Are Video Games a Waste of Time?
While listening to a podcast during my run this morning, I came across a question that I couldn't stop pondering. I've come to the conclusion that there's a lot to learn from playing video games.
Happy Sunday!
It's my Dad's birthday today 🎂 – so happy birthday to the best Dad in the world. I know he'll be reading this, so I better leave him a nice message 😅
I was listening to the Farnham Street podcast on my run earlier this morning, where Tobi Lütke (Founder and CEO of Shopify) was being interviewed by Shane Parish (founder of the FS blog).
Tobi made a very interesting point that lingered in my mind for most of the run. His point was that society (parents) generally see video games as nothing but a waste of time. While spending an equivalent amount of time playing board games like Chess is something parents generally believe to be more productive and positive to their child's development.
Tobi then went a step further and credits his success to playing video games. He argues that video games teaches him more about running a business than any business book he has ever read. His explained that video games teaches you a lot about strategy, allocation of resources, team work and decision making, which are all critical to running and operating a multi-billion dollar company.
When I think about myself, video games were very much a part of my early years. Shortly after being able to speak intelligibly I became very good at playing Donkey Kong on the Nintendo 64 (if you still remember what those were). I couldn't have been older than maybe 4 or 5 at the time, so my memory isn't perfect. But mum tells me all the time how adults used to love watching me play, as I was able to unlock levels far beyond their best efforts. It legit used to be an evening affair – and I did often feel the pressure to perform, even at that age!
Over time, in my mid to late teens, this then evolved into spending countless hours playing Fifa and Call of Duty. These are still a couple of the most popular video games out there on the market at the moment and there's certainly a lot of learnings about strategy, team work and decision making from playing these games.
But is Tobi exaggerating when he credits most of his success in business to video games? Possibly.
Are you a gamer? If you are, what are your favourite games to play? Let me know by hitting reply to this email!
Have an awesome week ahead,
Samuel
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Tweet of the Week
Despite being diagnosed with stage three cancer, Chadwick Boseman made; Black Panther, Civil War, Marshall, Infinity War, Endgame, 21 Bridges and Da 5 Bloods.
— 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐮𝐞𝐥 👀 (@SamuelObe_) August 29, 2020
Truly inspirational young man and has made a huge impact in his short time with us. Gone far too soon.
RIP brother 🙏
This Week's Wisdom
"We may be happy with little when we have come to expect little. And we may be miserable with much when we have been taught to expect everything."
– In the book Status Anxiety, by Alain De Botton
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