Just as a checkers player must consider various aspects of the game to succeed, an entrepreneur or professional in the business world must utilize a range of skills to be successful in a competitive and dynamic environment.

I have had the great privilege of being able to follow the achievements of a childhood friend, Harm Wiersma, and we later met in Spain. He was a 6-time world champion and is the perfect example of what can be achieved with the attributes of the game of checkers in business, politics, academia, and our societal careers. In that sense, he stands at a higher level than Ton Sijbrands, who is solely focused on the game. On the other hand, Wiersma was not only a player but also a businessman and even a member of parliament in The Hague for a political party. In the conversations I had with him, the word "drive" always emerged.

I will attempt to present the attributes that are improved through playing checkers, and there are many. Both of us have been able to utilize these attributes in our societal careers. While discussing these attributes, Wiersma's name comes up many times. Hopefully, this first part will be an inspiration for young checkers players and chess players.