The Netflix limited series The Queen's Gambit is best
described as delightful. A little girl, orphaned at a young age, is
learning to play chess. That young girl's name is Beth Harmon and is
played by an astounding Anya Taylor-Joy. While it remains focused
on chess, the series has a lot to teach young professionals looking to
achieve the impossible. Here are three lessons that Beth Harmon had to
teach in The Queen's Gambit.
Stay Cool
There were moments when Beth wanted to jump out of her skin. Her play
moves a knight, and her entire approach, the strategy she'd built over
weeks, was suddenly useless. What happens next? Beth shows us, the
audience, exactly how damaging being impulsive or overly emotional can be.
The lesson that should be taken is to stay calm and think the problem
out.
Strategy
One of the things that set Beth Harmon apart during her rise to becoming
a grand chess master was her desire to learn. She spent most of her time
reading, learning, playing through scenarios in her head. When others came
to teach her, they were surprised to hear that she'd already read most of
their book suggestions. The lesson is that success comes from this sort of
obsessiveness.
Resource Manager
Even if one person conceived the city of Rome, it indeed was not built by
one person. Beth's success was not only her own doing. She had a team of
people behind her who were helping her reach the finish line. To give
herself the best chance possible, she needed to manage her time, friends,
and resources well. The lesson is that proper planning and execution can
mean the difference between success and failure.
The Queen's Gambit is a great reminder that some lessons
can be taught through games. Chess is only one example of great life
lessons that can be learned while having fun. To learn more,
click here.