E16: Game Changer: the goalposts

Hi and welcome back — I’m Alvat Garewal.
 Today, I want to talk about something that really struck me — two quotes that have been living in my head lately:

“To be a game changer, you have to change your game.”
and
“When you raise your level, you change the goalposts for everyone else.”

Now at first, they sound like two separate thoughts. But the more I sat with them, the more I realised — they’re connected. Deeply connected.

In this episode, I want to unpack these ideas. What does it mean to change your game? Why is raising your level so powerful? And how can these mindset shifts not only transform your life — but also raise the standard for those around you?

Let’s dive in — because sometimes, just a change in thinking can change the whole playing field.

Transcript

Podcast Episode: “Change the Game”

Hi, and welcome back. I’m Alvat Garewal, and today I want to dive into something powerful—two quotes that, when I heard them, really made me stop and think.
 The first is:
 "To be a game changer, you have to change your game."
 And the second:
 "When you raise your level, you change the goalposts for everyone else."

Let’s unpack this together.

The First Quote: Change Your Game

“To be a game changer, you have to change your game.”
 Think about that for a second.

So often, we’re waiting for the world to notice us—for someone to come along and give us a break, offer an opportunity, open a door. But what if the real break, the real opportunity, starts when we stop playing the same old game?

Back in the day, sports legends like Serena Williams, Michael Jordan, or Messi—they didn’t just play the game better. They redefined it. They trained differently, thought differently, and played differently. That’s what made them game changers. They weren’t waiting for someone else to raise the standard—they raised it themselves.

And that applies to us. Whether you’re in business, a creative space, working a 9-to-5, or even just trying to improve yourself—if you keep doing things the same way, you stay in the same place.
 Change your routine. Change your mindset. Change your environment. Change your game.

Let me tell you what a business man told me once. He said

Years ago, I was doing well—running a successful business, doing the rounds. But it was only when I decided to pivot—take risks, change how I approached ideas, open myself up to learning from people younger and older than me—that I felt something shift. I wasn’t just reacting to life anymore, I was taking control of the game board.

Changing your game doesn’t always mean a complete overhaul. Sometimes it means making a small change that shifts your whole perspective. Maybe it's how you use your mornings, maybe it's who you surround yourself with, or how you respond to criticism. Change one piece—and the rest begins to move.

The Second Quote: Change the Goalposts

Now, let’s bring in the second quote:
 "When you raise your level, you change the goalposts for everyone else."

Isn’t that powerful?

There’s something inspiring—and a little bit daunting—about that. Because it means your growth doesn’t just affect you. It affects everyone watching you.

Have you ever seen someone you know step up their game, and suddenly you think, “Wow, maybe I need to do more”? That’s what happens when someone raises their level—it redefines what's possible for everyone else.

There’s a ripple effect.

Think about the first person who ran a marathon. The first person who climbed Everest. Once it was done, others followed. Why? Because the goalposts had been moved.

So when you raise your level—whether that’s in discipline, ambition, generosity, creativity, leadership—you’re shifting the energy around you. Your colleagues, your family, your friends… they notice. They feel it. And often, they follow.

What’s Holding Us Back?

But let’s be honest—changing the game is uncomfortable. Raising your level isn’t always fun. It can be lonely. People might not understand why you’re suddenly more focused, more driven, more selective with your time.

They might even resist the new version of you. That’s okay.

You’re not here to fit into someone else's idea of comfort. You’re here to evolve.
 If you're trying to be a game changer, it's not about being liked. It’s about being impactful.

The Lion’s Focus

Let me remind you of something we spoke about in a previous podcast—the lion on the hunt. Surrounded by distraction, surrounded by movement. But laser-focused on the goal. The lion doesn’t worry about what others think—it chases the target.

Same principle applies here.

Changing your game and raising your level takes that kind of focus.

Connecting the Quotes

Here’s the powerful thing—these two quotes don’t just stand alone. They actually feed into each other.

"To be a game changer, you have to change your game" is the spark. It's the internal shift—where you decide to stop playing small, stop following the crowd, and start redefining how you operate.

And "When you raise your level, you change the goalposts for everyone else" is the external effect—the result of your decision to level up.

They work together like cause and effect.
 When you change your game, you automatically move the goalposts for those around you.
You shift the standard.
Your growth gives others permission—and sometimes pressure—to grow too.

So every time you evolve, every time you level up, you're not just changing your life.
 You’re altering what’s seen as possible by others.
You become the reference point. The new benchmark.
And that’s what game changers do.

Let’s Make It Practical

So how do we start doing this?

1. Identify your current game.
   What routines, habits, or mindsets are you currently stuck in?
   
   
   
2. Spot where the change is needed.
   Is it your health? Your ambition? Your relationships? Your creativity?
   
   
   
3. Set a challenge.
   Create a personal stretch goal. Something that pushes you. Maybe it’s waking up an hour earlier. Maybe it’s reading a book a week. Maybe it’s starting that idea you’ve been sitting on.
   
   
   
4. Track the ripple.
   Watch how people start noticing. You’ll be amazed—your kids, your colleagues, your community—they’ll start stepping up too.
   
   
   
5. Stick with it.
   Game changers don’t stop at the first win. They keep raising the bar. Because they know, every time they do, the game changes again.
   
   
   

Final Thought

You’re not here to just play the game. You’re here to change it.
 And when you do, you’ll raise the standard for everyone else too.

Don’t let fear or comfort keep you playing small.
 The world needs your new level. Your new energy. Your new game.

Thank you for tuning in today.

If this episode sparked something in you, share it with someone who needs to hear it.
 And remember—don’t wait for permission to level up.
 Be the game changer.

Until next time—stay focused, stay hungry, and stay true to your path.

And remember You are in my thoughts.