Mark's Blog

I played a game of cards last night and was winning until the final round came up. The hand I was dealt presented me with a conundrum. If someone went out quickly I would be left with a lot of points and I could lose my sizeable lead in the game. So, I could try and ditch all my high cards for low numbers, forgoing the chance to win the round, or stick with them and create the runs I needed to put some down before anyone else went out. I went for the second more positive and aggressive option. However, after a few turns it didn’t seem to be coming together and I got jittery. Mid-game, I changed tactic and began swapping high for low at every opportunity, the safer option. Not one for normally playing it safe, this change was odd. It soon became apparent that I was never going to get rid of the cards in time and I had blown the chance to put some down, which I certainly would have been able to do had I stayed with plan a. I was caught in no man’s land and was hit for the lot. I lost the game that I had been winning for so long. Upon pondering this rapid demise later in the evening I realised that when you make a decision on something, not just cards, it is best to see it through. Changing, wavering in strategy and conviction can only lead to uncertainty, a lack of focus and failure. Obviously, sometimes the conditions change and you have to adapt, but if your original decision was a well thought out and logical one, you won’t need to tinker too much and a complete u-turn is only required in the most extreme of circumstances. Last night, nothing changed between my original decision and subsequent reversal, so the change was not warranted or justified. I’m over the defeat now, even considering my strong competitive nature, and next time, maybe tonight, I’ll be ready…