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LESSON #47:
WISDOM

January, 2005

NOTE: some of the sayings in this article are unattributed. If you know who first said one of the unattributed sayings, please let me know on the Game Design Q&A Bulletin Board.

If you don't feel like reading everything (not that it would take very long - and the whole thing is full of gems!) you can click to jump to the topic of your choice. Some sayings apply to multiple topics, though - and I had to pick just one topic to put a saying in (so as to avoid repetition and getting repetitious so you wouldn't have to read the same thing more than once).

Advice
On Dumb Questions
My Philosophy For This Website
On Character
On Fear
On Choices
On Education
On Life
On Work
On Planning

ADVICE

It's important to understand what Campbell means by "bliss."
"Bliss" does not mean "getting high" or "playing video games all day."
He's talking about creative endeavors - occupations - (work) - that you feel passionate about. See also the quotes by Dean Kamen and Samuel Butler, elsewhere on this page.

Polonius' advice to his son, Laertes, is a good guide for many things in life.
And it goes well with Joseph Campbell's advice, too.
Don't ask someone else what your bliss should be - that's for you to decide.

Hawthorne wasn't saying "you don't have to try," he wasn't saying "everything you desire will come to you if you do nothing," but rather this: It often happens that the thing you desire will come to you... if you are in the right place at the right time and you are not pushing it too hard.

There is no "one size fits all" route for a game industry aspirant to take that will lead him to his dream job. He has to blaze his own. And his passions shall guide him on his way.

The above three sayings all mean exactly the same thing. Perseverance is important. Despite the diffugleties life throws our way, we should never give up on our hopes for a blissful life.

Perseverance alone is not enough. You also need to get creative, blaze new trails. When you can't take the straight or obvious route, find or make a new route to where you want to go.

The reason I included the above is that I see a lot of wannabes (folks who want to make their game ideas come to fruition) who don't want to accept the wise advice to get an education, followed by a job in the game industry. Someone who tries to create a game company without bothering to obtain any education or professional experience or professional contacts is like that guy who acts as his own lawyer. He's going to learn a lot... the hard way. And have you seen that commercial where the guy is on the phone with the surgeon, who's telling him how to start cutting into his own chest? The guy says to the doc, "Shouldn't you be doing this?" When an expert in the field gives you advice, you really outta seriously consider listening to it.

The above is my standard reply when someone only asks me, "do you have any advice for me?"

A lot of young game biz hopefuls are so intent on asking a myriad of questions that they don't seem to absorb the answers given. I don't know how many times I've heard Dr. Laura say to a caller, "I gave you your answer. Now you're just going on as though I never said a word."

They say rules are meant to be broken. And there is some modicum of truth in that. But if you try to break all the rules, or break them in the wrong way, success probably will be beyond your grasp. There's lots more quotes about "rules" herein. (See, I broke a grammar rule there. Ain't it effective for its quaintness?)

On DUMB QUESTIONS

Many questions are easily answered by means of a Google search. OK, so you can use any search engine you prefer, if Google isn't your fave. I'm here to answer specific types of questions, and to give specific types of advice. There's a broad range of questions that would be better asked of Google or Jeeves - or Madame Mystico and her crystal ball (or Tarot cards, or palm readings). I don't own a crystal ball myself, and the Tarot readings I might perform would be more for amusement than life guidance. I'm not as good a friend as Google is, depending on what you're trying to find out.

The above is the most frequent answer to any question asked by someone who thinks there's a simple answer - a one-size-fits-all answer - to whatever thing he's wondering about. Life just hardly ain't ever that simple. A question must be accompanied by information about the asker's situation, the asker's preconceived notions, and the asker's desired end result.

The above is my stock answer when someone begins a question with, "Is it possible to...?" I don't believe this sort of question is useful. It's more useful to discuss realistic courses of action than whether or not something is possible. Just ask your real question. What is it you're really trying to find out?

I hope that the above are self-explanatory...?

The answer to any question that begins, "What are the chances that..."

This is the wise and patient response to the over-inquisitive wannabe who goes on and on: "...and I draw, and I code, and I design, are those good traits to have?"
I mean, duh! If I say those aren't good traits, are you going to try to get rid of them? If I say they are good traits, are you going to run right down to the local game company and apply for a job, without bothering to get an education or try doing stuff on your own like I discussed in Lesson 12?? Sheesh!

The above is from Lesson 24, "Stupid Wannabe Tricks." Young folks (high school to early college) don't have much experience with the workaday world. Such folks often form an idealized mental image of what the game industry must be like, and interesting dumb questions sometimes come out of that.

MY PHILOSOPHY FOR THIS WEBSITE

The above is the main reason why my responses sometimes seem like "tough love." I want the users of this site to turn on their brains, to learn to fish on their own. But I can't resist quoting the "reverse wisdom" version of this saying... Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he'll sit in a boat drinking beer all day." (^_^)

Accept criticism in the spirit in which it's given - don't complain about it!

Couldn't've said it better myself!

Hear, hear! (^_^) Yes, I don't have any FAQs for artists. Je ne suis pas un artiste! What do you expect from me?? Ahem. Sorry about that. Rant over.

She was speaking specifically on the "Gates" project she did with her husband Christo in New York City's Central Park, but this is the point I try to make to folks who come here looking for a way to sell their ideas. I always tell them, "you're thinking one idea - I'm thinking career." I always say "that's great that you have a wonderful idea," so that I don't sound like I'm just a negative thinker trying to naysay the value of ideas. But Jeanne-Claude is right - it IS easy to get an idea. Which is exactly why people don't give out money for them. You have to work, establish yourself, and work hard to sell it - then work hard to make it happen. Christo and Jeanne-Claude didn't just get the idea and then get New York to pay to do their idea. They worked really hard to make the Gates project a reality - and they spent their own hard-earned money to do it. So that's great that you have an idea. Now start working on it. Read the FAQs on this website, follow the links, read more stuff. And when you get tired of reading, figure out how to do it, then roll up your sleeves and get to work.

This expresses very well my philosophy about following your passions.

People sometimes ask me why I set up this site. I guess it's my way of giving something back after 25 years in the industry. Or maybe, instead, paying forward. Ms. Hyde's novel became a movie and now it's a foundation. Go to http://www.payitforwardfoundation.org/home.html.

After I give my advice, I'm done. But I do wish I'd learned this wise saying sooner...

The above plays on the wording from Toaplan's "Zero Wing" video game for Sega Genesis, and uses the exact same philosophy stated by Dr. Laura above.
This is a public advice forum. If you email me to seek my advice, you'll get it. And it won't cost you anything. But unless it's a genuine business query in the usual and proper sense, your advice will be given on the bulletin board. You can't email me an advice request and then ask me to email it to you and not put it on the bulletin board! It's like the lady who called Dr. Laura on her radio show and asked (on the air) for Dr. Laura to take their call off the air (and give her free private advice while all the radio audience was supposed to listen to what, elevator music??) - that ain't the way these public advice things work.
I'm not impressed by legal confidentiality disclaimers that some folks append to every email they send. I've already got my own legal disclaimers, plastered all over this website. It's like the Vogons said to the people of Earth before demolishing the planet to build a hyperspatial express route:

"There's no point in acting all surprised about it. All the planning charts and demolition orders have been on display in your local planning department in Alpha Centauri for fifty of your Earth years, so you've had plenty of time to lodge any formal complaint and it's far too late to start making a fuss about it now." - Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

If you want my confidential advice, say so when you email me. And be prepared to pay a consulting fee (that's business for ya).

I'm not here to make you feel good, to tell you how creative you are, to reassure. Young people get reassurance from their friends. Even younger folks get reassurance from parents or sometimes from teachers. Don't send me your game designs. Don't send me your résumés. Don't ask me to visit your website and give you strokes. Get reassurance from the people who are close to you - that isn't what I'm here for. If you're looking for "warm and fuzzies," this is the wrong place. I'm only here to give realistic advice, not feelgood meds.

I've put a lot of hard work and good intentions into this site. But I still get a lot of angry emails, and prank posts and even prank phone calls. Go figure. Just one last thought while we're on this subject...

On CHARACTER

I used to whine a lot when I was young. I still whine once in a great while, but as soon as I catch myself whining, I shut up. Because it's not a sign of good character. You mustn't be more whiny than everybody else. And you should be properly supportive and commiserating when somebody else whines (it wouldn't do to be too much less whiny than everybody else you work with). Just the right level of whininess is required. And try not to whine in earshot of your boss. Lodging a complaint or offering a suggestion for a way to improve something, now, that's an entirely different thing from whining. But I'd better shut up now... I'm becoming a noisy cartwheel.

You don't have to be the Shogun of all Japan to benefit from the wisdom of this. Any whiner need only remember this wise saying.

I've said many times that it's futile to whine about the way things are. You don't like the way the world works? Work to change it. That would take character. Whining is one of the hallmarks of poor character.

If you foolishly ignore the good things you can get, and only pine for what you can't get, you will have an unhappy life. Be grateful for the things life does give you...

Got something to whine about? Forget the whining -- get off yer butt and do something about it.

I hear constantly from wannabes who insist they're too smart, too talented, too educated, to take a job in any kind of game biz "grunt" role. Rather than whine about the part you've been given, work harder so you can earn a bigger part. Play the game better, as Randy Pausch said above.

If everybody was remarkable, then how would anybody ever stand out from that crowd?

More "reverse wisdom." The point: we are a society of instant gratification seekers. That is going to be our downfall.

Some young folks come to me and express extreme impatience for the time it takes to get a degree, for the time it takes to develop a portfolio, for the time it takes to get hired. It does take time. Patience, Grasshopper!

Ya gotta keep trying. Then when that doesn't work, you gotta just try some more.

The above works equally well for any game. Plug in "poker" instead of "mah-jongg." Or plug in "chess," or "golf," or even "Monopoly" or "GTA San Andreas." Play any game with someone and you will learn much about that person's character. Plato said it first...

Thanks to Scott B for submitting this one! I'll bet you didn't know that games had the power to reveal the player's character, did you? Games are more powerful than you think.

Lance said the above in some TV commercial. It isn't MY problem that I don't remember what the commercial was selling!

Wanna get into the game biz? Then the time has come to choose between what you need to do... and what is easy to do.

Pining for something isn't enough. You have to make a plan, and take action. A realistic and wise plan. Realistic and wise action.

When I quoted "Wishing doesn't make it so," I did not mean to quash all hope. By all means, we should have hopes. We should make plans, take action, and not let the bad stuff get us down.

If your character is flawed, if you've been indulging in weak behavior, you can change. It won't be easy, it won't happen right away, but you have to start somewhere. And you can start right now.

On FEAR

The above three sayings all make the same point. It's normal to fear something (like the possible consequences of an action we plan to take). But if we let our fears control our actions, we are stymied - we make no progress. Better to be afraid of the consequences of never doing anything brave. Conquer your fears; take control; do something with your life.

This is the antidote to Stupid Wannabe Trick #16. Some folks prefer to talk about how to get into the biz, rather than actually getting out there and doing stuff. Possibly out of laziness, and possibly out of fear. What was that sneaker ad - "just do it."

I like the fact that the above saying makes fun of fear. Be fearful of having fears. Be paranoid about paranoia! Like FDR said.

Okay, so I wrote this just now. It irks me when people (out of fear and paranoia) use fake names or phony monikers when going out on the internet and seeking advice or information. Forget the Lone Ranger - the writers of his stories never gave a really good reason for him to wear a mask, and they glossed over the real-life difficulties a masked man would have in everyday life. Want me to help you? Don't wear a mask. Come to me openly and honestly, without disguise or pretense, and ask me what it is you want to know. If you don't want me to use your real name and/or email address when I respond on the bulletin board, just say so! Is that so difficult?

Even Elvis Presley said it - to live life with constant fear and paranoia is no way to live. Get over your fears and paranoia, and LIVE!

On CHOICES

(Two stanzas omitted for brevity)

The point of the above? Don't whine and agonize. Make a plan and take action.

Dr. Laura's point should be obvious, but let me belabor it anyway. You must choose your battles wisely. Remember the serenity prayer. Accept the things you can accept, and fight for the things your character requires you to fight for. But be mindful that there are likely to be consequences, and be prepared to deal with them.

If you're faced with a dilemma, consider all your possible courses of action. Decide what's important or right. Once your mind is clear on what's important to accomplish or right to do, your way should be clear.

This classic bit of "reverse wisdom" ignores the fact that we have the choice of other alternatives. If we let ourself be guided by our fears and hopes, we let inaction become a way of life. Can't have your heart's desire? Better to accept and move on than to fool yourself.

The alternative is to stay in bed (stymied by your fears, or by your laziness). Make a choice to get up and face the day. Deal.

On EDUCATION

The meaning of the above - you need an education.

The reason education is so important. If you're going to swim with sharks, you need to know as much as you can about sharks' physiology, biology, psychology, social structure... and especially their feeding habits. (And maybe even how best to cook them.)

On LIFE

Some young folks come to me and ask, "if I do this or if I do that, will I get a job in the game industry?" And I can only answer, "my crystal ball is at the repair shop today. Just continue to get your education, and follow your passions."

The best reason I've ever heard for not living your life in Fantasy Land.

The above is my stock reply when a wannabe complains to me, "but I can't afford college," or "but I'm way beyond college age now, and I've got experience in a different field." I wrote my advice to fit the usual situation. If you're outside the widest part of the bell curve, you have to find different solutions than the normal ones. I wasn't able to take every possible life situation into consideration in writing my articles. And maybe it just isn't in the cards for you to get into the game industry. That doesn't mean you can't find alternate ways to follow your passions. And I may not be able to give you a magic answer (like Dr. Laura said).

What's true in games is often true in life.

It's also said, "you make your own luck." Get out of bed. Smell the bacon. Go make some luck for yourself.

By all means, wish on stars, carry a rabbit's foot, throw horseshoes over your shoulder... Oh wait, I think I'm mixing good luck superstitions with practices that'll get you sued for grievous bodily injury. You can hope for luck - but you can't base your life planning on becoming lucky rather than taking action to achieve your desires.

I was thinking to put this into the section on Planning, but it works here too.

It is rare, yes. That doesn't mean you can't have hopes. Just be realistic, make a plan, and follow your passions. Like Joseph Campbell said, if you follow this advice, you are likely to find yourself on an interesting path through life.

It's true that you can break the occasional rule, and still make a breakthrough hit game by doing so. But beware - the saying "every rule is meant to be broken" is an attractive trap. A novice, hearing the saying for the first time, may think it's a license to proceed without regard for "rules." Rule-breaking can be a bad habit. And habits are definitely made to be broken. If you can make a hit game without having to break any rules, then you've really got something. And that something is probably called "skill" or "talent."

On WORK

Although this quote is about team sports, it's very much applicable to work in a team environment (which is exactly what the game industry is).

Dumbledore was referring to the magical mirror of Erised, in which Harry could see his parents. He could easily have spent all his time in front of that mirror, wasting away his life, dreaming the impossible dream. Some dreamers live in their dreams, "preferring illusion to despair." And that's no way to live...

By all means, dream your dreams. But you need to act upon your dreams as well. Dr. Seuss put his own spin on this idea...

It's amazing that such a profound thought comes from a children's book. In case its applicability to the game biz is unclear, let me hammer it in.
If you want to get a job that's very desirable,
There just ain't no easy way to go about it.
Be prepared to work hard to get what you want.
But that ain't so bad, as Dean Kamen said in another quote somewhere around here. (Haven't seen it yet? Keep reading. Don't find it? Just search the page for "Dean Kamen.")

You've probably heard, "I work to live; I don't live to work." Well, that's "reverse wisdom." The best way to enjoy a work-filled life is to pursue work that you enjoy. That's exactly what Dean Kamen and Joseph Campbell were talking about.

You better handle yo bidnass, or yo bidnass gonna handle you. Please believe it.

Rapper Bull Hefner
I met Bull (not his real name, and I couldn't find anything on this name for a rapper via both Google and Yahoo) on an airplane heading to Austin in December 2005, where he was going to open for big stars at a concert. This is the advice he gives young aspiring rappers who think a street attitude will see them through life in the music biz. Bull told me a story about how he'd once ruined his own shot at an album because he'd gone over the line with the wrong music producer. His quote has two meanings.
1) Street attitude is fine on the stage and on the street, but it's a business, and you have to be businesslike when you're around the biz people.
2) When there's business to be done, you're the guy who has to do it. If you don't take care of your duties and pay your bills, bad things are gonna happen.

If something's hard to do, it's not worth doing.

Homer Simpson (Spinal Tap episode)
Another wonderful bit of "reverse wisdom" from the Simpsons. Whenever Homer gives Bart advice, you know you'd probably be better off believing exactly the opposite. The real wisdom is, of course, "Anything worth doing is hard to do." It's often true that the hard way to do something usually turns out to be better than the easy way.

The flogging will continue until morale improves.

Unknown
"Reverse wisdom." If you become a producer someday, or a team leader, just remember that you can get more flies with honey, but moose and cows like salt, and chocolate is bad for dogs. Flattery will get you everywhere, don't beat a dead horse, he's dead, Jim.

If circumstances hold you back, always seek another way to achieve your goals.

Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo may not have actually written words exactly like this - but as was portrayed in a documentary, this is one of the many "codes" by which Da Vinci lived his life.

Employees within a hierarchical organization advance to their highest level of competence, then get promoted to a level where they are incompetent, and remain in that position.

The Peter Principle (Laurence J. Peter, 1919-1990)

Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.

Parkinson's Law (Prof. Cyril Northcote Parkinson)

We always hear "Life is short, play hard." But what about "Life is short, work hard"?

Dean Kamen (inventor of the Segway Personal Transporter), UpClose, ABC, 2002
It may come as a shock to some aspiring game designers to hear that the making of games involves work. Especially those aspirants who think that "work" is a dirty word. Well, it isn't. For those of us who are passionate about what we do, work is play. If this is a foreign concept to you, you would do well to rethink your preconceived notions about work.

Work and play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions.

Mark Twain
Especially true for game design - designing games is the best game!

The Second Golden Rule: He who has the gold makes the rules.

Unknown
A game designer is just an employee in a professional situation. When you're being paid to design a game, you have to design it the way the employer (or client) wants. You can either suck it up and be professional, or you won't be getting paid. Those are your only two choices. It doesn't matter who is right - what matters is who is writing the checks.

It's so easy to condemn, so hard to create.

Homer Simpson
I never heard the saying before I heard it on The Simpsons, but I immediately recognized its application for game designers. When you pitch an idea, ten people (mostly executives and marketing types) will raise reasons why it'll never succeed. But they couldn't come up with an idea that would work to save their lives! A game designer has to be able to anticipate these objections and either change the idea accordingly, or come up with arguments against the naysaying. (Note: the latter rarely works.)




On PLANNING

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.

John Lennon

Man plans and God laughs.

Yiddish proverb

The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry.

Poet Robert Burns (Slightly reworded to suit modern ears.)
All the above make the same point. Life is unpredictable. But don't let that stymie you from making a plan...

Sometimes the vagaries of life's twists and turns could be nudged in the right direction if you knew what your eventual goal was.

Dale Furutani, Kill the Shogun

You gotta have a plan, or you're just clowning around.

Dr. Phil McGraw

You can't predict. You can prepare.

MassMutual slogan

Endeavor for the best, plan for the worst.

Unknown

The plan is nothing. Planning is everything.

Dwight D. Eisenhower
The act of planning is powerful preparation. It's like exercising a muscle. By dint of having gotten good at planning, you become good at dealing with the unplanned events life will throw your way.

Adapt, improvise, overcome.

Lee Marvin as Major Reisman, The Dirty Dozen

Even generals plan huge conquests from little tents.

Unknown
It doesn't matter if you're just a Street Corner Joe. You have it within you to accomplish great things. Learn. Plan. Prepare. Execute. Adapt. Improvise. Conquer.

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