We all have secrets. Mine is that I had never held a PlayStation controller until six months ago when I was visiting a friend. He was playing Until Dawn, an interactive drama survival horror adventure video game.
Being a long-time gamer, my friend was shocked that I had never played a video game in my life and took it upon himself to convert me.
Until that day, I had always thought of gaming as a pursuit of hour-wasting with a side dish of blood and gore. Little did I know.
Like a moth to a flame, I was instantly drawn to the virtual world of puzzles, decision-making, and strategies. My test-run ended up being a five-hour marathon where I was trying to escape a psychopath killer and survive until sunrise.
Two weeks later, I bought my first PlayStation and the rest is history.
From horror survival, action adventure, and shooter games to role playing, simulation, and strategy, the world of video games is so vast and rich. And, beyond its digital surface, there lie countless lessons for entrepreneurs who want to sharpen their leadership skills. Whether it’s Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox, or a Nintendo Wii, those game consoles hold within them some great secrets of success.
All for one and one for all
Co-op games such as World of Warcraft, Mortal Kombat and Call of Duty are just a few examples of strangers from all walks of life coming together to fight for a common cause while interacting with each other and the environment around them with a great sense of community and camaraderie.
During such games, you can learn a lot about teamwork and working in big teams. You will also find out what are the weaknesses and strengths of each player and will learn about prioritizing and delegation of tasks. All those are skills that you can take with you to the workplace.
Thinking outside the box
Video games come with different challenges, puzzles, and labyrinths. For gamers to survive or advance to the next level, they need to overcome obstacles of various types.
And more often that not, the best solution is not the obvious one and so gamers must think outside the box. From threat assessment to running a full-fledged SWOT analysis, gamers examine their surroundings, count their assets, study their rivals, evaluate their team’s strength, and then decide on the best way of action.
Losing doesn’t mean failing
Any gamer will tell you that the most rewarding feeling is to complete a conquest or advance a level after hundreds of attempts. Embracing loss and the ability to fail is paramount in the world of gaming as it is in the world of business. In order to get to the finish line, you must be determined, resilient, and keep your eyes on the prize. Instead of thinking of failure as an end, think of it as a fresh start, which will offer you the chance to make smarter, more informed decisions.
Blood, sweat, and tears
Hardcore gamers are much like entrepreneurs. They invest a lot of time, money, and energy into the games they play. They talk about them every chance they get. They are passionate about them and they are entirely committed to the “cause”. The biggest takeaway is to not forget to have fun. And remember, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”