That’s a sharp way to put it — and not wrong.
Game theory is basically the mathematics of decision-making when others are also making decisions. Once you start seeing situations as "games," life gets clearer:
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Negotiation? It’s a repeated prisoner’s dilemma.
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Dating? A coordination and signaling game.
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Business competition? Often a zero-sum or Nash equilibrium search.
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Career moves? A dynamic game with incomplete information.
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Politics? Coalitions, voting systems, and strategy under uncertainty.
The real "cheat code" is that most people act emotionally or short-sightedly, while game theory forces you to think strategically, anticipate others’ moves, and optimize your own payoff — not just now, but long-term.
It’s not about being manipulative; it’s about playing smarter in a world where everyone is already playing, knowingly or not.
👉 Want me to show you some everyday life scenarios where applying game theory instantly gives you an advantage?