84 years ago, Hasbro introduced a board game that would change the game industry forever. That game was Monopoly, if my title didn’t give that away.
As a kid, I remember trying to play Monopoly and just ending up being confused, frustrated, and bored. But now, I play almost every week and always finish feeling exhilarated, competitive, and ready to play again…and again…and again…
What I’ve come to realize is that there is much to learn from the game of Monopoly in your career, and life in general.
- Try Everything
- The best strategy in the game is to buy everything property you land on. This gives you a wide range of properties all over the board, and a better chance at getting ahead because more people will land on you. In life, this translates to taking chances, and not closing doors on job opportunities just because they might seem scary. Make yourself valuable and get some experience under your belt.
- Don’t Go to Jail
- This might seem obvious, but the more time you spend in jail, the worse your odds are at winning. In life, be ethical and do the right thing, even when it’s hard. Don’t let one wrong decision or mistake haunt you forever. So..yeah, stay out of jail…
- Build
- If you just hang on to your money the whole game, and never put up houses or hotels, you’ll never find yourself on top. In life, it might seem like the only way to win is to have the most money, but if you never invest your money will evaporate faster than you could say, “Boardwalk.”
- No Free Stays
- When cutting a deal with an opponent, sometimes they’ll ask if they can get free stays on your properties if they land on them in the future, but your answer should always be “no.” While you should be kind, and make fair trades with your friends, colleagues, and family, don’t let people walk all over you. Ultimately you aren’t helping anyone by being a doormat, and you’ll never be successful if you don’t know how to stand up for yourself.
- Be Patient
- “Good things take time.” A phrase we’ve heard our whole lives, but rarely acknowledge its truth. I love Monopoly because it’s a marathon, not a sprint. It’s known for taking a long time, but all good things do. Don’t give up the fight after just passing go once or twice, keep the endurance and picture that end goal.
- Leave a Legacy
- When we play with my game board, it’s a tradition that whoever wins, gets to sign their name in a silver Sharpie on the back of the board (along with tally marks if you can win more than once). In life, we all want to be remembered when we finish the game, so make sure to try your personal best in everything you do.
Hope you enjoyed some fun, lighthearted encouragement! Thanks for reading!
By Mackenzie Mehaffey, Junior Account Executive, KC-CASA
