From Whence Came Gambit?

by Ryan M. Healy on March 17, 2008

The legal name of my business is Gambit LLC. Last week, when I cashed some checks at the bank, the teller came back with a grin on his face.

Teller: “Are you the business owner?”

Me: “Yes, I am.”

Teller: “Did you name your business after Gambit, the comic book character?”

I get this question a lot… because nobody knows what “gambit” means.

I hated to let the teller down, but I had to. I realize Gambit is the name of a Marvel comic book character, but he was not my inspiration. And I told the teller so. I went on to explain that…

Chess was my inspiration.

I love the game of chess. Unfortunately, not many people share my interest in the game. It’s a nerd’s game, I guess.

This is also why most people don’t know what gambit means.

In chess, a gambit is a sacrifice made to improve your board position.

So a player may choose to sacrifice a bishop if it sets up a move that might allow him to pin down the queen. This is just an example. There are literally hundreds of different gambits that can be made in the game of chess, depending on the circumstances.

This is why, when I quit my job back in 2005, I viewed it as a gambit. I was sacrificing my job to improve my overall “board position” in the game of life.

This gambit set me back in the short-term. But it gave me the possibility of improving my situation over the long-term. I felt that the sacrifice was worth it. Turns out, it was more than worth it.

What gambits have you made in the game of life? How did they turn out?

-Ryan M. Healy

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About Ryan M. Healy

Ryan Healy is a direct response copywriter. Since 2002, he has worked with scores of clients, including BoostCTR, Alex Mandossian, Terry Dean, and Pulte Homes. He writes a popular blog about copywriting, advertising, and business growth, has been featured in publications like Feed Front magazine, and is a regular contributor to WordStream.com, BoostCTR.com, and MarketingForSuccess.com.

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{ 18 comments }

Ed C Anderson March 17, 2008 at 6:03 pm: Hi Ryan,
Even though I played some chess in my younger years I would not have guessed that. The comic book character would have been my first try if I had thought about it. (Of course, I’ve always been a fan of the X-men comics)
On the topic of gambits in life, I think that we do that all the time on a subconscious basis. Luckily for most of us they are small sacrifices.

Ed Anderson
http://www.masteringyourquest.com
http://www.edcanderson.com
Ed C Anderson March 17, 2008 at 11:03 am: Hi Ryan,
Even though I played some chess in my younger years I would not have guessed that. The comic book character would have been my first try if I had thought about it. (Of course, I’ve always been a fan of the X-men comics)
On the topic of gambits in life, I think that we do that all the time on a subconscious basis. Luckily for most of us they are small sacrifices.

Ed Anderson
http://www.masteringyourquest.com
http://www.edcanderson.com
Thos003 March 17, 2008 at 6:07 pm: Great Lesson…. too bad no one thinks of Bulwark as a cool comic book character, even though he is. =)

So that was 2005,… did your gambit pay off?

-Thomas
Pest Pro Joe March 17, 2008 at 11:07 am: Great Lesson…. too bad no one thinks of Bulwark as a cool comic book character, even though he is. =)

So that was 2005,… did your gambit pay off?

-Thomas
Keith Godorum March 17, 2008 at 7:18 pm: OK Ryan that’s funny…

Being a chess nerd I knew what gambit meant. I never figured you for a chess nerd, and didn’t put it together.

Although knowing your story it makes perfect sense.

Keith
Keith Godorum March 17, 2008 at 12:18 pm: OK Ryan that’s funny…

Being a chess nerd I knew what gambit meant. I never figured you for a chess nerd, and didn’t put it together.

Although knowing your story it makes perfect sense.

Keith
John Holzmann March 17, 2008 at 7:20 pm: Well . . . I didn’t think of chess. But I did think of the broader use of the term: “ploy: a maneuver in a game or conversation” and/or “a clever move or maneuver, especially one made in the early part of a game.” I had heard of gambits in NEGOTIATION.

As always: Nice. Thought-provoking. Short.

Thanks!

John
John Holzmann March 17, 2008 at 12:20 pm: Well . . . I didn’t think of chess. But I did think of the broader use of the term: “ploy: a maneuver in a game or conversation” and/or “a clever move or maneuver, especially one made in the early part of a game.” I had heard of gambits in NEGOTIATION.

As always: Nice. Thought-provoking. Short.

Thanks!

John
Ryan M. Healy March 18, 2008 at 1:19 pm: Ed – I agree. We all make small gambits without really thinking about them. It’s probably somewhat related to opportunity cost.

Thomas – Yes, the gambit did pay off. I have much more flexibility today than when I was employed.

Keith – I’m not figured for a lot of things. ;-)

John – Good point. Gambits are used in negotiation as well. Thanks for adding that to the discussion!
Ryan M. Healy March 18, 2008 at 6:19 am: Ed – I agree. We all make small gambits without really thinking about them. It’s probably somewhat related to opportunity cost.

Thomas – Yes, the gambit did pay off. I have much more flexibility today than when I was employed.

Keith – I’m not figured for a lot of things. ;-)

John – Good point. Gambits are used in negotiation as well. Thanks for adding that to the discussion!
Ray Edwards March 20, 2008 at 4:04 am: Ryan,

I guess I’m another chess nerd. I knew what the name meant — and didn’t know there was a comic book character with that name!
Ray Edwards March 19, 2008 at 9:04 pm: Ryan,

I guess I’m another chess nerd. I knew what the name meant — and didn’t know there was a comic book character with that name!
Ryan M. Healy March 20, 2008 at 2:45 pm: Well, next time we’re at a marketing seminar together, one of us is going to have to bring a chess board! ;-)
Ryan M. Healy March 20, 2008 at 7:45 am: Well, next time we’re at a marketing seminar together, one of us is going to have to bring a chess board! ;-)
Andy Havens April 7, 2008 at 2:03 pm: Yes!

Not one but TWO copywriting chess nerds. I’m grinning from ear to ear right now.

However I didn’t associate gambit with chess when you told your story. Neither did I know there was a comic book character by that name.

It’s nice to know I’m not alone.

God bless,

Andy
Andy Havens April 7, 2008 at 7:03 am: Yes!

Not one but TWO copywriting chess nerds. I’m grinning from ear to ear right now.

However I didn’t associate gambit with chess when you told your story. Neither did I know there was a comic book character by that name.

It’s nice to know I’m not alone.

God bless,

Andy
Ryan M. Healy April 10, 2008 at 2:49 am: Andy – Here’s to chess nerds. :-)

Thanks for dropping by my blog!
Ryan M. Healy April 9, 2008 at 7:49 pm: Andy – Here’s to chess nerds. :-)

Thanks for dropping by my blog!