Game Vision: You Are Your Own Irrepressible Opponent
Following the arguments in ‘dark strategy’ in Ch 7 of Game Embedded Strategy wherein one player in a game can influence the belief system of another player, we are now considering a ‘game vision’ for an action in a game. Every action leads to a reaction in a sequence of moves that represent a game. You are a player in a game. Your action may be personal or business. So localize your action in a game vision. On a piece of paper draw the word ‘action’ and directly opposite draw the word ‘reaction’. You act in time period t but only observe the consequences of your action at time period t+1. Visualize the outcome of your action in time period t+1.
At a meeting or at your desk do take time and drift into an image of the likely outcome. Identify that unique opponent in the game who will react first to your action. In your vision you are that opponent threatening to win the game. What do you do? Whatever it is, your unconscious action is the consequence of your action at time period t. You are your own irrepressible opponent. Do you agree with the unconscious action? Yes I do. Do you distance yourself from it? No. Do you concede defeat? If no then only proceed with your action at time period t once you have embedded your own irrepressible opponent into your action.
Identify a competitor to play a game. Visualize the irrepressible opponent to win the game. Who is Apple Inc’s irrepressible opponent in the vision game of tablets and communication devices? Who is Nokia’s irrepressible opponent in the vision game of advanced smart-phones and ecosystems? Who is Starbuck’s irrepressible opponent in the vision game of coffee houses?
Who is your irrepressible opponent in the vision game of the problem confronting you at this time? Close your eyes and think. Draw your action on a piece of paper. Side by side draw the likely reaction. a vision and identify that unique person, for example, with whom you disagree. It is you. Your unconscious self, you are your own irrepressible opponent. Visualize the irrepressible opponent to win the game. Additional (related) reading includes Dan Roam’s ‘The Back of the Napkin’; he is a visual thinking guru and also check out and google the Tale of the Unwitting Thief….often called UT or communal re-creation….or read Ian McEwan’s ‘Solar’ for an interesting take on UT.