Video Games Create a Great Life and Business
Jason wove together a great story about his life, failures and successes through his passion for video games.
I sat nodding my head through most of his talk, not because I’m a video game lover, but because everything he said resonated with me. I got it and I hope others in the room did too.
Being an introvert, I find trying to go to ‘networking events’ stressful and I quickly lose my enthusiasm. Having someone like Jason there makes all the difference. I spent 40 minutes absorbed in his story, taking in how the room reacted, and letting my mind fire off connections and ideas of what I can do with my own business.
My networking typically has nothing to do with passing my business card around… It’s a chance for me to understand that there are like minded people out there and think of new ways to connect with them in my own way.
I had 8 key points I took away from Jason… and as I was thinking to myself ‘preach it brother’ (not really but you get the idea), I found a connection in what I am trying to do with my business.
Whether Jason was referring to his younger self or his more seasoned business years.. the trappings of the ego can catch you out. If you are doing your job to get glory, money, or that bigger car (com’on we know it’s a Ducati and Burton Splitboard.. I’ve been there too) you will ultimately fall flat on your a*se.
Hell yeah, no one wants to hear how good you are. They don’t care. People want results, and that means you proving you can help them and solve their problems.
I love the story about his first ‘job’ testing video games. I think he was around 17.. yet even at that young age Jason was figuring out his core beliefs. He felt a solidarity with other gamers and found it difficult to go along with his bosses releasing a game before it was ready.
I didn’t learn this lesson at 17 that’s for sure, but I have now. Like I wrote about last week, I would much rather help a business succeed, then take their money because they think they need a website.
Jason’s whole talk was based around his story from his younger years struggling with his stepdad to where he is today. Interweaving his love of video games through it all. This made everything he said memorable. It had too, I didn’t take notes, I’m writing this from memory, because what he said made a connection and stuck.
I talk about my own story through out this site, it isn’t nearly as memorable as Jason’s and I still don’t have the narrative down.. but that’s okay too. Stories evolve, we evolve, and how we talk and communicate with your clients/customers will evolve too.
Jason kept coming back to excitement. You have to show you want to do what you do. People are smart and can sense when you are going through the motions. To be a success in something you had better choose something you want to jump out of bed for. If you can show this excitement it means people want to be around you and engage.
I’m not nearly as outgoing as Jason, my passion comes across more as intensity and a deep need to understand. My introversion means I want to dig deep into the issues/problems/solutions by clients want and need. In the end it’s learning to speak your customer’s language show you care and have purpose for them.
The Worms story was great. How you can turn the ultimate embarrassment from interrupting Richard Branson not only into a learning experience but a marketing dream is great.
Again, I’m not sure I have that over the top approach to what I do. What I can do though, is something that no-one else is doing. Whether it’s really listening to my clients or saying no to building their website. Being the lone wolf in an overcrowded space will make you stand out too.
Going back to what was said earlier in Jason’s talk.. what you do can’t be about the money and glory, you need a higher purpose. In his words he worked is back-side off so his family can have everything he didn’t. This gave him real purpose in everything he set out to achieve.
I have a son, and every decision I make is with him in mind. Although, I think my introversion makes me define my reason a bit differently. My goal is connections. Deep meaningful connections that help. Each relationship I try to build, whether in business or personal, is based on me understanding that person/business/loved one better.
Again video games took front and centre. The concept of choosing one thing and being outstanding at it. There was a great contrasting story of how Atari failed because they overreached and missed being great at one thing while Sonic succeeded. Sonic’s team lived and breathed the hedgehog and ultimately created their own success.
I’ve been trying to re-focus on my one thing. I have over-arching ideas at the minute but choosing that 1 thing is difficult. This is where my extensive reading comes in handy. I read the book called “The One Thing” which is all about choosing the most important thing to work on right now to achieve you bigger goals. It all boils down to asking this one question… “What’s the ONE Thing you can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?” I love this.
Jason asked a very relevant question. If 10 was you performing your best where are you at now? With your business, family, friends, and partner. Probably no-where near a 10. Which is a great point. We should strive daily to improve this number, make our lives and the lives around us better.
This is exactly like what another great writer I follow says. James Altucher says part of his life philosophy is the 1% rule. Every day strive to improve 1% in your health, relationships, your learning, etc. It applies to everything.
It’s great to hear the journeys that successful people take and at the core, all of us humans are pretty darn similar. We want to create something in the world of value and build connections with people we care about.
Your path might take you through 20+ years of playing video games like Jason, or you may have an approach more like me.. meandering this way and that trying out everything to see what fits and sticks…
I don’t suspect I’m at the end of my story, this is only the 2nd or 3rd chapter.
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