I’m not much of a gamer, but growing up, there was one game I truly loved. My siblings and I would huddle together, taking turns to play it on our mom’s phone.

Looking back, I’m not sure which I enjoyed more—the game itself or the time spent with my siblings. But that’s beside the point.

The game I’m talking about is one you probably know: Temple Run. If you’ve played it, you’ll remember the main goal is simple—run as far as possible without getting caught by the monster.

At first, things are easy, but as you advance, the game gets tougher. New obstacles pop up, and you have to adapt. Some levels are impossible to beat without specific upgrades or power-ups.

Back then, we’d save up coins just to unlock a new skill or a character with better attributes. The further you go, the faster the game gets, and the higher the stakes become. If you fail at a level, the goal is to surpass it the next time and maybe even set a new record for your siblings to challenge.

By now, I’m sure you see where this is going.

Life is exactly like that game:

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• You have goals or challenges to overcome.
• You overcome them by upgrading your skills.
• You learn from your failures.
• And you keep going until you conquer that challenge and move on to the next.

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This whole idea is also echoed in a concept from Naval’s Almanack, a book by Eric Jorgenson. Naval says:

To win in life, you need to be addicted to the game itself. But how do you do that?

Let’s start by understanding how the game of life works.

The Games of Life: A Holistic View

Right from the moment you were born, you’ve been playing one game or another. It started with the “school game”—striving to be top of your class. Then came the “social game”—competing for popularity in college. Now, many of us are deep into the “money game”—working hard to earn enough so we can live the life we want.

Later, there’s the “status game”—climbing the social ladder and seeking recognition. These games come at different stages of life. Some last longer than others, but they’re all games nonetheless.

The issue is that many of us don’t realize we’re characters in these games. But here’s the thing: You can only operate at the right frequency when you’re aware of what you need to do to tune into that frequency.

Some people struggle with the idea that life isn’t “serious.” But if having a clear direction and staying focused on your goals isn’t serious enough, I’m not sure what is.

The first step is accepting that you are, indeed, in a game. Once you do that, your perspective on life shifts. You start operating with intention, and suddenly, the things that once kept you up at night won’t weigh on you as much.

Then you realize that:

Failure Is a Means to an End

In games, failure isn’t the end—it’s just part of the process. You can jump right back in and keep trying until you conquer that level before moving on to the next.

In life, outcomes typically come in two forms: positive and negative. But you can’t truly experience the positive without first encountering the negative. In fact, you often have to pass through the negative to reach the positive.

When you fail, treat it as a learning experience—a lesson in what not to do next time. Each setback shows you how to refine your approach and improve your strategy.

No matter how many times you stumble, it’s all part of the journey toward your goals and, ultimately, success.

This shift in perspective brings clarity in other areas too.

Your Path Becomes Clearer

In games, there’s always an overarching challenge—defeat the final boss, rescue the princess, or reach the highest level.

But before you get there, you first have to conquer smaller challenges across different levels. These wins accumulate, equipping you with the skills and tools needed for that ultimate showdown.

The same principle applies in life. You have a big, long-term goal, but the path to achieving it lies in breaking it down into smaller, actionable steps: yearly goals, monthly milestones, weekly wins, and daily checklists.

This approach gives you clarity and keeps you focused on what needs to be done in the moment.

When you view life as a series of levels to beat, you reduce mental clutter, making it easier to stay calm and focused.

But playing the game of life also means…

You Make the Rules

Your mind is the most powerful tool you have. Some call it the “third eye,” but I see it simply as your mind. Whatever commands your mind in any given moment directs your entire life.

Although your mind belongs to you, it’s vulnerable to outside influences. The things you see, hear, and experience—along with your upbringing—all shape how you think.

If you allow your mind to be accessible to everything and everyone, you’ll end up playing by other people’s rules. You’ll chase their goals, play their games, and, in the end, feel unfulfilled.

To live a life that’s truly yours, you need to create your own game and set your own rules. This means deciding what you’re willing to do—and what you’re not willing to do—to achieve your goals.

So, how do you start playing your own game? How do you take control of your path, define your own success, and live life on your terms?

Let’s break it down.

How to Play the Life Game

To effectively navigate life like a video game, you need a few key elements:

1) A Clear Challenge (Your Goal):

Just like every game has one ultimate objective, your life needs a central goal too—something that drives you when you wake up and keeps you motivated even late at night. This vision should be ambitious—something bigger than what you currently think is possible.

Your goals should focus on three essential areas:

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• Building Your Body: Health and fitness goals that keep you physically strong and energized.
• Building Your Mind: Personal development, knowledge, and mental resilience that expand your capacity to think and grow.
• Building Your Life: Career, relationships, and financial goals that lay the foundation for the life you want to live.

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2) A Hierarchy of Goals Leading to Your Main One:

your broader goal might take a decade to fully accomplish, so break it down into yearly, quarterly, monthly, weekly, daily, and even hourly objectives. These tiny goals help you track progress and move with clarity toward the larger vision.

3) Upgrade Your Skills as You Go:

As you progress through each level of your life game, you’ll encounter challenges that demand new skills. Every obstacle you face is part of a molding process designed to prepare you for what lies ahead.

Life is constant refinement. Each challenge hammers away at you, pushing you to dig deeper and unlock potential you didn’t even realize you had. Embrace this process as it shapes you into the person capable of realizing your dreams.

4) Define Your Rules:

In every game, there are rules that guide how you play. The same applies to life.

You need to define the principles and boundaries that will govern your actions and decisions. Clearly outlining what success means to you is crucial because it sets the foundation for everything you do.

Ask yourself: What are you willing to sacrifice to achieve your goals? Success requires trade-offs, and you need to know in advance what you’re prepared to give up—whether it’s time, comfort, or certain habits.

But it’s equally important to know your limits. What are the non-negotiables? What values will you never compromise, no matter how tempting the shortcut may seem?

All of this doesn’t mean you should live your life like a robot. Self-improvement is about gaining clarity and direction so you can position yourself to win.

So, what game are you playing, and what rules will you set?

Think about that as you go about the remainder of your Saturday.

Thank you for reading.

~ Tolu