Life is Like Chess: Be the Piece That Matters

I’ve recently developed a bit of an obsession with a simple game on my iPhone – chess. It’s quickly becoming more than just a pastime; it’s now an addiction. Why? Because the more I play, the more I see how many parallels exist between chess and life itself.

In both chess and life, we all play on the same board. We’re made of the same substance—humanity, emotions, aspirations—but the outcomes depend on our ability to think many moves ahead. The game of chess, much like life, demands strategy, foresight, and adaptability. But have you ever stopped to think about the pieces themselves and what they represent in life?

Everyone Has a Place on the Board

If you’re not familiar with chess, here’s a quick breakdown: every player has a set of pieces, each with unique abilities to move in certain directions. You have pawns on the front line and several other pieces like the knight, bishop, and rook, all leading up to the most important piece—the King. The object of chess is to protect your King and capture the opposing King.

In life, we’re all on the same board—Earth. Some of us start out as pawns, on the front lines, while others are born with more security, perhaps playing the role of the King or Queen with a strong supporting cast around them. However, unlike in chess, you have the free will to be any chess piece you want in life.

That’s right. You can choose whether you’ll live like a pawn or rise to be a King or Queen. The key is understanding that every day, you define your role based on how you move, how you operate, and how you plan.

Your Moves Define Your Role

In chess, a pawn can move one or two spaces at most, while the Queen can move as far as she wants in any direction. Now, think about that in terms of your life. There are no limitations on how much you can accomplish in a day. No one will ever tell you, "You’ve gone too far today," or "You’ve accomplished too much, so you must stop here." Those limitations? We place them on ourselves.

Too often, we settle for being pawns. We move only one step at a time, staying in our safe little squares, never daring to cross into new territories. But let me ask you this: Why are you limiting yourself? Why settle for playing small when you can be a powerful piece on the board of life?

We were meant to cover the entire board. That’s why this world is so big, why there’s so much out there for us to explore. You weren’t born to stay in your square. You were born to roam the board, to be bold, and to make your mark.

Don’t Live Carelessly—Plan Your Moves

Inexperienced chess players often sacrifice their pawns early in the game, not understanding their value. They focus only on protecting the more "important" pieces like the bishop, queen, or king. But in life, you define your importance based on the decisions you make.

Too many people lead careless, uncalculated lives, running straight into challenges and setbacks because they haven’t planned their moves. When you think only about your immediate desires, rather than the bigger picture and the people around you, you set yourself up to get captured—wiped off the board, so to speak.

The people you admire most, those you look up to—they live their lives as royalty. They build strong support systems around them. They work well with others. They make calculated moves, and when it’s time to make a big life decision, they strike with precision. They cover a lot of ground.

And guess what? You can do the same. You can live your life as a King or Queen on the chessboard of life. All it takes is a shift in your mindset. Start living your life like you’re a piece that matters, and you’ll notice that people around you will begin to treat you like royalty.

You Are in Control of Your Life's Strategy

What’s important to remember is that, at the end of the game, the King and the Pawn go into the same box. We all face the same end. The question is, how are you going to spend your time on this earth? Are you going to live like a pawn, confined by limitations, or are you going to embrace the role of royalty and make your life matter?

Life is a game. But unlike chess, where the moves of each piece are predetermined, in life, you can rewrite the rules. You have free will. You have the ability to choose your moves, to change your direction, and to elevate your position. So take a moment to reflect on your current strategy.

• Are you living with purpose?
• Are you making calculated moves?
• Are you surrounded by a strong support system?
• Are you playing the long game, thinking multiple moves ahead?

If the answer is no, it’s time to re-strategize. Start today. Change your mindset. Move like a Queen or King.

In the end, your life is defined by how you play the game. So make it count. Be the piece that matters.

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If you want to take your team, event, or conference to the next level, book Baylor to speak. For more mindset motivation, check out his 10-minute-a-day podcast, Shark Theory. Purchase Baylor's self-development books here. Mindset Matters: Let’s make yours unstoppable.