Innovation in the Gaming Industry

Today, many are looking at competitive gaming in a new light. eSports, better know as electronic sports, is becoming a movement that is impacting not only the gaming industry, but also the entertainment industry as a whole. With the use of modern technology that gives its users easy access to a global fan base, eSports are now showing every potential of becoming an industry of its own. One may ask, why do people consider eSports as sports and how is it impacting the entertainment industry today? If this is something that interests you, I suggest that you continue reading to learn more about an industry with unlimited potential!

What are eSports?

Sundance DiGiovanni, co-founder and CEO of Major League Gaming (MLG), defines eSports as “competitive video games presented in the same way that you present competitive sports.” Similar to mainstream sports, players are drafted onto a team to play head to head against their opponents on a digital platform in front of a live audience. Although the physical attendance at a gaming event does not resemble the likeness of a sold out football stadium, eSports is able to generate over 35 million viewers per month through the Twitch online streaming platform. So what does this say about eSports? It is HUGE! Because of this, eSports has been able to attract the attention of sponsors and generate income by providing an alternative solution to advertising. Taking all of this into consideration, it is safe to say that competitive gaming is on its way to becoming a multibillion dollar industry!

Government Impact

As foreign participants in the eSports movement are growing exponentially, visa issues often arise. A recent dilemma occurred with a Canadian gamer who was unable to attain a visa to live in the United States as a professional gamer. With the support of the company Riot Games, they were able to convince the U.S. government to "officially recognize some professional gamers as ‘professionalathletes’." This allowed the Canadian gamer to attain a visa that is in likeness to what is given to professional athletes in mainstream sports organizations. With a P1 visa, he could now live in the US for up to 5 years with the potential of extending his stay for another 5 years. Sounds good right?

What does this mean for the future of eSports?

If you are not already on board with the eSports movement, now may be the best time to hop on the bandwagon. Many are still unaware of this movement, as it is still in the beginning phases. I project that within the next 5 years, eSports will become as popular as baseball. In the next 7 to 10 years, it could be as big as soccer. This is an opportunity that you shouldn’t miss out on. Who knows, competitive gaming may become the worlds most rewarding industry. The question is, will you be on board when this ship sails?

To learn about what industry professionals think about competitive gaming today, watch the video below!

Overcoming the Fear of Failure

Whether you are a product manager, an artist, or even a business owner, “Fear of failure” can stimulate one’s doubts and also limit one’s creativity in a workplace environment. Below, I will address 3 subcategories of “fear of failure” and provide my insight on how to overcome these subcategories to create progression in a professional career.

Fear of Being Judged

The fear of being judged is very common in a workplace environment. This particular emotion is based on earning the respect of others and has little relevance to the progression of one’s career. Often, we find ourselves wanting to belong to a group of like-minded individuals who all wish to accomplish a common task. Of course, maintaining a working relationship is essential in the professional world, but why limit yourself due to the fear of the judgments of others? Remember, business is business. Those who work to prevent you from accomplishing your goals are working for the wrong reasons and deserve little attention. Do the right thing and focus on how to better your career.

Fear of Learning

Many are unaware that their fear of learning plays a big role in limiting their career opportunities. We trick ourselves into believing that our education is best acquired through the experiences that we gain through our work. In an age where modern technology gives everyone access to valuable resources at the click of a button, learning on the go has never been easier! Invest a couple minutes of your time to learn something new everyday. You would be surprised on the amount of intellectual growth you could attain in such a short time. Try staying ahead of the curve, as it will prepare you for greater opportunities when you least expect it!

Fear of Taking Risks

Whether it is incorporating new technology into a workplace project or doing something out of the norm, taking risks can make or break one’s career in an instant. However, if you never overcome this emotion, the fear of taking risks would only prevent you from grasping greater opportunities that may come across your path. Ask yourself, is accomplishing my dreams really THAT important to me? If so, build self-confidence and act with boldness. Taking a risk should only be viewed as an opportunity to grow rather than a threat to your career. Why sell yourself short when you could accomplish much more with the heart of a lion king? Once you have learned to overcome this emotion, you will find that taking risks will provide you with the greatest rewards!

Negotiating in the Entertainment Industry

Becoming a good negotiator requires many years of experience. As a curious student and an aspiring business owner, I felt that it was my duty to interview someone who could share their experiences with negotiating in the entertainment industry. For this blog post, I conducted a quick interview with Mr. John, an entrepreneur from the Caribbean region who had gained numerous experiences negotiating with alcohol vendors as a former nightclub owner. We will learn from a first-person perspective about Mr. John’s negotiating tactics and about his views of how to negotiate effectively in the nightclub industry.

What is your game plan when engaging into a negotiation? Do you consider yourself as a positional bargainer?

When I engage into a negotiation, the important thing for me is to find out how I could benefit from an outcome. As a club owner, I negotiated to find the best deals that would ensure the success of my business. To do this, I always asked questions. If I sell your products, what good would it do for me? Will I have access to your products at a low cost? Will you be assisting with any advertisements? If I know that I am a valuable source for selling your products, I would use my position to gain the advantage in a negotiation. In reality, it was all about what you can do to boost my profits.

How do you separate the people from the problem in a negotiation?

When it came to business, I negotiated everything on a business level instead of on a personal level. An incident occurred during a negotiation with a representative at a Coca Cola distribution company. I needed their products and services for my business, but the representative clearly did not want to agree on a “good” deal. Instead of taking things personally, I contacted his company and negotiated with someone who was more understanding of my position. Eventually, I got what I wanted and was able to establish a working relationship with their company because of my determination to focus on what I needed instead of what I didn’t need.

Can you give me more examples of how you handled a negotiation that was not going your way? What are your alternatives if an agreement is not met?

It all depends on the situation. If I am negotiating with someone and he is not cooperating, the simple thing to do is to schedule another time or to meet with a different person. If my business is doing well and someone wanted access to my services, negotiating could be as easy as giving an offer and sticking with it. If that person doesn’t like the offer, give it a day or two and see if he calls back. The important thing I realized is that every negotiation is an opportunity to expand my business. The last thing I want to do is walk out.    

Have you used any dirty tricks to help you gain the advantage in a negotiation?

I do not believe that I used any dirty tricks. Keeping things clean and straightforward was the best way to do the job. Throughout my 20+ years of experience as an entrepreneur, I believe that I have seen every trick in the book. If I saw a dirty trick coming, I would quickly address the tactic and demand to speak with someone who was more willing to negotiate. It is important to recognize these tricks and to stop it the moment it happens. Letting your opponent overpower you will only leave you with the shorter end of the stick.