Recently I learned to play the game Go. A game that is surprisingly simple to learn yet impossible to master (at least for me).
It occurred to me how similar the actions in Go is to starting a business. Of course this idea is not novel. The concept of Go had been used in warfare for ages. Since business was already linked to warfare (via for example, Sun Tzu Art of War), linking Go to business is simply joining the dots.
The basic idea of Go is to spread out, consolidate, grow and define areas. The winner is the one with the largest area defined.
How is that similar to starting a business? Plenty.
The beginning is very similar to what I am doing now. Pieces are places and connected in order to capture areas. I’m now doing many small things because I’m not sure where the areas will grow. But eventually I need to consolidate those with good chances and grow those areas.
When that happened I also need to defend the areas. Very much like in Go. When a big area is surrounded, the opponent will attack.
Interestingly, a very important concept of Go is sharing the area. Now this is profound concept. There is no way a person can win capture the whole chess board for themselves. So one must be willing to give away area in order to hold area. Trying to bite more than you can chew is a sure recipe to end up with nothing to eat.
In business, especially for small businesses, do not think of winning the whole chess board. Share the pie. In fact in Go, the losing party often also holds some areas. What does that mean? It mean the losing party does not go away empty handed. And yes in business, there is no absolute failure. One go away gaining something - experience, friends, knowledge - to be use again in another game.
So just like doing business, the basic rules are simple. But it takes practice and determination to master.
A game of Go anyone?
0 Responses to “Thinking like Go”