6 Business Lessons from a 3-Year-Old Wii Player
Bridget of Biz Chicks Rule recently wrote a post, What I Learned About Business Strategizing By Watching My 3-Year Old Son Play Wii Tennis. And, it inspired me to take a look at a different way my own three-year-old play Wii (It’s amazing what 3-yr-olds are capable of now, huh?). I realised that I, too, have a few business tips from my son. And, my own business lessons from this include:
1. Start with what you love. Then, be GREAT at it. In my son’s case, he knew which game he wanted to play from the start: Bowling. Even if we tried to convince him to play something else, he kept playing bowling anyway. So, he played - and played… and played some more (whenever he’s allowed, of course). A few weeks later, he reached Pro status.
It’s the same approach I often recommend to people when they wish to start making money online: Start with what you love to do best. Figure out a way on how you can be good at it. Then, be the best you can possibly be in that field.
2. Specialise before you diversify. Only when my boy reached Pro status did he feel that he can venture in to the other games a bit more. He didn’t mind losing too much in things he didn’t know very well because he knew he was already great with something. When he felt let down with unfamiliar games, he went back to the ones that he was good at.
3. Learn to wait, watch and grow. Acknowledging that you don’t know something is okay. Go and find someone who knows how to get it done. Then, learn, learn learn… So you can apply, apply, apply. Although my boy took that Wii remote control the moment he saw it as if he was born with it (his fave game is bowling; already has a “Pro” status with it), he didn’t want to play the tennis game to begin with because he was convinced he didn’t know how to do it. So, he waited and watched others. Then, he asked for some help to begin with. And then he eventually learned to play it well. He seemed to approach all the other games that he wasn’t familiar with in a similar fashion. And now, he’s getting gold, silver and bronze medals.
In business, it’s always great to learn from experts… those with experience. Find out how other people are doing something. Then -
4. Always do things better. Not only did my three year old boy learned from others, he even got to the point where he became better than those who taught him.
So, after getting to know and studying your business competitors, go and do something more extraordinary.
5. Know that there are no shortcuts to success. My son knew that he can only get medals if he tried hard enough and paid attention to what needs to be done in different games. The good old advice, “Practice, practice, practice…” became his mantra.
There’s no such thing as a real get-rich-quick scheme. Not in online business or elsewhere. If you want to make money online, you gotta go and earn your medals too.
6. Breaks are always good. No one’s ever allowed to play Wii, watch TV, etc for too long.
No one’s allowed to keep working too long. Breaks are good. Relax, refresh, recharge…
Related Stories
POSTED IN: General: Making Money Stuff
9 opinions for 6 Business Lessons from a 3-Year-Old Wii Player
Bridget
Jan 17, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Hey Shai, this is a wonderful post. I’m just impressed at how this game has inspired us through our children. Today is my three year old’s birthday and I got him the Shrek 3 Wii game. I can’t wait to give it to him this afternoon! He’s going to be soo-oo excited (I think I’m more excited than he is!). If I get any inspirations from Shrek and his crew, I’ll let you know!
Work At Home No Scams
Jan 18, 2008 at 12:32 am
That was a great post! It’s amazing where inspiration will strike you. Who would’ve “thunk” that a video game would inspire such great insight. But everything you laid out is true and can be applied to any business.
Eddy Salomon
deep
Jan 18, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Shai,
Really, sometimes I wonder: are these real world scenarios or tightly themed Marketing Pitches.
Anyway doesn’t matter, Message is loud and clear. We tend to do many things at same time and then fails and then curse ourselves and wonder how other people are successful.
Definitely I didn’t learn a lot from this post just got a feeling like: “I know Shai, you are right but still I’ll try my luck in multiple fields, then I’ll wait and watch, which yields.”
Hmmm, though quite a Sticky Post. Forced me to think and write cause somewhere it Relates but…
Shai Coggins
Jan 18, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Bridget: Thank you! Wow. So, is your son turning 4 now? Looks like they’re about the same age too. ;-) Do tell me how you like the Shrek game. :-)
WAHNS/Eddy: Thanks. Glad you found it interesting/inspiring. :-)
deep: Hmmm… looks like this post made you think - even if you’re left thinking you didn’t learn a lot. If it made you re-consider your current online business strategy, then that’s a good thing in my book. ;-) If you’re wondering about whether the story about my boy are real life or not, I can assure you it’s true. On, “trying in multiple fields…” I think this is still possible with a bit of streamlining.
Little Guy Network
Jan 19, 2008 at 1:07 am
Thats really great tips, thanks for sharing.
Rudy
Jan 20, 2008 at 1:45 am
Shai, is your son closer to 36 months (3 years) or 48 months (4 years)? My 32 months old daughter still can’t play Wii tennis.
deep
Jan 20, 2008 at 2:16 am
Shai,
Just go thru this, if not already visited :
HOWTO: Be more productive
http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/productivity
Specially, “Have a bunch of them” section.
And Revert if you some time to spoil.
Shai Coggins
Jan 20, 2008 at 11:13 pm
LGN: You’re welcome. Glad you found it useful.
Rudy: My boy started playing Wii when he was about 40 months. I think this depends on the child’s interests as well. My boy was keen on the Wii because he was really in to bowling (even at 1 year!). So, the Wii, to him, was really one of the best things that ever happened. He progressed to the other games in a couple of months because the Wii actually encouraged him to love Sports in a big way (not just the video games, but the real ones).
deep: Thanks for the link, will have a dig around when I get the chance. :-)
Rudy
Jan 22, 2008 at 6:01 am
I got my daughter interested to play Wii baseball when we first got it last November. We haven’t played for a month now, so she might’ve lost interest already. She might surprise me, though. :-)
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: