There are a few simple rules to winning at [life]. 

The most cliché of them all  is to ‘have fun.’ 

It sounds like something your mother might say to you as you step onto the soccer field right before a game. 

“Go get 'em and remember to have fun!”

It sounds silly, but as I’ve said time and time before, life’s secrets are hidden within the clichés. 

This is no different.

Within these eye-rolling words, there is a simple yet profound truth to the message.  

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what you are doing, “whoever has the most fun, wins.”

In life, we often find ourselves striving for success, chasing after goals, and competing against others. We dedicate our time and energy to our pursuits, driven by the desire to win. But what if the secret to true victory lies not in the destination, but in the journey itself? 

What if the one who is having the most fun at the end of the day is the ultimate winner?

These words remind us that the true measure of success goes beyond tangible achievements and accolades. 

Accolades are forgotten, accomplishments are surpassed, and legacy is irrelevant to the entire world, in a relatively short period of time. 

Having fun, speaks to the notion that genuine fulfillment and triumph come from experiencing joy and delight in the things we do. 

Imagine a group of children playing a game together. They immerse themselves in the present moment, laughter filling the air as they chase each other, cheer for one another, and celebrate even the smallest victories. In their innocent minds, winning is not defined by who comes in first place or who achieves the highest score. It is determined by the sheer enjoyment they derive from the game itself. The child who giggles the most, who wears the brightest smile, is the one who emerges as the true victor.

As we grow older and become entangled in the complexities of life, we often lose sight of the importance of fun. We become burdened by responsibilities, pressures, and the pursuit of external measures of success. We forget that the real essence of winning lies in the ability to infuse joy into every aspect of our lives.

Too cliché for you to believe? Here’s a scenario -  you choose. 

Scenario #1:

Say you are in business. Sales. You and your coworkers measure success on performance based-metrics. Commissions are the ultimate goal.  

Option 1:

Annual Income: 85k 

You are in the middle of the pack, you have never been a top earner, but you love the work you are doing. Your clients and coworkers are amazing, you wake up every morning excited to go into the office and leave at precisely 4:00 PM, with an abundance of energy to take into the evening hours with you.  You have a vibrant social life, many friends, and a number of hobbies you regularly participate in, which you can pursue with energy and vigor. You have enough time and focus to have deep, meaningful conversations with your partner at dinner, and go to bed with child-like excitement for the next day. You live comfortably, but have to make choices on what to spend your money on. 

Option 2: 

Annual Income: 450k

You are the top earner in the office, you make well above everyone else in your cohort and are miles ahead of everyone in your highschool peer group (none of them which you still stay in contact with). You are known to be a high achiever and everyone that sees you from afar knows how well you are doing. You drive a nice car to work, you rent a beautiful apartment, you have a cleaning and laundry service to give you more free time during the week, and a meal prep service that you pay a premium for because you are still ‘prioritizing your health.’ You crush sales, but are oftentimes in the office until 9PM. You are stressed out before you even get there, and dread the morning commute. Everyday you leave the office with low-energy and a burnt-out attitude. Though you have outsourced many of your daily chores that most others are required to do, you might only get 1 day per week to participate in a hobby of your choice. You still are looking for a partner, but don’t have the time or energy to seek one out.  You ball-out on an expensive all inclusive vacation every year, but spend half the time looking at your phone. 

If you look solely at the annual income, and forego the description, most of you will choose Option 2. 

And that’s fine.

Good for you.

Money is a powerful resource that can give you the power to take control of your life and time.

However, it also has the power to take over your life, controlling you.

If you take option #2, you will probably be buried with a lot of money. May get a plaque on the wall with your name on it. May have a family, but probably regret not spending enough time with your kids. You always thought you’d save up enough money to start a business of your own that you were truly passionate about. But were too addicted to the commission checks and shackled by the golden handcuffs to make it happen. When you die, you finally realize there is no final destination and that winning only means that you enjoyed playing the game.

You might not be in business and thinks this doesn’t apply to you.

You might be a garbage collector, a server, an IT Manager, or an entrepreneur - regardless, the same scenario can be applied. 

Do you want to be having fun as a server, or do you want to find your interactions with customers miserable.

Do you want to enjoy the workout as a trash collector or do you want to agonize over the smell and perceived title. 

Embrace the joy, find delight in every pursuit, and infuse your days with laughter and enthusiasm. Life is a grand game, and the ultimate victory lies not in the end result but in the experiences and memories that bring joy to you and the people around you. 

Regardless of what you are, or what you are not, the winner of life is the one that is going to bed happy. 

Because the one who is having the most fun, wins. 

Own the process,

Tim

Author of Mastery Monday

Founder & Student of thepractitionersjournal.com