So, let me ask you… What Game Are You Playing?
Your A game? Your B game? Or… Dude, I’m not even in the game.
My guess is that many of you are playing your B game. I know I can play a great B game if I let myself. There’s a good chance you might be doing it too, without even realizing it. Me? I am painfully aware when I’m bringing my B game.
The B game is a tricky one, as it often wears the mask of success. It means you’re doing pretty darn well for yourself. You have money, you have recognition, and you might even be excellent at what you do. But still… It’s your B game.
Now, your A game… that’s the thing you’ve always dreamed of doing but haven’t yet. Your A game is work only you can do, in the way that only you can do it. It’s your genius zone. Your A game doesn’t necessarily have to be about your work, though it often is.
Whether it’s work or a way of being in this world, it’s you—being fully you. You’re leaving nothing on the table. You’re delivering work that no one else could possibly deliver. You’re living in a way that honors every ounce of your soul because you’re giving it your all.
Your A game is usually that thing you’ve been dreaming about and talking about for years. It’s also that feeling of restlessness, and make no mistake, those feelings are there to get your attention. Those feelings are your internal calling for you to play your A game.
The A game is what we were born to do. Ironically, that’s exactly why we’re not doing it. For one, the B game looks like success—and it is, at some level. It’s easy to become comfortable and complacent there.
And then there are the people who aren’t even in the game. You know the ones—they work 11 to 2, hate their work, complain about it, yet plan to do nothing to change it. They live for the weekend and my guess is they watch a lot of mindless TV, living through other people’s lives.
B gamers are in the game. They’re up to big things and they can look successful to others and to themselves. They’re comfortable in life, doing great work, making a great living, making valuable contributions. But still, it’s their B game.
The A gamers aren’t feeling comfortable. The A game makes us uncomfortable because it stretches and challenges us. And most painfully, it exposes our greatest fears.
So instead, we play our B game. We do a lot of good stuff, even a lot of great stuff. We stay just busy enough to distract ourselves. We use excuses… not enough time, not enough money, maybe when the kids leave home, maybe if I were single, maybe if I were married, maybe if the economy were better, maybe when I know a little more, maybe when I’m a little more experienced. These are all just excuses. All lies we tell ourselves to feel comfortable and let ourselves off the hook from bringing our A game.
But the truth is, we’re never truly “off the hook” because with each year, each month, each week, each day, each minute… it’s eating at us on a soul level. We can try to fool ourselves, but deep down, we know the truth.
We are not living what we came here to live. We’re holding back. We’re downplaying our potential. We’re waiting, and as a result, we’re dying a little bit each day.
I know what my A game is. When I’m playing it, it’s euphoric. I feel alive, engaged, and exhilarated. I feel stretched and challenged. It’s a feeling of immense relief and excitement. I feel on purpose, with purpose, like never before.
Do you know what your A game looks like? Many people don’t. It’s been pushed aside and buried for far too long. It may need to be discovered.
I challenge you to find your A game, and once you do, bring it!
TERRY Talks 