I have massive feet. Size 13.5s.

With that, finding footwear in Bangalore is impossible. So, I did what any self respecting yuppie would do – asked some relatives to get me a pair of Crocs from Amrika.

Crocs are the ultimate footwear – soft, comfy and surprisingly waterproof.

They’re also indestructible. Short of burning, cutting with a rusty hacksaw or losing them outside a temple, you’re not going to be rid of them.

I had a pair from 2005 – all the way till 2019. Even then, I “lost” them in Flam, Norway.

Some things just don’t die.

Just like my love for playing games.

Been playing for over 30 years now – and I don’t plan to stop. (Still gotta kick my daughter’s bum in Street Fighter, beat the Cow Level in Diablo and raid the Protoss as the Zerg horde.)

My love for games is at the heart of everything I do, and naturally it’s at the heart of Put The Player First.

Put The Player First is more than just the company or the brand. It’s a philosophy – a worldview that every business will adopt one day.

Here’s a short primer on what the philosophy is – and how you can start using it.

The Put The Player First Philosophy

The Put The Player First philosophy has three principles:

1. Anything can be a game.
2. Put the player first.
3. Play the meta-game.

Principle 1: Anything can be a game.

There isn’t one situation that cannot be turned into a game. This principle is all about reframing reality into a system with rules that we can play.

Growth is a game.

Brand building is a game.

Entrepreneurship is a game.

You need to know what’s the game you’re playing – and the way to win.

Principle 2: Put the player first.

When designing systems (the game), put the player at the heart of it. Be the #1 fan of the players – this seeps into your design and thinking.

Principle 3: Play the meta-game.

Meta-gaming is the act using information from outside the game system for advantages within the game.

When you’re playing a game in real life, use every advantage you have to win.

This is a philosophy that can be universally applied.

In business. In relationships. At work. To build your career.
To potty train your toddler. Or your dog.

I can’t wait to explode this onto the world.

Codifying this philosophy, based on years of experience and heartache, is my first step toward that 🙂

Have a good day, macha.

And remember: Put The Player First!

(҂◡̀_◡́)ᕤ