Pattern-finding is something our brains do automatically. Honing that ability and consciously applying it to reach a goal takes motivation, desire, and tenacity.
Esquire magazine wrote a great article about the 26 year old fashion editor that purposefully created "luck" combing preparation and opportunity on the TV game show Wheel of Fortune.
Amplify’d from www.esquire.com
Was the Wheel of Fortune One-Letter Solve Really a Miracle?
See more at www.esquire.com
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/f5ne
2 comments:
We play Wheel of Fortune at home and this is something we do on a reasonably regular basis (in fact, the very next day, I got an answer with zero letters). It's all about pattern-matching, and when you view it that way, it becomes a lot easier. Interestingly, I use the same skill to solve cryptograms.
Hi Stephen! I used to watch it a lot as a kid...before the internet ;-)
I would guess that others have "hacked" the game as well. But I guess what makes this story great are all the other parts. Its not easy to get selected to be a contestant in the first place. She set that goal and went for it. Rick, that guy that went before her, was probably very excited and confident that he had made it through the process to be a contestant only to be bested by a giddy fashion editor. He was probably enjoying the moment of being on stage in front of a live studio audience soaking it all in thinking this long puzzle would take a while and he would have plenty of time to crack it. Meanwhile, SHE is working at solving the puzzle (focused) from the moment the clue and phrase structure is revealed. Of course when we are at home, we all do that. But I'm certain its not that easy under the lights in front of a studio audience with Pat rambling on and the distraction of Vanna.
She had a plan and she executed flawlessly. Lots to be taken away from this story.
BTW - thanks for the comment. Its been a few years since we've talked...I believe it was Annual Gathering '08(or 07) in Boston. Cheers!
Post a Comment