Play a Bigger Game. McLean Rowdy

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      Setting up for success

      You have probably picked up this book believing that it contains information that will help you get more out of life. Let me assure you that it will do exactly that, but there is something you can do that will greatly boost your chances of getting what you want from this book, and from life. You need to prepare yourself for what's inside.

      Playing a bigger game is all about seizing the opportunity to achieve more, be more, do more and have more than you ever thought was possible. Let's take just a few minutes to explore what that means. It won't take long and will increase your chances of success tenfold. So grab a pen and a pad and get set to make some quick notes. It has been shown that 60 per cent of people who purchase a personal development book never finish it. Even fewer do anything with the information. I want this book to be different. That's why it's short and to the point, and broken down into simple steps that anyone can follow. The reason most people fail to follow through is that they fail to prepare properly. A few minutes' preparation will make a world of difference to your results, and results are what matters.

      To prepare for the journey this book will take you on, you need to understand your goals: specifically in what ways do you want to achieve more, be more and do more, and what exactly do you want to have more of? If you are not sure of the answers to these questions, how can you possibly create a plan to go out and get it. So let's look at them in more detail.

      Achieve more

      Achieving more is about success. It's about what you would like to be a winner at. Success means different things to different people. To someone with no money it could be getting a job; to someone with a million dollars it could be turning that into 10 million. It could be winning a trophy or becoming a champion, employee of the month or head of your department. It could be winning the race or just running the race. You know what success means to you at this stage of your life. Take a minute to jot down some notes about what achieving more, or success, means to you.

      Be more

      We play many different roles in life. Being more is about how we show up in these roles. Consider for a second all the roles you play. You may be a parent, partner, friend, colleague, employee, employer, boss, neighbour, community member, to name just a few. Write down the roles that are important to you and why you would like to be more in that role. Perhaps you don't spend as much time with your kids as you should or maybe you are disconnected from your friends. Describe what needs to change.

      Do more

      All of us have at some time made a new year's resolution or a bucket list of all the things we would like to do. Doing more is about the experiences you want to have and the things you want to do. Make a list of the things you would really like to do in the next 12 months. It could be to go to Paris, learn Spanish, run the New York marathon or give up smoking. You get the idea. Quickly write down your bucket list for the next 12 months.

      Have more

      Having more is about ownership, or what belongs to us. So it could relate to how much money you want to have in the bank, the type of car or house you own, the clothes or jewellery you wear, your boat or even your pets. What are the things you would like to have in your life in the next 12 months. Ownership is not just about material things, though. We also ‘own' our reputation, for instance; indeed, for some people their reputation is more important than any material possession. What sort of reputation would you like to have? What would you like to be remembered for?

      So that's it. If you have completed that quick exercise you are ready to play a bigger game and have massively increased your chances of success. In fact, if you really did complete the exercise give yourself a pat on the back, as you are already playing a bigger game, because I can assure you that most people didn't do it. If you didn't do it, go back and do it now. It will be worth it!

      Introduction

      We all want more! More money, more fun, more love, more time, more friends, more adventure, more holidays. This book is for those people who want more, and want it now!

      If you have reached a state of supreme happiness. If you have all the material possessions you could possibly muster. If you are absolutely the best person you can possibly be. If you are in the peak of health. And if every single one of your relationships is full of all the respect, trust and love you could hope for, then close this book and put it back on the shelf or pass it on to someone else.

      If, on the other hand, you are in search of more freedom and fulfilment, if you want to raise the bar, push the boundaries and reach a higher level, then keep reading.

      This book is about giving you the simple tools and strategies to achieve more, be more, do more and have more. If you use these tools and strategies you will be able to play a bigger game – a much bigger game. I can promise you that if you follow the strategies in this book, if you actually act on them, rather than just reading about them, you will get more out of life than you ever imagined.

Playing a bigger game ischoosing to stretch yourself

      Life is a wonderful adventure. Note that I use the word adventure – I don't say life is easy. To get more out of life, you are going to have to stretch a little, or maybe a lot. You're going to have to go through some pain, give up some of your current comforts and put in some effort.

      I can guarantee that, if you really want it and are prepared to put in the effort, absolutely 110 per cent, it will be worth it. The wonder of life is in the adventure. The journey is marked with events and milestones that teach you to be better, to be stronger and to be more courageous. It is in the journey that we learn to achieve more, be more, do more and have more – and, trust me, you can and you will!

It is in the journey that we learn to achieve more, be more, do more and have more – and, trust me, you can and you will!

      But let's take a reality check right here, right now. If you don't really want more out of life, if you have everything you want or need; if you have made your mark in life and are happy with how your contribution will measure up in history; if you have made all the big plays, participated in the biggest games and are satisfied with the outcomes, then give this book to a friend or colleague or someone that needs it more than you. If, on the other hand, you still have a desire to do things, go places, make a difference and realise your maximum potential; if you are prepared to push the envelope, squeeze every last drop out of the game of life; if you truly want to play a much, much bigger game, then read on.

      And you have permission to be confused at times. In fact, confusion is the highest state of learning. If at any stage in the book you find yourself thinking, ‘I just don't get it!', that's good because something in your mind is vibrating around the problem, ‘How do I get it? How do I sort this out for myself?' It means you will actually be learning as you read. So feel free to be confused sometimes. I guarantee all the pieces of the puzzle will come together long before the end of the book.