Addiction

Almost all of us are addicted to something, and I have plenty of stories for you.

My best man at my wedding I find out years later, called a drug dealer to my reception because he needed more coke.

My great-great grandmother was a drunk, and sold the family farm while intoxicated, and my great-great grandfather committed suicide as a result.

For my friend Mark, it was alcohol.  He died at 44, and by my math, it took about 25 years of alcohol addiction until his body gave out.

Not only did I lose a great friend, but his genius is forever lost to this world.

These are all terrible things.

For me, my addiction is chess.  Yes, really, chess.

It’s amazing, who would have thought you can get addicted to chess?  That is a strange one, but then again, I never did fit into the crowd.

And that’s OK I keep telling myself.  To be exceptional, you have to be the exception.  To be extraordinary, you have to be extra.  But chess?

To fulfill your potential, you have to be working on you, and know your strengths and your weaknesses.  But again, chess?

To be clear, this is a weakness, my addiction.  I can even blame it on my parents, specifically my mother.  She played games so much that she actually beat space invaders on Atari back in the ’80’s, and plays bridge daily to this day.

Are there worse, more destructive addictions, yes.  Of course.  But that doesn’t make mine a good one.

Why do I consider chess an addiction, and something that is bad for me?

I waste time, and that is the most precious resource we have.

Instead of growing my business, I’m playing chess.  Instead of connecting with my family, I’m playing chess.  Instead of building relationships, or my network, I’m playing chess.

We will all have to fight addictions to maximize ourselves.

To get everything we want, to be all the things we have the potential to be.

I know what I’m capable of, and I know when my limits are closer, and farther away, and I know what needs to be done, it’s just a matter of stop playing chess, and do it.

The disciplined control of my time will enable me the opportunity to reach my goals, and sometimes, I won’t be that disciplined.

That’s OK.  I will fail, I’m aware of the problem, and I’m working on it.

So long as every day I’m getting a little more disciplined, moving forward a little more, learning a little more, doing a little more, I will get there.  I will be the exception.  I will be the extra.

I will reach my own potential, and have a ton of fun doing it.

So, what’s your addiction?  And what are you doing about it?