A Goal Without A Plan Is Just A Wish

The American Heart Association and Nintendo Join Forces. Be the next gaming and health expert!

When you think of a “serious gamer”, do you think of the stereotypical overweight, person with a potato chip in one hand and a controller in the other? Whether or not this is your vision, the reality is changing!

The American Heart Association and Nintendo recently formed a strategic partnership and joint website with the goal of promoting “physically active play as part of a healthy lifestyle."

Nintendo (specifically the Wii console) continues to demonstrate leadership in video game based physical activity and fitness. If you pay attention to the trend, other video game consoles have begun their copy-cat versions of Nintendo’s dynamic innovation.

What does this have to do with Career Management you may ask?

As technology and other factors continue to evolve, so do our occupations and labor market needs. Many occupations are disappearing or becoming obsolete. There are also numerous occupations that are being created that have never existed before.

I think that the trend in extreme active-gaming and fitness is not just going to continue, but it’s going to evolve and excel. Individuals with both a passion for and an academic background in gaming and health will have a dynamite combination of skills and passion if they’d like to step into this emerging gaming niche.

Why not be the next gaming and health expert? You create your destiny.

Click here to view the blog post “Wii is 'good for your heart'” by Mike Smith

Click here to visit the Nintendo and the AHA new website, Active Play Now

Leverage Video Games In Your Knowledge Management Plan

If the workplace can leverage quality video game technology, customize it for their mission, and intertwine it with their current development programs and training methodology, they will be able to bring the huge influx of Millennial Generation workers up to speed more quickly and with increase enthusiasm. Another strategy to consider for those tasked with employing suitable replacements for their aging and retiring workforce.

Additionally, by using this strategy with careful planning, workplaces may even be able to bring some excitement into the often static routine of their current, long-time employees. Tie this in with knowledge management to link skills and experience building with invaluable knowledge sharing and retention, and we’ve got a winner.

 

Video Games: A Creative Learning Solution For the Changing, Global Marketplace

In the July 2010 article, How playing video games can boost your career, Oliver Chiang of Forbes.com advocates one of the concepts that I’ve been teaching in my Career Management for Geeks workshops since its inception, that  skills learned by playing videos are transferable and valuable in the workplace.  

Those who have participated in my Career Management for Geeks workshops have done nothing but sing its praises, however I’ve received a significant amount of disbelief from those who haven’t attended and who aren’t willing to consider that video games can have any sort of benefit to those seeking employment (and who are currently employed). Although I disagree with the belief that videos games are little more than a waste of time and entertainment, I understand where this opinion comes from and the negative stereotype placed on video games and those who play them.

If the workplace can re-evaluate video games from a new, open-minded perspective there may be a new strategy to consider in the search for creative solutions to bringing new and current employees up to speed with the changing, global marketplace.

Learning From Video Games Saves Time & Money

Who says that the only place to secure valuable skills is in “real-life”? The fact that companies in America invest millions in simulation, e-learning, and technological enhancements for training and development demonstrate the belief that on the job training and books is not the only source for knowledge, skills, and abilities. Learning from game-play is no different than the average e-learning software at most organizations except that video games tend to have better graphics, be more engaging, have better storylines, and are likely to be more violence inclined; a small caveat that can be easily remedied.

Gaming systems such as the Nintendo Wii and others have already branched out from gaming-entertainment to gaming-health (Wii Fit) and gaming for mental enhancement (Big Brain Academy).  When will the workplace step out of its comfort zone and preconceived notions and expand its horizons on where skills and valuable skills at that…can originate from? There are few things more powerful then hands-on experience in the workplace. That said, experience gained from gaming simulations can serve the same or similar purpose; in less time.

And guess what? Saving time saves money.