All I really need to know in life, I learned from video games.

As a child, my experience with video games taught me that creative survival skills, a sense of urgency, and healthy competition are essential to moving on to the higher levels, and eventually beating the game. I learned early on that:

• Most of the skills that help you gain speed and get ahead require a complex utilization of multiple buttons instead of the ones that meet the eye. If you want to sprint, tumble, or fly instead of walking at an average pace that will never save the princess, get to know the tools at hand, and start pressing those buttons creatively to use them to your advantage.

• Before you think that sprinting will help you reach the final flag, guess again. Most games will teach you that when facing the largest and most complex challenges (and by challenges, I mean monsters), you actually may need to use your wit and cleverness when your speed or size work against you. For example, to succeed, you often need to create an inversion and find a tunnel to the first available secret world.

• Lastly, one of the most valuable lessons I learned from video games is the importance of security. It is essential that you make sure to keep an eye out on how many lives you have left, and how many coins you need to collect before you make a bold and reckless move that may undo all of the work you’ve put in. It is essential to jump high and low to collect points to secure yourself, and take intelligent risks only when you are well prepared for the move.

We can all benefit from the lessons on life and business video games have to offer. If you aren’t like me (a true video game junkie at heart), then maybe you can find unconventional life lessons elsewhere. Keep your eyes open.

The most valuable teachings may be found in places you least expect them.

August 2013 Issue