https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/going-deep-with-aaron-watson/id1016307641?mt=2
We talk about my chess history, improvement, the use of computers, and planning for the future.
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Sunday, March 5, 2017
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Wesley So and Tradeoffs
The rise of Wesley So has been extraordinary. I recently came across two blog posts outside the chess world here and here.
His devotion makes sense for a professional chess player. It's nice to see someone who grew up with little succeed. And his talent and hard work are tremendous. He put aside technology, learning to drive, and probably many other things to focus solely on chess. Essentially, he traded time and career flexibility to give chess his total undivided attention.
The lesson I take away from Wesley So is that there are trade offs and we each choose how we handle them. Wesley has made tough decisions to pursue and improve at chess. His choices were definitely a risk and in this case seem to have paid off in spades.
One important note: be careful about extrapolating too much as there is potential for survivor bias here as there are likely others who have done or are doing the same thing and have not succeeded. Wesley So is a data point of one.
We all have to make calculated risks in our lives (professional, personal). My recommendation is to carve out some time for what you enjoy (chess or otherwise), focus on it during that time, and enjoy the process and going however far you go (which for most of us out of contention of being World Champion means enjoying being an amateur).
His devotion makes sense for a professional chess player. It's nice to see someone who grew up with little succeed. And his talent and hard work are tremendous. He put aside technology, learning to drive, and probably many other things to focus solely on chess. Essentially, he traded time and career flexibility to give chess his total undivided attention.
The lesson I take away from Wesley So is that there are trade offs and we each choose how we handle them. Wesley has made tough decisions to pursue and improve at chess. His choices were definitely a risk and in this case seem to have paid off in spades.
One important note: be careful about extrapolating too much as there is potential for survivor bias here as there are likely others who have done or are doing the same thing and have not succeeded. Wesley So is a data point of one.
We all have to make calculated risks in our lives (professional, personal). My recommendation is to carve out some time for what you enjoy (chess or otherwise), focus on it during that time, and enjoy the process and going however far you go (which for most of us out of contention of being World Champion means enjoying being an amateur).
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