By Burnett Munthal
“This book will change the way you think.”
I was skeptical—another business book?
But from the first few minutes of the audiobook, I was hooked.
Patrick Bet-David’s voice was confident, sharp, and full of urgency.
He didn’t just talk theory—he broke things down like he was coaching me personally, making sure I stopped playing checkers in a world that rewards chess players.
These seven lessons?
They didn’t just shift my thinking—they made me move differently.
The first lesson, know exactly who you are before making big moves, hit me right between the eyes.
Bet-David says you can’t strategize effectively until you’re brutally honest about who you are, what you want, and what drives you.
Before, I used to jump into opportunities without clarity—now I pause.
I dig deep into my values, my skills, my fears, and my end game.
Because every decision you make flows from self-awareness.
Without it, your moves won’t match your mission.
The second lesson, think five moves ahead—like a grandmaster, not a checkers player, taught me that most people simply react.
They respond to the moment, hoping things will fall into place.
But Bet-David breaks down how the greats always think five steps ahead.
He applies this principle to business, leadership, and life.
This pushed me to stop being so reactive and start anticipating.
When I set a goal now, I immediately map out: what’s my first move?
Then what?
And what will that cause?
It’s made me sharper and calmer in high-stakes situations.
The third lesson, every vision needs a strategy—or it’s just a fantasy, was a necessary wake-up call.
I’ve always been a big dreamer.
But this book forced me to look at my goals and ask, where’s the actual game plan?
Bet-David doesn’t let you off the hook.
He says, “Don’t confuse excitement with progress.”
That line stuck.
Now when I set a goal, I don’t stop at the vision.
I dig into the steps, the timeline, and the obstacles.
Dreams are nice—but a strategy is what makes them real.
The fourth lesson, don’t just recruit people—recruit the right people, was absolute gold.
It’s not enough to get people on your team—you need people who match your vision, your energy, and your culture.
Bet-David explains how weak players can actually slow you down, no matter how loyal they are.
I started looking at my own circle differently.
Who pushes me to level up?
Who drains energy?
That clarity has helped me build tighter, more focused collaborations.
The fifth lesson, master your emotions or they will master you, was deeply personal.
I used to let emotions run the show—fear, frustration, even excitement could throw me off track.
But Bet-David talks about emotional discipline like it’s a business skill.
He says if you can’t control your emotions, you’ll never be trusted to lead.
Since then, I’ve been working on staying calm under pressure, making decisions based on clarity instead of chaos.
The sixth lesson, business is war—play to win, not to survive, was a complete mindset shift.
Bet-David isn’t about playing it safe.
He encourages boldness, calculated risk, and aggressive preparation.
That challenged me.
I realized I had been playing not to lose, instead of playing to win.
Now I ask myself: am I holding back out of fear?
Or am I positioning myself to dominate in my lane?
That fire changed how I approach opportunities.
The seventh lesson, your legacy will be built on how well you execute—not just how big you dream, ties it all together.
At the end of the day, Bet-David brings everything back to execution.
Plenty of people have ideas.
Very few finish what they start.
That lesson made me more disciplined.
It’s not about how many books I read or how many ideas I write down—it’s about what I do with them.
That focus on consistent, intentional execution has helped me get more done with less stress.
Listening to Your Next Five Moves felt like a private masterclass in power thinking.
It wasn’t just about business—it was about how to move like a leader in any area of life.
Bet-David doesn’t teach you to hustle aimlessly—he teaches you how to win strategically.
And now, before I make any big decision, I ask myself: what’s my next move?
Then I keep going—two, three, five moves ahead.
