Maurice Ashley: Move by Move

Maurice Ashley is a Chess Grandmaster, an ESPN commentator, a three-time national championship coach, and an author. In 1999 he earned the title of Chess Grandmaster, making him the first Black Grandmaster in the game’s history, and in 2016 he was inducted into the US Chess Hall of Fame. He’s the author of Move by Move: Life Lessons on and off the Chessboard*.

There was a time that you could get a degree or a certification and you’ve be set on your learning for awhile. Those days are long gone. With change happening at the speed of thought, we must keep improving. In this conversation, Maurice and I discuss the mindsets and tactics that will help you keep growing.

Key Points

• Jazz artists don’t think about each note, but instinctively know how to make beautiful music. The best chess players are like this.


• Elite performers constantly look for ways to cultivate the beginner’s mindset.


• Chess players who pay attention to the endgame are less likely to get caught up only in the tactics.


• The most vulnerable time for a chess player is when they have a big lead.


• Poor performers avoid spending time with their mistakes. The best players learn from them through debrief.


• Determine in advance where you need to stay hyper-focused.


• Temper overconfidence by posing additional in-game challenges for yourself and your team.

Resources Mentioned

• Move by Move: Life Lessons on and off the Chessboard* by Maurice Ashley

Interview Notes

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• How to Prevent a Team From Repeating Mistakes, with Robert “Cujo” Teschner (episode 660)


• How to Grow From Your Errors, with Amy Edmondson (episode 663)

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