Dec 30, 20244 min read

Power-Up Your Life

Valuable Lessons on Growth from Gaming with My Daughter

It's refreshing and makes me proud when she plays video games without me playing for her.

"Growth happens in the balance of challenge and guidance—where tough lessons build resilience, and mentorship lights the way forward."

The Stage

The holiday season is a magical time, isn’t it? It’s when we find ourselves with a little more downtime, a chance to reconnect with loved ones, and the perfect excuse to indulge in festive sales. This year, with my 4-year-old daughter on school break, I decided to spend some quality time with her while diving into some games.

Like many of us during the holiday sale season, I couldn’t resist grabbing a few discounted games. I picked up My Universe: Puppies and Kittens and Pet Clinic Cats and Dogs for her, and to say she loved them would be an understatement. These games let her care for adorable virtual pets while navigating simple mechanics like rhythm mini-games and quick-time events. It was heartwarming to see how quickly she adapted to the game’s mechanics, problem-solving her way through like a seasoned player.

But as I watched her, I realized something profound—not just about her growth but about how we, as artists and professionals, grow in our respective fields.

The Problem of Growth Without Guidance

Before my daughter started playing kid-friendly games, I’d let her try her hand at more challenging ones—like Elden Ring and Persona 5. Now, I know what you’re thinking—why would anyone hand a 4-year-old a controller to play games infamous for their difficulty? I had my reasons.

At first, she struggled immensely. The controls were overwhelming, the mechanics confusing, and the objectives almost impossible for someone her age. But it taught her an important lesson—how to face something daunting head-on. Of course, I didn’t expect her to master these games, but I wanted her to understand that growth often comes from tackling challenges bigger than ourselves.

This isn’t so different from how we face the creative industry as beginners, is it?

For many of us artists, entering the creative field is like jumping into a boss fight without any prior training. We’re handed tough assignments, high client expectations, and a steep learning curve with no cheat codes.

At times, it feels like we’re set up to fail, navigating the chaos of tight deadlines, client revisions, and high competition.

As a result, beginners often burn out. They lose confidence, and without the right guidance or resources, many leave the industry before realizing their potential. It’s a sobering reality.

Training Grounds for Creative Growth

Watching my daughter transition from Elden Ring to pet-care games taught me a valuable lesson: growth happens when we balance challenge with guidance. If I had simply thrown her into the deep end without support or given her only easy tasks, she wouldn’t have experienced meaningful growth.

As artists, we need to remember this principle—both for ourselves and for those we mentor:

Tackle Big Challenges Early On: Like jumping into a tough game without preparation, being thrown into challenging projects can teach us to adapt and innovate. Early struggles may feel frustrating, but they build the resilience we need to succeed in the long run.
Create a Safe Environment for Beginners: Beginners need their own "training grounds" to practice and fail without fear of judgment. Just as my daughter thrived in games designed for her age after tackling harder ones, new artists benefit from structured tasks before diving into demanding projects.
Mentorship and Community Matter: Growth accelerates when someone shows us the ropes. Be the mentor who shares your experience, tools, and guidance with those who are just starting.

For my daughter, balancing challenging games with age-appropriate ones allowed her to learn mechanics and strategies that eventually made the games feel manageable. In the same way, providing a mix of tough projects and approachable ones can help creatives build confidence and skills at their own pace.

Why Teaching Matters in the Creative Industry

As a professional in the creative space, I’ve faced my fair share of struggles, from grappling with advanced tools to meeting client demands. But those struggles shaped me into the artist I am today. It’s why I feel a strong responsibility to give back—to mentor, guide, and create resources that help newcomers navigate the industry with more clarity and support than I had.

At the end of the day, it’s about fostering a mindset of continuous growth. Whether it’s a kid navigating a game or a budding artist learning the ropes, the lesson is the same: with the right mix of challenge, guidance, and practice, we can achieve more than we ever thought possible.

So, this holiday season, as I sit down with my daughter to play more games and watch her grow in her little way, I’m reminded of why I do what I do. It’s not just about creating—it’s about inspiring others to create, to grow, and to thrive in a world that constantly pushes us to level up.

Tips for Artists and Creatives:

Don’t shy away from tough projects—they’ll shape you.
Balance challenges with "easier wins" to keep momentum going.
Be open to sharing your knowledge and mentoring others; the creative industry thrives on collaboration and support.

Let’s make 2024 the year we tackle challenges head-on while fostering a community that lifts each other.

What was the toughest challenge you faced as a creative, and how did it shape you? Let’s talk about it in the comments below.

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