Life Lessons From "The Queen's Gambit"

I don't watch much television. There are several reasons for this, not the least of which is that I view most of what's on TV as a complete waste of time and energy. I don't begrudge anyone who utilizes their discretionary time watching TV, however, as this form of recreation can be a welcome respite from the responsibilities of life.

I, too, seek this occasional reprieve. I find it mostly through sports. Right now, for example, I am allowing myself the guiltless pleasure of taking in the NFL playoffs. I love playoff sports, and two of my favorites are March Madness and the NFL playoffs.

Occasionally, I'll get sucked into something that "everyone" is watching. I like documentaries and, on very rare occasions, I'll watch an entire series.

While for me watching television is mostly passive, it's a bonus when whatever is on provides material I can learn and grow from, and write about.

Take, for example, the critically acclaimed series, "The Queen's Gambit," an American coming-of-age period drama based on Walter Tevis's 1983 novel. If you haven't seen it, it's well worth watching. Set in the 1950s, the story follows the rise of chess prodigy Beth Harmon, an orphan who grapples with genius and overcomes addiction to become the best chess player in the world.

I have always loved chess, so I was easily hooked. As the short mini-series evolved, though, I found it chock full of life lessons to be taken away and unpacked.  

Here are my top three takeaways from the Queen's Gambit: (Caution -- spoilers ahead!) 

Trusting Yourself is Key to Success

Beth is as decisive and precocious as they come from a young age. She learns chess from the janitor at the orphanage where she grows up, and he quickly identifies her as the prodigy she is. 

She soon starts playing in local tournaments, where she is not only pitted against skilled, confident chess players but also made to feel unwelcome in what is essentially a "boys club." However, she doesn't waver. She doesn't question whether she belongs at these chess tournaments, or whether or not she can beat her opponents. 

She trusts herself to play and win. It's not until much later in the series that -- when her confidence starts to crack after she comes up against other brilliant chess minds -- we see how catastrophic mistrusting and second-guessing oneself can be!

Innate Talent Isn't Everything 

Beth is intrinsically talented at chess, and therefore doesn't have to struggle to excel in the beginning. From her first tournament onward, she is a champion. But as we see, innate talent can only get you so far. Eventually, she comes up against a more learned, more methodical player than herself -- and she crumbles. 

It takes some urging from her fellow chess players -- friends and former rivals -- to get Beth to hit the books, study up and learn not to rely solely on her natural instincts. It's worth it because, ultimately, learned knowledge and dedication will overcome innate skill.

So, what's the takeaway? Talent is great, but it must be combined with determination, study and practice in order to succeed in the long run. 

Chosen Family is Family

Beth Harmon was adopted as a teen by Mr. and Mrs. Wheatly. She had every reason to feel that these were not her "real" parents, but she quickly developed a bond with her new mother. Mrs. Wheatley believed in her, nurtured her dream and facilitated her rise to prominence in the chess world.

While Mrs. Wheatley's methodology might be dated and at least moderately questionable, her devotion to Beth is pure. The mark of true family is that they will be by your side, support your dreams and when the chips are down, still love you – because their love is not dependent on how successful you are at any given moment. Think about who is like that for you in your life.

If you haven't already, I urge you to reflect and examine your own life with these lessons in mind. Thought exercises such as these are a habit of high achievers and an effective tool for creating and living your best life. 

Next, think about what media you're consuming. Is it feeding your inspiration, your motivation, and your understanding of yourself? After the next movie or show you watch, take out a pen and paper and write down your top three takeaways. Explore the life lessons you can derive from what you just watched. 

Use these exercises as a way to build upon your understanding of yourself, how you see the world, and how you might achieve the excellence you seek.