M
Mike Vinci
Guest
Our adventure awaits.
Photo by Izabelly Marques on Unsplash
One of my favorite games growing up was Super Mario 64.
It was an adventure-filled game fueled by the antics of the legend himselfโฆ Iโm talking about Mario of course!
There were various stages, levels and objectives to get through in order to accomplish the ultimate mission of saving Princess Peach.
I didnโt realize it at the time, but there were many lessons that can be drawn from this game.
Advancing in life takes time and effort.
No matter what we do in life, it takes time and effort. Sometimes it takes A LOT of time and effort.
Mario had to advance through a variety of stages, obstacles and enemies in order to reach his goals in Super Mario 64.
It took time, patience and persistence in order to get through the levels.
Life is the same way. When we have a new idea or we start a business venture, we all go through the โhoneymoon phase.โ Thereโs lots of excitement surrounding our new adventure and weโre ready to take on the world.
However, itโs not all sunshine and rainbows.
We eventually hit some obstacles, and we must find new ways to maneuver.
When we make it through one level, we can then advance to the next.
You can learn important lessons from unexpected friends.
We all need a helping hand along the way, just like Mario!
Be kind to others because you just never know who might be able to assist you on your journey.
I canโt count the number of times Iโve received help on my journey in a variety of unexpected ways. Iโve gained valuable insights from colleagues, friends, acquaintances and many others on my journey.
Donโt underestimate the power of a helping hand, even if that helping hand comes in the form of life advice.
The path isnโt always clear.
When you first start playing Super Mario 64, you barely know where to go.
You need to get your bearings and decide which direction to go in. Eventually you get the hang of the game, and you realize where your next objective lies.
This is just like life. We begin a new journey, and whether itโs a professional or personal one, we must figure out what to do next. The path may not always be clear-cut, but if we take it step by step, we eventually figure out where to go.
It can be easy to feel lost, but thatโs just because we havenโt discovered where the rest of the path is leading yet.
Knowledge compounds.
One of the primary elements of Super Mario 64 was collecting โSuper Starsโ in various worlds. These stars allowed Mario to enter new worlds and take on new adventures.
These stars are very similar to knowledge.
Sometimes reaching new levels boils down to acquiring knowledge.
We often focus on the byproduct of knowledge and experience: money, cars, houses, fame, success, etc.
Below the surface, knowledge is what drives success.
In order to become an โexpertโ in any field, business segement or creative pursuit, we must first acquire the necessary knowledge. Once we start doing that, our knowledge eventually compounds. It builds upon itself.
We start at level 1, but as we acquire more knowledge (or Super Stars), we can advance to the next level of life.
No matter what, always enjoy the adventure.
At the end of the day, Super Mario 64 was fun because playing it felt like an adventure.
Life is exactly the same way.
Itโs easy to get caught up in the aspects of life that stress us outโโโmoney, careers, relationships, heartbreak, not advancing fast enough, family issues, etc.
No matter what, life will always be a wild ride.
We might as well enjoy it, because whether we like it or not, the adventure is still unfolding as we speakโฆ and Princess Peach needs our help.
What Super Mario Can Teach Us About Life was originally published in Long. Sweet. Valuable. on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
Continue reading...
