I quite disagree with the "Not changing anyone’s life" claim, sure you aren't helping anyone make more money but life isn't all about that. If you can create a fun & welcoming environment for your students you can very much change their life in many indirect ways.
Chess provides a safe environment where it's okay to fail & not only that, but you can learn from your failures and try and improve for next time. Which can be extremely helpful, especially for young students that are making their first steps into the world.
On the topic they can also learn to feel proud of themselves for succeeding as it's their hard work that got them there
Furthermore chess teaches you to respect your opponent and yourself. No matter the player's gender, place of origin, fitness, age, social status or disabilities, when you sit in front of a chess board your are completely equal with your opponent and underestimating them for any reason will probably backfire.
Finally, chess is a fun hobby. People aren't machines and we can't survive just working all the time, giving people a place where they can have fun is quite important
Closing, chess in and of itself doesn't have any real world value but if you broaden your view a bit there are many ways you can positively impact someone's life through the process of teaching chess. It's all a matter of perspective
Chess provides a safe environment where it's okay to fail & not only that, but you can learn from your failures and try and improve for next time. Which can be extremely helpful, especially for young students that are making their first steps into the world.
On the topic they can also learn to feel proud of themselves for succeeding as it's their hard work that got them there
Furthermore chess teaches you to respect your opponent and yourself. No matter the player's gender, place of origin, fitness, age, social status or disabilities, when you sit in front of a chess board your are completely equal with your opponent and underestimating them for any reason will probably backfire.
Finally, chess is a fun hobby. People aren't machines and we can't survive just working all the time, giving people a place where they can have fun is quite important
Closing, chess in and of itself doesn't have any real world value but if you broaden your view a bit there are many ways you can positively impact someone's life through the process of teaching chess. It's all a matter of perspective
Who cares about status? when you're coaching, you decide your own hours, your own rates, and even more freedom if you coach online.
Other people may have status, but at the cost of freedom. I'd take freedom any day.
Besides, what does status get you? Status is just what other people think of you. If you live in line with your values and respect yourself, status means nothing.
Other people may have status, but at the cost of freedom. I'd take freedom any day.
Besides, what does status get you? Status is just what other people think of you. If you live in line with your values and respect yourself, status means nothing.
I would say chess can change lives in meaningful ways. Getting better at it can make someone feel motivated to continue playing it, and it is a mind game that can keep a person sharp if one invests themselves in it.
I've heard the caste system never really went away in India and it's pretty toxic. I'd say almost anything someone strives to be excellent in that has a demand is a worthy cause deserving of respect. Personally, I have immense respect for chess coaches. It's great that OP went and got into blogging and other things to diversify and expand his income, though. That's smart.
I've heard the caste system never really went away in India and it's pretty toxic. I'd say almost anything someone strives to be excellent in that has a demand is a worthy cause deserving of respect. Personally, I have immense respect for chess coaches. It's great that OP went and got into blogging and other things to diversify and expand his income, though. That's smart.
If you love chess with all your heart then being a chess-coach is the best profession one can have. I know hundreds of people doing normal 9-5 jobs but counting down the years, months, days and minutes till they can retire. There is no doubt who is more happier. Live is too short for going less than having an enjoyable job especially if you have the opportunity to do so.
I just wanted to write that you've encouraged me not to give up. I recently started my blog, and I read that you didn't find success until 18 months in. Thank you for that @nikhildixit
Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts on chess coaching. It is no secret that economics in chess are not good. You generally have to be in the top 50 to make a comfortable living. In any case I agree with some of the other posts that chess is a fun hobby and that status is not something to worry about. A friend of mine is a strong IM and decided to pursue a career in finance while another FM friend decided to pursue chess as a profession. It is a personal decision and there is no wrong or right answer. "Life is not a journey to some destination, but rather a song to be enjoyed as you go along" (Alan Watts paraphrase)
I can clearly see how culture and upbringing in India shaped your view on the world, your values and therefore your idea of happiness/status/worth and so on are completely different from mine (I grew up and live currently in EU).
I read you travel a lot so maybe you can open your mind a bit about this and fuck all status game. From your tone of words it seems to me you care a lot about it. But I might be wrong.
Status game is a zero sum game. To make someone win someone else has to lose.
However changing tens or hundreds of people's lives by helping them getting better at chess or making enjoyable and maybe funny content. That is something else everybody wins in these games :-)
I read you travel a lot so maybe you can open your mind a bit about this and fuck all status game. From your tone of words it seems to me you care a lot about it. But I might be wrong.
Status game is a zero sum game. To make someone win someone else has to lose.
However changing tens or hundreds of people's lives by helping them getting better at chess or making enjoyable and maybe funny content. That is something else everybody wins in these games :-)
It is quite possible to earn 2 or 3 thousand dollars a month on chess. Maybe 4 thousand dollars. It all depends on you.
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