5 Professional Lessons Learned from Tetris

5 Professional Lessons Learned from Tetris:

My wife and I were having a conversation over the weekend about my love (and her dislike) of puzzle games that require quick decision making and quick hands. Over morning coffee, I realized how metaphorical these games are—so here’s how I see Tetris has played a role in my professional development.

5. It’s going to get messy: the quicker you realize that all the pieces aren’t always going to fit together every time, the more calm you’ll stay when things start to stray from the original plan.

4. It’s going to move faster: the better you do on the slower levels, the quicker the pace will become. Your career will do the same, as you master some aspects, others will come at you with more speed and ferocity. Be prepared for that.

3. Keep one eye on what’s next: while it’s important to play the piece that is in play, there’s a reason it shows you what’s coming next, so you can plan with the next step in mind.

2. It’s okay to make mistakes: mistakes are part of the game, know that going in and do your best to fix them quickly. If you let them compound, that’s when you’re in big trouble.

1. Don’t wait for the silver bullet: We all used to play the game waiting for that big straight long piece…but if your whole strategy is to wait for something you have no control over, you’re going to be waiting a very long time. Don’t wait for “some day”—work with what you have today, your stress levels will thank you.

What lessons have you gained from puzzles or games that have helped you? Leave a comment below.

Dr. Nicholas Linde is the Assistant Vice President of the University of Nebraska Foundation and Adjunct Faculty at the Andres School of Education at Upper Iowa University

Other posts by Nicholas: Best Advice: Be a Nerd, In Life and Work: Point to the Passer, 3 Reasons to Hire from the Farm,