Squid Game The Challenge's first Netflix winner is a Vietnam refugee Navy veteran
Her WHY was the strongest of all players and the overall reason she WON
Veterans Are Built Differently
I recently binge-watched Squid Game the Challenge on Netflix. The only reason I have Netflix is to conduct research. When it comes to documentaries anyway. The original bloody Squid Game hit streamed initially in 2021. When I discovered the challenge scrolling through what’s new I had to investigate who won it.
What started as 456 people in the challenge dwindled to one. Her name is Mai Whelan, player #287. Mother, retired Navy veteran, and now Squid Game The Challenge winner. The 55-year-old immigration adjudicator used her ability to read people as her chief strategy.
Although nobody died when players were eliminated the game still had the same effect on you. Who is built to last? How much deception and smoke screen does one need to win? Mai demonstrates for us flawlessly.
What struck me mostly was her WHY. If you’re not driven by your WHY you may not reach your goals. At 19 she joined the Navy after arriving from Vietnam as a refugee and ended up pregnant.
Her parents abandoned her as a result. She climbed the ranks and retired. Ultimately leading her to Squid Game to test her WHY, and her WILL to WIN.
“I grew up in Vietnam. I came over to United States in a refugee camp when I was eight. I was a virgin up until I joined the Navy and I didn’t know anything. So, to get pregnant at 19 was very hard because I had to tell my family that I got pregnant, and then my family cut me off.”
Know your WHY and create a strategy
Of course, a little luck plays into this challenge. I think her service in the Navy significantly helped her strategy. Especially dealing with people competing for money on a reality show. It was her WHY that carried her through adversity and led her to the winner's circle.
What is a WHY? Your WHY is what gets you out of bed each day. Your WHY has to be strong. Strong enough to carry you when you face adversity Like Mai did in life, the Navy, and competing on Squid Game.
“Today just validates that anything is possible. Even when [you] feel down and afraid, you have to pick yourself up, be a strong person and focus. Whatever you fear is, fight it with everything you got, and you can accomplish anything. And I’ve proven that tonight. I am the winner.” ~Mai Whelan
Chasing $4.56 million requires a strong WHY and a strategy. After the Navy, she became an adjudicator where learning how to read people and their body language was the difference. Significantly contributing to her WIN. Interpersonal skills matter. Word is she has yet to be paid!
Who Got Next?
What’s your WHY? After watching the finale my Daughter asked me if I wanted to compete on a future show. At the end of the challenge, a link appears. Do you think you're built for Squid Game The Challenge season 2? Im chasing a Super Bowl in Las Vegas. No distractions.
In addition, you get a glimpse of several players into their REAL lives off Squid Game. It was refreshing to see REAL people with REAL lives on the show. It gave it that authentic feeling most reality shows lack.
Now is your chance to see for yourself. As a retired Navy veteran myself I was thrilled she won. It gave more credibility to this article. I knew I would publish this if she won. What’s my WHY?
Taking my followers and supporters exclusively to Las Vegas next February. Writing one article a day keeps the depression away. Creating content is life. Competing is a must. Like Squid Game the Challenge. Who got next?
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