A video game is a fantastic analogy for life. Anything in life that’s worth doing carries risk, you cannot eliminate it. I play games to relax; when I was younger the uncertainty of how a game was going to turn out intimidated me and stressed me out. I pushed myself to sit through the “long way around” instead of recognizing the resources at my disposal and utilizing them appropriately.

If you’ve seen my YouTube channel you know that I’m a big video gamer. I particularly love RPGs and love the Final Fantasy series; I’ve played a lot of Final Fantasy X (I’ve posted a recent video of the Chocobo Race – <0.0 second time achievement🔗, if you’re interested). When I was a kid, it would take me forever to beat because I’m a completionist, but I also wasn’t good at implementing strategy or going into battles I wasn’t prepared for. My idea of being prepared was being able to completely dominate in that fight with little to no impact on my resources or my character’s health. I’d end the game with full inventory of every item, having used none of them. In short, it was perfectionism to a fault.

As I’ve gotten older I think back to those times: I spent hundreds of hours running my characters through “one-hit” battles playing with one hand while I read a book or ate with the other, and being bored and anxious to switch tasks, doing something that I didn’t necessarily need to do for the sake of reducing risk and resource use. And let’s keep in mind, obviously videogames aren’t real; unless you’re creating professional monetized gaming content, how you play doesn’t affect your real life at all – other than providing entertainment. My approach cost me real time and energy, and I wasn’t utilizing the resources given to me at all, let alone efficiently.

As I’ve gotten older, I recognize the value of diving into risk scenarios in order to gain the benefit instead of spending excess time on preparation. Barry Boehm’s Cost of Change model describes the point at which planning becomes costly. Planning/preparation can cost time, rest, stress, profit etc.. I learned to embrace strategy, assess the scenario and recognize my assets.

Sometimes I realize I’m unprepared, then go back to preparation and try again. Sometimes, the thing I was scared of as a kid happens, and doors become closed to me, or permanent damage is done, but that doesn’t mean that’s the end. There are an infinite number of ways to go through life and to reach your goals. It’s important to note as well that when we avoid risk and using the skills required to navigate it, we lose out on growth.

I’ve grown a lot, as a gamer, a person, and a professional. The patience and persistence that I cultivated in those early years is as strong as ever, but now I combine those skills with strategic approach and a willingness to be uncomfortable and continue grow in all of the roles I take on in life. I look forward to tackling bigger challenges in both the real and virtual worlds.