Beyond the Obvious Path

Beyond the Obvious Path: What Video Games Taught Me About Success

Most people have their go-to activities when they need to unwind after a long day.

Some watch TV. Others go for a walk or hit the gym.

Me? I like to sit down and play a video game or two after a day of coding.

At first, it felt like a mindless activity to clear my head, but after a while, that familiar feeling would creep in... You know, the one where you feel like you should be doing something productive?

Here's the thing...

As a developer, I love solving problems.

And games? They're interactive puzzles waiting to be solved.

This tapped into a passion I'd always had: game development.

I spent weeks researching gaming frameworks and finally dove in.

After building a 2D game, I'm now working on a 3D project using the Godot engine.

What I love most about gaming?

It combines all my passions: art, problem-solving, and music.

The other day, I watched my wife playing simple mobile games that kept her engaged.

That got me curious about which games actually made money.

During my research, an experienced developer gave me some advice: "Start small. Build small projects you can finish instead of massive ones that drain your energy."

But here's where it gets interesting...

I discovered something in game design that applies to life.

In every good game, developers show you the goal but let you figure out how to get there.

Think about it...

You might look at a game puzzle and think the solution is obvious (Point A to Point B).

But then you realize the "obvious" answer isn't the right one.

In gaming, they call this vertical thinking — the tunnel vision approach.

It reminded me of shooting pool as a kid.

A good billiard player doesn't just look at the current shot.

They study the entire table and plan their next three or four shots.

That's lateral thinking — seeing the whole picture instead of just the next move.

I've always applied this to business and life.

Instead of focusing on what's in front of me, I look around the corner.

Not to overthink, but to avoid decisions that feel right today but cost me tomorrow.

Here's the difference though...

In games, you get unlimited chances.

You can reset and start over. But in life?

You don't always get that second, third, or fourth chance to get it right.

The stakes are high!

The bottom line is this...

It's funny how a simple hobby can shift your entire perspective.

Whether you're coding, building a business, or facing personal challenges — think laterally.

Study the whole table. Plan your sequence. See around the corners.

Because the most obvious path isn't always the right one.

Cheers!

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I don’t know exactly where you are on your journey, but I share words of encouragement, lessons learned, and ideas to help you grow your business.

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❤ Rudy

Thank you for taking the time to read today's TechPreneur Newsletter. I hope the information was helpful and inspiring. As always, I'm here to support you in your business journey, so please don't hesitate to reach out to me via all my links.  Keep striving for success!

Until next time!

~Rudy

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