Life works the same way.

A Note from the CEO

If you’ve been following our blog, you might have seen our recent post about the life lessons hidden in chess notation. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and I wanted to dig a little deeper here in Queenside Dispatch - because this is where I like to take you behind the moves.

Chess notation - those tiny letters and numbers that track every decision on the board - has been part of my life since I was four years old. Back then, I thought of it as homework. Record your game. Write it down. But over time, I realized it’s more than a score sheet. It’s a story.

When you look at notation, you see every decision - bold moves, quiet sacrifices, risky experiments. You see where you hesitated. You see where you surprised yourself. And sometimes, you see the moment everything changed. Life works the same way. 

Most of us are moving so fast that we forget to pause and notice the choices we make. We celebrate the wins and try to forget the mistakes, but both matter. Both are part of the story we’re writing.

Here’s what chess has taught me: growth comes from reflection. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve looked back at a game and thought, Oh, that’s why that didn’t work. But the real magic isn’t about avoiding mistakes next time - it’s about understanding yourself. What you value. How you lead. What risks you’re willing to take.

So here’s my challenge to you this week: start keeping your own “life notation.” It doesn’t have to be formal. Maybe it’s a journal entry, a voice memo, or even a sticky note. Capture the choices you’re making - the bold moves, the pivots, the quiet sacrifices. Because when you look back, you’ll start to see the story of your own strategy.

And remember: it’s not just about the checkmates. The legacy comes from the journey.

You’re not just making moves. You’re writing your story.

xx,

Ashley Lynn Priore

Quote of the Week

“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” - Louisa May Alcott, American Novelist

Coming Up in the Pod

Abby Lane on Building Chérie Lane and Empowering Women Through Sparkle and Style

In this inspiring episode of Queen Me, we sit down with Abby Lane - founder and CEO of Chérie Lane, a bold fashion brand empowering ambitious women through timeless, sparkly style. From starting her first jewelry business at age seven to launching a full-time brand while still in college, Abby shares the real behind-the-scenes of entrepreneurship: the early hustle, the hard decisions, and the deep why behind every sequin and stitch.

Puzzle Solution:

Ahhh notation!

b3

c6, Ke7 (the pawn on b3 is tempting, but wait!)

c8=Q+ (Queen Me!), Kxc8

Kc4, b2 (another Queen Me! coming)