The source of many of the ideas in this article are from Kevin and Jackie Freiberg’s excellent book Boom!: 7 Choices for Blowing the Doors Off Business-As-Usual.

“How hard are you willing to play?  Your future – the quality of your life at work, your reputation, and the significance you glean from making a difference – depends on your answer.”  — Kevin and Jackie Freiberg

Players bring joy, energy, and passion to the game of life.  Players derive meaning and joy from their contributions.  Players have a voice.  They speak up and influence the cultures in which they live and work.  Players take a stand, join the dialogue, and shape the debate.

You can choose to be a player in the game of life.  A player takes life by the horns and makes things happen.  A player is proactive rather than reactive.  Or you can choose to be a spectator and let life just happen to you.  I choose to be a player.

What a Player Does

• Brings the right attitude regardless of the circumstance they face.
• Creates a pocket of success within their area of influence.
• Assumes responsibility for their own development.
• Learns daily.
• Seeks out and volunteers to help with entrepreneurial projects.
• Takes the lead.
• Chooses to think and act like owners of problems.
• Changes from the inside out.
• Does not gossip.
• Goes for it.
• Presses for solutions in the face of complaints.
• Supports their ideas with well-thought-out cases.
• Does not play small.
• Admits mistakes and apologizes.
• Seeks out challenges.
• Mediates conflict.
• Speaks positively of others.
• Seeks forgiveness rather than permission.
• Does not let others determine how they feel and act.
• Has a sense of optimism for being able to make a difference.
• Seeks rewards based upon their ability to get results.
• Focuses on things they can control.
• Plays to win and leans toward risk.
• What they do matters.
• Confronts constructively.
• Loves what they do.
• Is generally grateful for many things.
• Remains true to their values and themselves.