665: Maurice Ashley: From Checkmate to Success: Life Lessons On and Off the Chessboard

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In this episode of the Healthy, Wealthy, and Smart podcast, Dr. Karen Litzy enjoyed speaking with the incredible Maurice Ashley, an international chess grandmaster, analyst, commentator, motivational speaker, author, and Hall of Fame inductee. Maurice shared his journey from learning chess in Jamaica to becoming a grandmaster, emphasizing the importance of the journey over the destination and the value of learning from losses. We delved into the psychological aspects of chess, such as maintaining focus during a game and the necessity of having a coach or a team to hold you accountable. Maurice highlighted the importance of resilience, learning from mistakes, and the danger of complacency.

Additionally, Maurice talked about his new books, “Move by Move: Life Lessons On and Off the Chessboard” and “The Life-Changing Magic of Chess,” which cater to both adults and children, respectively.

Show notes:

00:00:02 – Introduction to the Podcast
00:00:12 – Introducing Guest Maurice Ashley
00:00:42 – Maurice Ashley’s Career Highlights
00:01:04 – What is a Chess Grandmaster?
00:02:57 – The Process of Becoming a Grandmaster
00:03:11 – Importance of Beating Top Players
00:04:00 – Maurice’s Introduction to Chess
00:06:07 – Learning Chess at Any Age
00:06:43 – Chess Lessons for Life and Business
00:07:22 – Maurice’s Book “Move by Move”
00:10:05 – Overcoming Setbacks and Learning from Mistakes
00:13:59 – The Importance of Embracing Mistakes
00:17:00 – Maintaining Focus and Motivation
00:20:27 – The Role of a Coach or Accountability Partner
00:23:32 – The Importance of Having a Supportive Team
00:26:15 – Defining a Winner in Competition
00:29:10 – The Impact of Losing on Competitors
00:32:40 – Learning from Recorded Chess Matches
00:35:25 – Maurice’s Books and Where to Find Them
00:38:06 – Upcoming Event with Maurice Ashley
00:40:12 – Key Takeaways from the Conversation
00:42:36 – Advice to 20-Year-Old Self
00:43:09 – Closing Remarks and Podcast Outro

More About Maurice Ashley:

Maurice Ashley (he/him) is a Chess Grandmaster, an ESPN commentator, a three-time national championship coach, and an author. In 1999 he earned the title of Chess Grandmaster, making him the first Black Grandmaster in the game’s history, and in 2016 he was inducted into the US Chess Hall of Fame. He lives in Florida.