Worklife with Adam Grant
Chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley on why mistakes are our greatest teachers
Dec 19, 2023
In this chat, chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley, the first African-American to achieve this title, shares invaluable lessons from his journey. He discusses how mistakes can be powerful teachers, shaping resilience and strategy both in chess and life. Maurice dives into his competitive childhood in Jamaica, the importance of respecting opponents, and the myths surrounding chess mastery. He also highlights the role of intuition and the significance of learning from failures, advocating for collaboration between humans and technology in the game.
38:52
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Quick takeaways
- Understanding overall ideas and principles is more important than memorization in becoming a great chess player.
- Embracing mistakes as valuable learning opportunities and embracing intuition are key in chess and life.
Deep dives
The Childhood and Competitive Household
Maurice Ashley, the first African American chess grandmaster, shares his childhood growing up in Jamaica in a competitive household. His brother is a three-time world champion kickboxer, and his sister is a six-time world champion boxer. Maurice emphasizes the importance of focus and determination, which were instilled in him by his grandmother who raised him and his siblings. Despite living in poverty, his mother left Jamaica to provide her children with better opportunities. Maurice reflects on the impact of his grandmother's teachings on his journey to becoming a grandmaster.
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