Monday Madness

Reframing Leadership & Life as a Strategic Game

“Life is a board game, and you hold the dice in your hand, controlling the next move. You decide where you go with your life. Wherever you may end up, may the odds be in your favor.”

Take a moment to sit with that...

As a certified coach and leadership strategist, I often work with high-performing professionals, executives, and entrepreneurs navigating complex environments.

Time and again, I return to this truth: you are not a passive participant in this journey—you are the player, and the strategist.

You hold the dice. You influence the next move. Your decisions shape your outcomes—both in business and in life.

Let’s pause here for a moment. Clear your space of distractions:

Take a deep breath in... exhale slowly... again.. deep breath in... exhale slowly.... and once more...deep breath in... exhale slowly... Let your mind settle... Be fully present.

The idea of life as a game isn’t just poetic—it’s practical. As leaders, we’re constantly navigating new terrain, managing shifting priorities, and making choices that impact not just ourselves, but teams, customers, and industries.

Growing up, I remember board games as more than entertainment—they were tools for learning strategy, reading people, and understanding the long game. I learned how to play chess in school—and I still use those lessons today.

What was the first board game you learned to play? Take a moment to reflect...

• What was the goal of that game?

• How did you win?

• What strategies did you discover?

Now, consider your favorite board game...

• What made someone the winner?

There’s wisdom in those early lessons.

If life is a game—what’s your current score?

What metrics are you using to define success? ROI? Impact? Influence? Peace?

More importantly:

How will you know when you’re winning?

Are you playing offense or defense?

Are you relying on instinct, or have you developed a strategy?

As professionals across industries, we often spend so much time doing that we forget to ask why and how.

So here’s your Monday challenge: For the purpose of this reflection, think of your life and leadership journey as a game.

• Are you satisfied with the game you’ve designed and the way you’re playing it?

• When was the last time you revisited the rules—or wrote your own?

• What role have you taken? Visionary? Strategist? Observer? Catalyst?

• How are you showing up? Passionately? Cautiously? Reluctantly?

• Are you still playing for the joy, the growth, the challenge—or has that part faded?

And what about your support system..

• What does your cheer squad look like?

• Who’s helping you analyze the board and prepare your next move?

Maybe it’s time to dust off the playbook. Reset your mindset. Realign your strategy. Because even if you’ve been out of the game—or playing small—you can always make a move that changes everything.

Reflection Prompts for You and Your Inner Circle:

• What game are you actually playing right now? And is it the one you want to be in?

• What are the “rules” that no longer serve you?

• What skills or strengths do you need to level up?

• Where in your life or business do you need to take a more strategic approach?

• What would “winning” look like in this season of your life?

  
  

Now, roll the dice with intention.

Make your next move your best move.

You got this! ...

With you on the journey,

Coach Tavia, PCC, MSEd,