Too Many Pieces on the Board
Lessons in prioritization from a board game
There’s a game we play called Tuck.
It’s a homemade game we were fortunate enough to be introduced to by dear friends (as well as have been gifted a homemade board 🥰).
Each player has 4 pegs. You need to get them out of their start zone, then move them around a board until you can get them safely “home”.
Any strategy you have to get home can change on a dime based on what other players do with their pegs, or yours. (For example, you can be “killed” and have to start over, or moved to a different part of the board at random.)
“Get out” cards are hard to come by and sometimes players will aim to get all 4 pegs out as quickly as possible.
This is an issue because you need to manage and maintain multiple strategies - one for each peg - which is hard to do as each hand only gives you 5 cards to strategize with.
It feels like I’ve had too many pegs on the board recently.
I have limited cards (money, time, attention, etc.) and I’m trying to move all my pegs (career, mental and physical health, creativity and hobbies, relationships, etc.) forward toward my goals.
Long time readers might have noticed that this “weekly newsletter” dropped off right after I started a new job. Too many pegs.
With this realization I’m trying to rethink what to do.
How do I pick the right piece? (AKA: prioritize. A continual struggle for me - I want to do “all the things”.)
Here’s how I’d approach it in Tuck:
Sometimes opportunities shouldn’t be taken. Just because I have a “get out card” doesn’t mean I need to use it to get out. (Each card as multiple uses)
Which peg is in the best position to get home? For the pegs that are out, which one is in the best position to reach the goal?
What cards do I have and which peg will benefit most from them? Combined with the “which peg”, for the cards I have in this hand, right now, which one is best placed to benefit.
Keep in mind, I have another set of cards coming in 5 plays. This plan isn’t forever, it’s based on what’s going on now.
All of this can change on a dime due to things not in my control. Don’t get too attached and be ready to pivot - but if I’m lucky I’ll get to see this plan through.
It wasn’t as intentional going forward as it looks in retrospect, but this newsletter started as a peg I’d prioritized. I was making good progress and when another set of cards was dealt - a new job - I shifted attention over there.
Lots of folks make annual plans, or 5 year plans, or even plans that take them to the end of their life.
Maybe I’ll get there… for now I’m going to focus on planning with the cards I have in my hand right now.
Excellently framed, and so relatable.