Something I’ve been thinking about a lot recently is how to be successful long term in the game business but most of what I’m thinking of is applicable to anything. I’m writing this for myself as much as anyone else to ingrain these ideas in my mind. I’m not trying to shove an advice column down your throat as I’m not hyper successful (yet… ha!) and am hardly in a position to do so with any authority. A lot of this is straightforward common sense but losing sight of it is where it is easy to go wrong. This isn’t the right plan for everyone either, it is possible to become successful in many ways. Ok, disclaimers are out of the way. Let’s start.
Be good at your job
I’m the first to admit, this sounds stupid and obvious. Let’s file this in the “duh” category.
The point is, the easiest way to get recognition and respect of your peers to be good at what you do. Whatever that is, be excellent. In the game industry there are many people who I believe became the successes they are today largely through being good at their jobs. John Carmack and Tim Sweeney both possess excellent technical minds and built businesses around their abilities. Lets not ignore other people’s contributions on the games and technologies those two created but by being good in the first place, other people will want to work with you. Which leads us to…
Be a person other people want to meet
One man/woman businesses where the person is highly successful are rare. Nearly everything in this world requires human communication and cooperation to successfully accomplish. The lone t-shirt designer still needs t-shirt manufacturers and a place to sell them, etc. If you are someone other people want to meet, it will be significantly easier to find and create relationships with the people whom you can mutually benefit one another.
How do you accomplish this? There are many factors that go into this, I believe. The first of which was the first point – be good at your job. If I’m looking to outsource some 3D modeling work, who would I rather pick? The guy who makes awesome models or the mediocre guy who is just doing his job for the cash?
Being charismatic certainly helps significantly as well. Some people are born with natural charisma, others have to work at it. I think a lot of it has to do with being confident and genuinely interested in what other people are doing and think. Lets take John Romero in his ION Storm days. He worked on some high profile games, so I’m going go assume that he was good at what he did. He built a notorious persona through his bravado and smack-talk surrounding the Daikatana game. Anyone remember the “make you my bitch” ad campaign? If you are going to go all out like that you better be able to back it up. Unfortunately for John, it didn’t happen (I won’t presume to know why), but you can’t deny that a lot of people knew who he was and were interested in what he was doing. There are other examples of this “persona” type in well known game developers – how about Tomonobu Itagaki from Team Ninja. (His interviews are epic. Here’s a recent one.)
Another factor is just straight up having interesting hobbies. Most things can be interesting, honestly. If you can genuinely talk passionately about something it is an attractor. People are interested in others who can speak with strength and knowledge about subjects that they themselves may not have a whole lot of interest in. There are certain hobbies that are likely more interesting to the average game developer, so if you want to go Machiavelli picking those might help you get inroads even faster. I’ll leave figuring that out as an exercise for the reader. Note that I have seen people claim interest in things without having true interest. I felt that it didn’t seem that genuine but it can project a genuine image if pulled of right. That’s a little bit too much for me though.
Finally, look professional. This differs in different industries, for example in game development a suit is rarely necessary (but wearing one anyways can be striking!) but there is no excuse for looking like a slob. As much as I like fashion and clothes this is hard for me to do on a daily basis still. It’s a lot easier to slap on jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers then it is to put a little more effort into your wardrobe. Especially when you are sleepy in the morning. I believe it is worth it though and it is something I am working on.
Network
As discussed previously, you’re going to need a good network of business associates to really make it in most businesses. These could be business partners in your own small business or someone you met at a seminar that recommends you for a job at the company of your dreams.
If you are shy, basically my advice is to figure out why that is and get over it. Obviously that is a gross oversimplification but I can’t help in that area. What I do know is that confident and relaxed people are more successful because they can communicate more clearly.
I personally feel I could be much stronger in this area but the key is to make the effort. It has to be mutual though, no one wants to network with people where the relationship is 100% one sided. You need to be able to offer something to them as well. See points 1 and 2.
Develop your good points, don’t bother trying to fix weak points
Be honest with yourself. You know what you are good at and what you aren’t. In your professional career, focus on the good and avoid situations where you are forced to use the bad. It will only make you look better. Plus, you’ll be getting better at the skills you possess that are already valuable.
This goes for people who would rather work for someone else as well as for those who want to start their own business. If you are an amazing technical mind but suck at communicating with people and want to start a company then partner up with someone who can handle the business and communication.
Have “balls”
This is nebulous but important. You can’t always be afraid to try to do something or make a risky decision. This doesn’t mean be stupid; first analyze whatever situation you are considering with all the brain power you can muster. But when you see an opportunity, jump on it.
