Achievement Unlocked: Gaming Mechanics for Real-World Goals

All it takes is a tiny spark of creativity to make me latch onto an idea or project.

My musings today come from an activity I recently did with the team I am a part of at Google. I made an internal transfer recently and we had an offsite in New York. This was the first time I had seen anyone face-to-face. One of our activities was a “getting to know you” activity where we could talk about anything we wanted for 5 minutes.

I decided to talk about how I used game mechanics to change my life. The creative spark in this was brain latching onto the idea of trying to use Midjourney to create a similar character across different poses and ideas for the slides. It was fun.

So here’s what I shared with my team and wanted to share with you:

10 years ago, I was like a low-level character in a game. Overweight, out of shape, and really, just stuck at Level 1 in life. I was grinding, sure, but it was the wrong kind—the kind that doesn't get you any experience points or skill upgrades.

I was prioritizing one thing… work. My mental, physical and relationship health was on a downward trend and something had to change.

It got me thinking—why not approach my real-world struggles like I would in a game?

Grab your controllers and your gym towels; we're leveling up.

I knew I couldn’t go for a quick win, this was about changing my lifestyle. I had to pick one habit at a time, just like skills in a game.

This is where pixels and barbells collide to shape my journey.

My entire adolescence was a struggle because I was a fat kid. And every time I tried to change that, it was about restricting calories.

This was the easy approach that required the least amount of effort.

This time, I was going to focus on numbers that went up instead of down to help me through the long game.

So, I hit 'New Game'.

In every RPG, you’ve got your character stats that you are trying to improve throughout the game. And just like you wouldn't ignore your in-game stats, I couldn't neglect mine anymore.

I started playing my RPG, but in the gym. Improving myself with each session.

I was hooked, it felt WAY better tracking numbers that were supposed to go up instead of down

But here’s where the plot twist comes in—This leveling-up philosophy, it isn’t just for lifting or getting fit.

It’s for anything in life that’s worth striving for—like perfecting an art project, growing a business, or being there for your family.

Every big quest is made up of smaller missions, each with their own loot—in my case, a healthier body, mind, and relationships. But in yours, it could be anything.

Any gamer will tell you that you can’t escape the grind.

Whether it's swinging your sword at low-level minions or squatting your way through sets, repetition is the cornerstone of growth.

The gym became my grinding zone, where each rep, each set, was a small deposit in the bank of my future self.

In games, we specialize—be it magic, combat, or stealth. I applied the same logic to my exercise routine.

Some days focused on strength, others on endurance. By branching out, I was rounding out my character, one skill point at a time.

You've got to pick your skills, advance your talents, and work on 'em. Choose your specialization, be it art, coding, or even dad-jokes, and just grind away.

Now, imagine taking on a boss fight in your starter gear. Sounds insane, right? This is basically what I was doing when I was only focused on eating less.

It’s the same with any hard goal. Whether it's the right paint brushes for a mural, the right design system for a project, or the right bedtime stories for your kids.

Every quest requires the proper toolkit. I invested in shoes, a home gym setup, and even the right tunes to keep me pumped.

It might seem minor, but having the right gear can turn a tough boss fight into a cakewalk.

What about boss fights? These are your life challenges, the hurdles that seem too huge to jump.

Your 'impossible' art project? Boss fight. Balancing a career and family life? Boss fight. Strength plateaus? Another boss fight.

But remember, boss fights are just gatekeepers; beat 'em, and you level up.

As we grind or fight bosses, we hit milestones. Those little 'achievement unlocked' moments that make it all worthwhile.

They’re not always in-game achievements. Sometimes they’re real, tangible changes—like landing a big project, seeing your kid take their first steps, or just realizing you’re a better version of yourself than you were a year ago.

I’ve taken this same idea and used it on so many things I can’t keep track anymore. It can even be tiny little micro versions of this to get a specific task you’ve been avoiding done for the day.

So, is it “mission complete”? Well, the joy of life—and any good game—is that there’s always another level, another quest, another skill to grind. I'm proud of where I am today, but I’m eager to see where this game takes me next.

What about you? Ready to hit 'New Game' and level up?

The controller’s in your hands.

 I was so nervous to share this because I thought it felt too preachy and that it would come off cheesy. But, like I said in the beginning, I had to finish my Midjourney exploration AND it was tied to this storyline. Throughout the offsite, many people on my team commented how they liked my talk. They liked that it was real and that I didn’t talk myself out of sharing it. It was so great to hear this, so validating for me.

It just goes to show to trust your gut and run with the ideas you have. Don’t let the voice in your head talk you out of it. Every single one of us struggles with imposter syndrome, nerves, and many other things when it comes to presenting ourselves publicly. Trust yourself, you got this!

Cheers,
​Crawdad​