"It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.”
If you’ve been on my list a minute, you know that board games are kind of a big deal in my family.
My dad has this amazing ability — not only to find awesome new titles — but to TEACH people how to play them.
And I’m not just talking about Pictionary or Scrabble here. (Mad-respect for the classics.) But the games he finds are often what’s called “engine-building”.
Quick definition: Engine-building is when you start with limited resources and build a system that compounds (and rewards) over time. Often taking 90+ minutes to play out.
Try explaining THAT to a newbie when there’s ~ 64 combinations of possible actions they could take in a single turn. 😳
***
I’ve tried channeling his ability during our separate game nights with friends. And have failed miserably every time.
So, I asked him to share his secret a couple months back.
His answer was as elegantly profound as his game teaching …
“Focus on telling them how to win.”
… … … … …
Mind. Blown.
Not, “here’s all the mechanics.”
Not, “let me walk you through every possible move you can make.”
Just — here’s the ultimate goal. THIS is what victory looks like.
***
Most of us educate clients the way I (woefully) teach board games.
We start with the features.
Our process.
An 18-slide PowerPoint.
We explain how it works before we explain WHY it matters. And then wonder why everyone’s eyes glaze over.
Your clients don’t need to read the entire rulebook. They just need to know how to win.
What changes after working with you?
What gets easier?
What gets faster?
What finally clicks into place?
Focus on that before you do anything else.
***
I’m still not as good as my dad. My tendency (in both business and board games) is to drift into mechanics and over-explain.
But now, when I catch myself spiraling into features, steps, and, “Well, technically … “
I stop.
And ask myself — “Did I tell them how to win?”
If not, that’s probably the best place to start. ♟️
***
The invisible wall no one warns you about.
What if the habits that got you to $1M are the exact ones keeping you from scaling to $2M+ ?
There are four stages every consulting firm moves through, from scrappy startup to something that’s actually sellable.
If you’re working harder than you were a year ago and the business still leans on you for everything, this blueprint will make uncomfortable sense.
Ten minutes to read. Totally free.
Saves you a year of pushing the wrong levers.
Different by design.
There’s a moment when you open the news and it already feels like work. That’s not how staying informed should feel.
Morning Brew keeps millions of readers hooked by turning the most important business, tech, and finance stories into smart, quick reads that actually hold your attention. No endless walls of text. No jargon. Just snappy, informative writing that leaves you wanting more.
Each edition is designed to fit into your mornings without slowing you down. That’s why people don’t just open it — they finish it. And finally enjoy reading the news.
Victory Points
By: Mike Shary
My board-game-loving, copywriter extraordinaire and mentor, Dad ❤️
Tiny Towns is a clever spatial puzzle for one to six players about shaping a little woodland city in a cramped clearing.
Everyone starts with a small grid. On each turn, one player names a resource and everyone must place that same colored cube in a single empty square. You are all playing the same pieces, but you drop them into different spots, slowly filling your boards.
Certain patterns of cubes can be turned into buildings that sit on top of those spaces, each with its own scoring rule. A cottage wants food nearby. A tavern wants company. Some buildings are efficient but plain. Others are tricky to build and powerful if you pull them off.
The tension comes from knowing you cannot change the past. Once a cube is down, it stays. If you place resources randomly, your town clogs up and you run out of room. If you think three or four moves ahead, you start seeing how each choice opens or closes future patterns. You are literally creating the shape of your future score every time you pick a square.
Your brand works the same way. Every offer, page, and product is another cube in your grid. If you drop them wherever it’s convenient, you end up with a crowded, confusing town that doesn’t perform. A strong brand advisor helps you decide which structures matter most, where they belong, and how each new decision sets up the next, so your future is something you are building on purpose.
If you enjoy thoughtful puzzles with shared inputs and very personal outcomes, Tiny Towns is a delightful game that rewards planning, foresight, and a bit of creative risk.
Make it a great week! 🙌
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