Sharing Our Stories
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During a Gamification Conversation, I helped a startup founder create a framework of rules, rewards, and accountability for the area of his work that gave him the most resistance. This framework made him visibly excited - he was glad to have a lighter perspective on the work that was so heavy to him that he frequently avoided it. Towards the end of our conversation he asked why I was doing this. What's important to me about this offering? I feel most fulfilled when I give something that someone wants to receive. When I give something but the recipient doesn't want it, or when something is asked of me but I am not capable of giving it, that shows me that something's not right. My task at that moment of awareness is to do something different to move closer to an aligned state of giving. The Gamification Conversation was effortless for me because I could see how the founder's story about what he resists is like the bird that falsely believes it is trapped. By sharing the full context of his situation - the relevant beliefs and constraints which define his narrative of being stuck - he was able to redefine the meaning of the work he was avoiding, and thereby make it more approachable. This is why collaboration is so good: one person's impossible obstacle is another person's low hurdle. When we share our stories about what we're struggling with, we can show each other alternate ways forward. It's vulnerable, but rewarding to reveal where we are giving into stories about fear or lack or resistance. Our blindspots and quirks and imperfections make us human, and there's a joy in being seen in our unique messiness. I was glad to help the startup founder shift from a narrative of fear to a narrative of empowerment, and I would be glad to help you gamify something in your life that matters to you. By setting up rules and rewards for your task, you can have a lighter and more playful approach that helps you view the work with joy rather than dread. Schedule a 60 minute Gamification Conversation if something in this newsletter has resonated with you. |
@strangestloop
My theme for 2026 is grow. I've chosen the verb form over the noun form, growth, as a reminder to myself that growing as a person is the result of actions and decisions, it's an active process. May I grow with everything I pursue next year. Some values that sit underneath this theme for me are service and reciprocity. The more I grow, the bigger I am, the greater capacity I have, the more I can give to others. The rhythm of giving and receiving is meaningful to me, and I can better...
Baba Is You is a puzzle game where word order matters. Rules can be changed - and usually must be changed - in order to win a level. Here's an example that shows the importance of word order: Baba Is You, Wall Is Stop The level's initial ruleset gives it standard puzzle game rules: You are the character (Baba), the win area is over there, obstacles are in the way. However, we can manipulate the Wall Is Stop rule by breaking the sequence of words, so that the walls no longer stop the...
Everything good in life is the result of collaboration. Art is created and experienced. Products are bought and sold. Ideas are given and received. Therefore it is wise to hold a conscious intention to maximize your chances to meet your collaborators. You meet your collaborators by introducing yourself. This can happen on a walk at the park, in line for the bathroom, by posting that interesting idea online. Once you give someone something to engage with, you both get to look for similarities...