CHECKMATE MOVES FOR BUSINESS STARTUPS (eBook)

INTRODUCTION

“SHESS” is a creative play on two words: “she” for female and “chess” for the game. Together these words represent “your game of life.”

—Wendy Oliveras, Author

The enormously popular NETFLIX series, “The Queen’s Gambit,” about a young girl living in an orphanage in the 1950’s who reveals an astonishing talent for chess, has many lessons to learn as we watch her on her journey to adulthood to become one of the world’s great chess masters. Her name is Beth Harmon, and she represents an intelligent strong female that faces many obstacles in life to find her place in the world, much like so many of us today and especially women who are balancing family and business. 

As a successful small business consultant and avid chess player, I wrote this book to inspire women in business to take an interest in playing chess, learn smart tactics for success, and become equipped to fearlessly start their own businesses.

Women too often paralyze themselves because they fear the unknown and failure. Although fears are understandable and natural, my intention is to help prepare you to face unexpected challenges in life with confidence and to encourage you to start the business you’ve always wanted to without those fears.

I instinctively rely on my chess-playing skills to keep me focused and determined in my daily activities and business challenges. For this reason, I encourage and challenge you to learn to play chess so you too can gain an edge on your competition and develop smart tactical moves for future success in life and business just as I have.

Let’s consider despite the surge of high technology, science, and innovation, women in business have attained many great and creative accomplishments. Yet, women still face barriers to earn equal pay to men and continue to struggle to be equally acknowledged and accepted professionally.

Women continue to lag behind men in business, including the professional world of chess which is another reason I was driven to write this book. This phenomenon should come as no surprise to anyone because women have had to work twice as hard to prove their abilities and roles in society and business.

In the professional world of chess, however, it is estimated less than 14% of members of the United States Chess Federation (USCF) are female and compete professionally worldwide. This is a very low percentage of professional female chess members. The truth is that male chess players are given more credibility and attention globally than female chess players. I never understood this.

Perhaps women do not want to take time to learn chess. Maybe women find it boring or have no desire to compete professionally because they are intimidated by the game and their male opponents. The fact is the journey of becoming a chess grandmaster takes real dedication, years of practice, and huge sacrifices.

Regardless, this undeserving perception is clearly unfair to those few female chess grandmasters who have dedicated most of their childhood and early adult life to professional study and mastering this fascinating board game.

So, I wonder with much curiosity why women in general ignore the great benefits and rewards chess affords them. I advocate for women of all ages and backgrounds to learn to play chess for fun and ignore the societal perception women are weak and intellectually incapable of becoming good or even great chess players.

This is why I have dedicated my efforts to demystify the basics of chess for women in business and teach them how to play while revealing the inherent analogies that exists in this intellectual game. The great news is you no longer have to fear chess because I am happy to simplify the game for you.

In spite of the underrepresentation of female chess players within today’s competitive chess world, I would like to highlight the fact that women have actually contributed a key part in the development of the modern chess game.

Did you know throughout history women played a vital role in the development of feminine rule (aka the “Queen”) on the chess board? As a matter of fact, for five hundred years, the chess game existed without the Queen.

The Queen was not always considered the most powerful piece on the board. Although the history of chess is unclear, it is believed chess originated in India around 600 CE and all of the pieces were male.

When chess began to spread to Europe around 1000 CE, the chess Queen began to appear on the board. The Queen at that time was considered one of the weakest pieces and was only allowed to move diagonally one square at a time.

It wasn’t until the end of the fifteenth century that the Queen’s powers were improved from its weak status to a more powerful and challenging position.

In her book entitled “Birth of the Chess Queen: A History,” author Marilyn Yalom emphasizes that women have played a very crucial role in the development of the Queen’s powers. In particular, Yalom references three strong historical women, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen Isabela I of Castille, and Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia.

I want to share with you brief histories of these strong monarchs so you can appreciate the significance their contributions in ruling their respective countries made throughout Europe. I respect how each Queen successfully reigned during their time in history despite the obstacles and struggles they endured during their respective eras.

Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine

(1122–April 1, 1204)

Eleanor of Aquitaine was queen consort of France (1137–1152) and England (1154–1189) and the duchess of Aquitaine in her own right (1137–1204). She was one of the most powerful and influential figures of the Middle Ages. She inherited a massive estate at the age of fifteen, which made her the most sought-after bride of her generation. She would eventually become the queen of France, the queen of England, and lead a crusade to the Holy Land.

Queen Isabella I of Castille

(April 22, 1451–November 26, 1504)

She was ruling queen of Castile and León from 1474 and, through marriage, Queen of Aragon from 1479. She reigned over a united Spain together with her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon.

Queen Isabella I ruled during a time of war when ruling queens were rare. For example, women who inherited a throne were expected to turn their power over to their husbands and simply become their companions in life.

She changed her role in life from pawn to a powerful queen and used her power to influence politics throughout fifteenth century Europe. She also influenced the military by taking charge of strategy and tactical planning of war campaigns.

Some of Queen Isabella I’s successes as her determination and struggle to claim her right to the throne, taking charge in reorganizing the governmental system, bringing crime to the lowest it had been in many years, and relieving the kingdom of huge debt that her brother had left behind. History also teaches us that she was best known as the woman who funded Christopher Columbus’s first expedition across the Atlantic Ocean.

Catherine the Great

(May 2, 1729–November 17, 1796)

Catherine II, aka Catherine the Great, was Empress of Russia from 1762 until 1796. She was Russia’s longest-ruling female leader. She came to power following a takeover funded by the British embassy that overthrew her husband and second cousin, Peter III. She was actually known for her scandalous affairs rather than for general state affairs, but she still managed to help expand Russia’s empire.

Nevertheless, Catherine the Great was regarded as a socially open-minded ruler. She even corresponded over her life-time with one of the greatest French philosophers and writers, Voltaire (November 21, 1694–May 30, 1778). She was also known as a devoted supporter of the arts and opened the Hermitage Museum during her reign as part of her personal art collection. As a result of her ruling influence, Russians also adopted western European philosophies and culture.

Summary

Thanks to these strong female monarchs, the chess Queen as we know of today is the most powerful piece on the board! Many sacrifices were made and countless daring chances were taken to be recognized as powerful female rulers whose countries were typically ruled by men. They each successfully contributed to the success of their states and its people and influenced the transition of the weak Queen to the most powerful piece on the chess board today. What great and interesting facts to learn!

Regardless of the powerful symbol the Queen represents on the chess board, however, the unfortunate reality is female chess players are still frequently considered by their male opponents as weak.

I have experienced being told by a male opponent that my move was a cute one and then I would hear a giggle. I am not sure if the giggle stems from nervousness or fear of losing, but those types of comments and reactions only inspire me to play harder and smarter.

This is my empowerment message to you. You are not just a mother, daughter, sister, girlfriend, wife, or entrepreneur,...