I've Read the Rules, Now How Do I Play the Game?
Our friend Robbie Morrow gave us a game for Christmas called Diplomacy. He told us about a young engaged couple, Sonya and Allan who, after a lively dinner party, decided to play the game with two other couples.
The game comes in a box which explains it as a game of skill in which negotiation, rather than chance, guides destinies of international politics. Up to seven players each seek to gain control of Europe. It is described as 'an exciting game of wits'.
They all read the rules and began. Sonya and Allan are very enthusiastic. They loved the idea of negotiating, of matching wits, and the thrilling possibility of out-maneuvering the other players.
Each person plays individually - which is apparent from the rules. But Sonya and Allan played as allies, and bounced off one another to make more winning moves and maneuvers. All was fine - until Allan out-maneuvered Sonya by not telling her what he was going to do.
Sonya was furious. She said that Allan was not playing by the rules, not following the 'guidelines', whereas in fact he was. It says in the rules that you can make deals with other players - and break them, too. The primary objective of the game is for one person to win at all costs. And Allan had won. But Sonya could not believe that he had set her up that he had lied to her, even in a game. She was incensed. She spent the night ranting and raving about how awful Allan was to do such a terrible thing.
Their friends were surprised about Sonya's reaction, but thought she would get over it and remember that it was just a game after all.
Allan was very surprised to find on arriving home from work the next afternoon that Sonya had packed up and left him. The note was simple, 'I'm leaving. I couldn't possibly live with, or marry a man who lies to me, even in a game. It's over, goodbye'.
Pretty extreme? They had both read the rules, but they had interpreted them differently. Each was, in fact, playing a quite different game, and now it was over. They are both playing with different partners now.
Do you think you know what's expected of you at work or in a social situation only to find that everyone else seems to be playing the game by different rules - or no rules at all?
In this book, Vicki Bennett takes a fresh look at the game of life and gives us new ways to look at the old rules with sound, practical advice and warm good humour that draws on her human understanding, communication skills and broad experience as a successful trainer.
Drawing on real-life experiences, she shows:
- How to understand and interpret the rules of life
- How to play the game of life
- How to get up when you are down
- How to create a vibrant energy level, and
How to set your own standards and live a life that will give you personal fulfillment, happiness and success.