The Power of Perspective: Seeing the Whole Table

The Power of Perspective: Seeing the Whole Table
April 2 2025: By John Forde, Founder of P3 Products

🕒 Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

In billiards, the best players never just focus on their next shot. They see the whole table. They think three, four, even five moves ahead. Why? Because true mastery lies in positioning—placing the cue ball in the right spot, not just for the immediate point, but to make the next shot easier, and the one after that even smoother.

It’s a mindset rooted in intention and discipline. When you play pool at a high level, like I did for years in 9-ball semi-pro and pro tournaments, you learn quickly that reacting impulsively or focusing only on the short term doesn’t win games. You need vision, strategy, and consistency. A good break isn't just about how the balls scatter. It's about how you read the layout, create a plan, and execute with calm focus.

And the more I played—from age five through adulthood—the more I realized this approach had far more impact beyond the pool hall. It became a metaphor for my approach to life, business, and ultimately, health.

Health, Like Billiards, Is a Game of Strategy

The same principles that guide elite-level billiards apply to our daily well-being. We often look at our health through a narrow lens: fix the issue in front of us. Got pain? Take a pill. Sore knee? Rub something on it. Trouble sleeping? Try melatonin.

But what if we zoomed out?

What if we looked at health the way pros look at the table—as a system of interconnected moves?

The truth is, sustainable health requires planning, intention, and foresight. Every decision we make today influences the next. How we move, what we eat, how we sleep, and how we recover—these aren't isolated actions. They’re shots on a much bigger table.

Make the Next Shot Easier

One of the biggest lessons from billiards is this: the easier you make your next move, the more likely you are to stay in the game.

In health, this means making intentional choices that support your future self:

• Use a quality, natural topical like P3 daily to ease inflammation and reduce pain before it builds.
• Focus on active recovery. Gentle movement, stretching, and good hydration make the next day better.
• Sleep matters. Give your body the tools it needs to rest and rebuild.
• And always think ahead. What can you do today that makes tomorrow easier?

Final Thoughts

These days, I feel more energized than ever. Not because I’ve figured it all out, but because I keep practicing. I keep looking at the table. I stay curious, focused, and committed to the long game.

Whether you’re managing chronic pain, bouncing back from injury, or simply trying to stay active, I encourage you to see the big picture. The whole table. Because when you play with intention, you don’t just survive—you thrive.

Here’s to making the next shot easier.

-John

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If you’d like to do some further reading on some of this, check out these great sites:

1. ParticipACTION – Small Steps Toward Better Health

🔗 https://www.participaction.com/get-active/

A trusted Canadian source promoting the importance of movement and activity. Their resources on daily movement, sleep, and long-term vitality align perfectly with my message about planning ahead and making every decision count.

2. Pain BC – Self-Management and Holistic Pain Approaches

🔗 https://www.painbc.ca
 This non-profit helps Canadians living with chronic pain find sustainable strategies—like sleep, stress management, and active recovery—that mirror the blog’s call for seeing health as a system rather than symptom-chasing.

3. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) – Healthy Habits at Work and Beyond

🔗 https://www.ccohs.ca
Offers practical tips on long-term health, ergonomics, and lifestyle improvement, especially helpful for readers seeking to apply my ideas to both personal wellness and professional resilience.