Although this article uses game industry as an example, I think it works for most technical/artistic careers.
You know when you are doing exactly what you want, you are happy and content with your work? You know when things don’t get your way? You know when you have to do something completely different? You know when you just finished a project and there is a transition over to a new project, that can often take months?
During that period and series of event something happens to most of us. We go through psychological challenges. We are wondering if we should stay or move on. We might become negative and complain a lot. We might not see things in a very positive manner anymore.
It can also be that you want a raise, a promotion or feel things are unfair. For some it can be the long hours but in this case we are not talking about crunch time. Whatever it might be we all have or will go through this emotional and psychological challenge. And that is sometimes what breaks a person. It is sometimes what decides whether you are a professional or not in the game industry.
You might be thinking that the definition of professional game developer is if you work fulltime or released a game. Interestingly enough, some veteran will say it is not until you are laid off, go through these challenges and how you deal with it, that defines if you are a professional game developer.
Since I started a decade ago I have been part of many failed projects, companies and also seen people give up for whatever reason. We can argue that once you are in the game industry there are different types of professional game developers. You have the one going into the game industry, the ones who are in the game industry and the ones who “failed” and managed to get back up over and over.
That is where I have seen many fail, because they gave up. We can argue that is because we don’t really learn enough about mental aptitude, psychological strength and emotional control when we grow up. Especially during education, training or coaching. The focus has been technical skills in my experience.
So if you spend hours everyday just being technical or artistic, when are you training your body? Your mind? When are you learning to think? When are you making time to experience difficult things? How often do you purposely go into uncomfortable situation, or turn your life around knowing you might fail miserably? And how often did you rise up stronger, and kept trying things out?
If you do get in this situation remember that you are in control of yourself, and only yourself. Remember that only you can change yourself. Make an effort to learn what you can do better in non-technical areas. After all we are working as a team with other human beings. The technical part is mainly a way to create something, to express something and not the only thing that matters. And more importantly you should have a vision, plan or road map for yourself. No one is going to make one for you. Not your teacher. Not your parents. Not your mentor. Not your boss.
In short, we should all strive to improve our communication, reduce our assumptions and learn more about how we deal with failure, disagreement, conflict and unpleasant situation. In the long run, I believe that will decide who falls and rises to the top. Whatever that top is for you.
