It’s no fun playing games with me.
I play to win—and I’m a sore loser. My family knows this all too well…..
Maybe that’s why there are rarely any game nights in our household.
At least, none I’m invited to… 
I just don’t add to the fun.
Turns out, having fun together is one of the key success criteria in playing games.
Who knew, right?
And, honestly? I kinda suck at that part.
The truth is, we’re all playing some kind of game.
We all want to get better, to win.
But lately, I’ve been evolving how I look at the games I choose to play—and more importantly, how I define winning.
Back in my early days as a Special Forces Operator, I thought being a good team member meant
– running fast,
– lifting heavy, and
– pushing through the toughest conditions.
It was simple to measure, easy to keep score.
Everyone in the unit knew where they stood based on physical performance.
But I was wrong.
Sure, those things mattered, but they weren’t everything.
My focus had to evolve.
Being a true asset to the team wasn’t about who could run the fastest or lift the most.
It was about
– being a good team player,
– having Situational Awareness even under exhaustion, and
– having tactical insight—being switched on when it mattered most.
Those are harder to measure but infinitely more valuable to the team’s success.
The Entrepreneurial Game
Fast forward to 2005, when I became an entrepreneur.
The yardstick for success seemed obvious: make mo´ money.
Great! Another measurable goal!
I learned quickly, worked hard, and soon, I was winning.
But at what cost?
I worked myself into the ground—no fun allowed, just grinding, day after day, year after year.
My physical and mental health took a nosedive. I gained 15 kilo. My relationships suffered.
I was the ´dark cloud´ at the office: Fully focussed, but no fun to be around.
People stopped wanting to play this game with me.
I see that now.
I was playing the game, chasing the wrong success criteria.
Turns out, having fun together is part of what it means to win.
Who knew, right?
I needed a shift in perspective.
I needed to redefine what success meant—both in my career and my personal life.
It isn´t just about the numbers or the hustle.
It is about enjoying the journey, building relationships, and playing the right game for the right reasons.
That’s how you truly win.
How do you define ´winning´?
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What I learned when nobody wanted to play with me anymore: Redefining Winning
