance and planning.
(Starts with white: c2, Ke4 and black: Kd6)
Kd4 Kc6, Kc4 Kb6, Kd5 Kc7, Kc5 Kd7, Kb7 Kc8, c4 Kb8, c5 Kc8, Kc6 Kb8, Kd7! Kb7, c6
As you can see here, the King supported his only pawn from his initial rank until he could promote to a Queen. This helped achieve the perfect state to win the game.
It is our moral obligation to give while we get. We must assist the ones who are struggling in their respective stages in life by extending a helping hand. There’s nothing more fulfilling than watching a person grow. To be self-reliant and dependable are the real attributes we must strive to indoctrinate into us. By shaping chess careers, we try to aid in fulfilling dreams.
Chess tournaments have taught us that tactics and strategies in chess are somewhat similar to our capabilities and skills in real life that gradually help us achieve desired milestones. Anyone can learn a new skill in no time if they dedicate enough commitment. It is important to recognize and maintain a list of small milestones to reach to get to the bigger goals. This is very similar to chess where you need a strategy to checkmate the opponent’s King and win the game. All you need is a plan.
However, many of us lack the ability or the motivation to plan well, and hence, we find ourselves giving up. Chess tournaments are like the little challenges that life throws at us. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. But we learn, all of those times. What we fail to understand is that if there is an absence of something, it just means that there’s so much space ready to be filled. Failure only means there is so much scope for success. There is plenty to explore and test and then conquer. This is much like the game of chess where only the pawn can promote into any piece it wants. But for that, it has to start somewhere.
Although a pawn can move only one step ahead once it is out of its initial rank, he can still fork two major pieces at once. This is possible only if it knows the tactics to reach that crucial position. On the other hand, without knowing the basics, even the queen remains useless and is doomed to be captured in the first 5 moves. This proves that the up-gradation of skills is indispensable. Chess competitions surely teach us lessons for life.
Tactics in chess are similar to skills in real life!
Thus, it doesn’t matter where you currently stand. With proper assistance and planning, you can be wherever you wish to be.
Change is and has to be inevitable.
-Hansel Lobo,
HR Professional, SMCA
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