On The Low

As it turns out, I'm really good at Pro Evolution Soccer.

_{Photo by Zach Heiberg}

Now before you begin to wonder what today's post have to do with my skillfulness in video games, just sit back and relax as I would get to that really soon.

There's something I've come to notice that most people do that I feel like if they knew better, they wouldn't do that and that thing is bragging, or trying to tell someone that you're really good at something when what you should do is show them how good you are at that thing.

Now don't get me wrong, there's absolutely nothing wrong in telling people you're good at this or that, especially if you're looking to maybe get a job from them so that you can do that which you claim to be good at. This post basically doesn't apply to everything in general, no. As a matter of fact, I think it main focus is on people who get challenged by other people to do something that they know they're really good at.

I will give a really good example to help drive home my point.

_{Photo by Nikolai Chernichenko}

Earlier today, this former neighbor of mine visited some friends of his in our hostel. He had come to say hi and probably stay a day or two before he leaves. So he comes upstairs to where I was seated with another friend and then they both started talking about video games, mostly about soccer.

They both were trash talking themselves, threatening to murder each other on the game field. The talk got so serious that we all decided to go into one of their rooms to power up a laptop to play. Now bear in mind that throughout their whole conversation, I didn't say a word (or brag), all I did was give side comments to their banter.

Now the guys started playing and I immediately told them that I was also interested in playing too. Now one of them knew how good I was because we've both played in the past, but the other guy, the one who had come visiting had no idea if I could even pass the ball. And that was why the moment I made my interest in the game known, he immediately attacked me with his words, saying how he would disrespect me with his goals.

All I did was laugh because truthfully, majority of the things he was saying was funny (he's a funny guy), I even agreed with him that I wasn't that good yet. I told him I was still perfecting my game play and that I wouldn't feel embarrassed if he won because he obviously was a better playful that I was. I said all of this just to feed his ego because I knew that the moment that happens, he would let his guard down and that would be his downfall. The visitor won my friend and it was the time for two of us to play.

When the first half ended in a draw, I could see the disbelief in his face and I tried not to laugh because the man had thought it was going to be a simple ride in the park for him. And when the match ended with me winning, he had smiled at me and the only words that came out of his mouth was "Nice one".

He obviously never saw that coming and that was because I had made him believe that he was the one who was going to come out victorious even if he play with one hand. I made sure to remain on the low until it was time for me to attack. I didn't use my words at first because all that would have done was make him put his guard up and probably be more serious when playing.

And that is what I'm talking about, sometimes we just have to remain on the low and let our work do the talking for us. So that by the time we're done, all they will be able to say to us is "Nice one".