Photo by Cláudio Luiz Castro on Unsplash
When you read the title for this post, you probably were thinking, "What the hell could I learn from a video game?" My answer to you is simple. Your customers. More specifically, your customers' journey and understanding your place within it.
The concept of the customers' journey is not new at all. However, many young entrepreneurs forget this fundamental principle. New entrepreneurs sometimes forget that the fate of their business is deeply connected to their customers' success.
Now when we look at a typical video game character such as Link from The Legend of Zelda (side note: one of the greatest RPG titles of all time #fightmeonthis) or Lara Croft from Tomb Raider, they both have journeys where they are trying to save the world. Along their adventure, they meet numerous merchants and guides who help them by giving them the tools they need. At first, the tools they get might be a new weapon. Later on, the tool might be a defensive boost. Either way, every tool they receive is integral to their success.
So let's connect the dots here. Your customer is Link and you are the merchant who has a store on the side of an active volcano. It is your job to give Link (Your Customer) everything he needs to get to the next level and win. If he says he has to defeat a fire breathing monster, are you gonna offer him a wooden shield? This is where understanding your customer base and their demographics is key. You need to understand his problem and all the potential issues he will have.
Now let's pivot to the real world. Imagine you have an online store and your customer is trying to get back in shape. How are you going to help them achieve their goal? You have to realize that your customers are the heroes of their journeys and it is your job to help them be successful. In this example, first, start by thinking about what are the tools they need like exercise equipment. Second, think about how you can help them handle challenges like setbacks or loss of motivation. Once you can do these two points, you will quickly notice that they will soon return to your business for more tools to help them on their journey.
I am certainly not an entrepreneur, but I love to play video games. Lately I've been playing Dota 2 and I like to record videos of my gameplay on a windows 11 recorder. Maybe there is someone willing to play together and record some interesting video, moreover I have my own youtube channel.