On 26th March I was invited to the Wiley offices to hear Rowdy McLean talk about his book Play A Bigger Game. Released in May 2012 playing a bigger game is all about how to get what you want out of life written by Rowdy McLean – an in-demand public speaker who has inspired thousands to be more, do more and have more.

During his youth a policeman told a mischievous Rowdy he had so much potential and this was a life changing conversation for Rowdy. (Not enough stories like this are shared about policemen). Rowdy asked the audience how do you define success. What is your picture of retirement? These are different for different people

I define success as happiness and health for me and those around me.

As a small business owner I don’t imagine retiring. I would like to be location independent, minimalist with a source of income generated from my writing.

How do you define success?

What is your picture of retirement?

Rowdy talked to us about an online game I have never heard of EVOKE: a crash course in changing the world (www.urgentevoke.com) through the creation of real world scenarios. He went on to suggest the notion that everything is a game, and in life we need to learn to Play a Bigger Game.

To encourage interaction with his readers Rowdy has QR codes at the start of each chapter of his book. On his business cards he has a QR code, which you can scan to automatically download his contact details onto your phone.

Play a Bigger Game is a goal kicking book not a goal setting book. It is a three step process; can do -> how to -> follow through. Playing a bigger game is about attitude. Rowdy has developed his own “Attitude Equation” Circumstances + Attitude (intent) + Action (behaviour) = Results which he has adopted in his own life. Rowdy challenges us to make a significant change every 90 days. This challenge could be;

  • Every week I will personally call a past client and catch up with them.
  • Every week I will talk review the an ongoing expense, and identify if there are options to reduce the expense
  • I will enrol in tennis lessons
  • I will call my nieces and nephews.

The challenges are quite easy, and you can see how they would holistically improve your work and life. Everyone who had read the book raved about it.