Growing up, chess was more than just a game in my household—it was a language, a teacher, and a quiet battleground that helped shape the way I think. I didn’t know it at the time, but those long evenings spent hovering over a chessboard would prepare me for the challenges of business in ways no textbook ever could. Now, as someone who’s spent over two decades navigating the complexities of commercial real estate, healthcare ventures, and entrepreneurship, I can clearly see the influence of chess in the way I think, strategize, and make decisions.
There’s something humbling about sitting across from an opponent, each of you locked in thought, both trying to outmaneuver the other with limited tools and an infinite number of possibilities. Every move you make opens up new risks and opportunities. Every mistake is on full display. You can’t hide from a bad call or a rushed decision. It’s all there in black and white.
Thinking Ahead, Not Just Reacting
One of the most important things chess teaches you is the value of foresight. When I play, I’m not just thinking about the next move—I’m thinking about the next five. What will my opponent do in response? How will that open up the board? What sacrifices do I need to make now for a stronger position later?
That same mindset has carried over directly into how I run my businesses. Whether I’m developing a property or launching a new service in the healthcare space, I try to think several steps ahead. What’s the long-term goal? What obstacles might arise? What’s the endgame? It’s not about rushing to win quickly—it’s about putting the right pieces in place, understanding timing, and staying patient.
Too often in business, people react emotionally or impulsively. They chase short-term wins and lose sight of the bigger picture. Chess taught me that the best decisions are rarely the most obvious or immediate ones. Sometimes, the best play is to wait. Other times, it’s to take a calculated risk. But either way, you have to be intentional.
Learning from Losses
Losing a chess match stings. There’s no one else to blame. You can’t say it was the market, the economy, or your team. It was you. That kind of accountability has been one of the greatest lessons I’ve taken into my professional life.
In business, failure is inevitable. I’ve had projects that didn’t go the way I hoped. I’ve made investments that didn’t pan out. I’ve learned some lessons the hard way. But just like in chess, those losses weren’t wasted—they were studied, reviewed, and used to improve. I always encourage my team, and even my kids, to look at mistakes not as setbacks, but as teaching moments.
What went wrong? Where did the strategy fall short? Did we rush? Did we misread the board? Did we underestimate our competition? These are the questions that fuel growth. Chess doesn’t let you gloss over your missteps. It forces you to own them and grow from them. I try to bring that same level of reflection into every part of my work.
Patience, Pressure, and Precision
Chess teaches you how to think under pressure. There’s always a clock ticking. Every decision matters. You have to find clarity in moments of stress, and that’s something I face in business all the time.
Whether I’m negotiating a deal, solving a problem in one of my companies, or making a big decision that affects employees and customers, I go back to that chessboard mentality. Stay calm. Don’t get flustered. Think logically. Be aware of the pressure, but don’t let it control you. I’ve found that the ability to stay composed in difficult moments often separates good leaders from great ones.
And then there’s precision. In chess, one careless move can cost you the entire game. In business, the same is true. A poorly worded contract, a rushed hire, a missed opportunity—all of these can have lasting consequences. Chess has made me more precise, more thoughtful, and more deliberate in how I approach every decision.
The Beauty of the Long Game
There’s a deep satisfaction in playing the long game. In chess, it’s about building a strong position slowly and methodically, even if the payoff comes much later. In business, that approach has guided so many of my decisions. I’ve never been one to chase flashy trends or overnight success. I focus on building foundations—whether it’s with properties, healthcare services, or nutritional brands—that are solid, reliable, and built to last.
Timur Yusufov isn’t just the name behind a few companies. For me, every business venture is like a game of chess. I analyze the board, position my team, anticipate challenges, and stay focused on the outcome I want. And just like in chess, the win doesn’t always come quickly—but when it does, it’s because every move leading up to it was intentional.
More Than a Game
To some, chess is just a hobby, a pastime. For me, it’s been a quiet mentor—one that’s taught me how to lead, how to lose, how to adapt, and how to think beyond the obvious. Whether I’m across the board from an opponent or sitting in a boardroom with my team, the mindset is the same: think ahead, stay calm, respect the process, and never underestimate the power of a well-planned move.
In the end, life and business aren’t about winning every time—they’re about learning to play with purpose. That’s what chess gave me. And it’s something I carry with me every single day.