Play For "Zish"

Back in the old days when I was in the Army, I used to play pool.  Before you think it, I was not in the Continental Army.  Truth is, I never learned to play pool very well.  But, there was an old black man that worked in one of the rec centers on post that tried his best to teach me.  He was very good.

One of the things he stressed was to play “zish.”  That was his term for position.  He would say, “Boy, you gotta know where the cue ball is going if you make the shot or miss.  You have to play two or three shots ahead.  And, if you don’t make your shot, at least leave your opponent in a bad place so he can’t make a shot.”  There’s a life lesson in playing “zish.”

How many of us plan two or three shots ahead or  what to do if we fail?  Yes, you plan to win, but just like in combat, you always need to know how and where to retreat if you have to.  Having a plan keeps one from being a failure, or getting killed.

Whatever your plan for life is, be sure that you think and plan ahead.  And, know what you will do if you don’t make your plan.  Plan your plan and plan for a failure.  I still play for “zish.”

Now days my plan is to sit.  If that fails, I take a nap.

PMO
©2015