The Games We Play

If you’ve ever chased after what others say you should—money, status, power, followers—you might wake up one day to find you've won the wrong game.

I know because I’ve spent a lot of time playing these “multi-player games.”

But this season, I’ve decided to shift my focus to what I call “single-player games.”

Let me explain…

In the multi-player game, the scoreboard is external. It’s all about social validation, impressing others, and making sure people see you’re “doing well”—earning more, acquiring more, being more.

The goal is to look good for the world. Maybe you’ve been told to chase more money, followers, or even bigger cars and houses, all for the sake of external approval.

But there’s another game we can play, a deeper, more meaningful one: the single-player game.

It’s focused on Inner Game Mastery—one of the core principles we teach at The Strategic Scale Institute™.

Single-player games aren’t about external achievement or validation.

There’s no outside scoreboard.

You’re simply competing against yourself.

It’s about:

• Being content and happy with who you are right now
• Mindfully tuning in to your thoughts, feelings, and the voice of God
• Acknowledging your emotions and responding with grace instead of suppressing them
• Recognizing when you’re not at peace and discovering what’s blocking your joy
• Operating from a place of abundance and wholeness instead of striving out of lack or scarcity
• Embracing a slower pace, trusting God’s work more than the hustle-and-grind mentality

Playing the single-player game means looking inward, mastering yourself, and finding joy in simplicity. It’s about winning within—no matter what’s happening around you.

Until next time,
Marquel Russell

P.S. The other day, my kids were shocked when they saw me swinging on the swings. No push needed—just me, enjoying the ride. Funny how much we can learn when we slow down and play the single-player game! 😊