Do you like games? They’re fun, right? When learning is fun, you are more likely to remember concepts in a deeper way.
Levi Baer loves games. Actually, that’s an understatement. When I asked him what his favorite game was, he struggled to pick just one! He can solve a Rubik’s Cube in under 2 minutes!
He loves games so much he started a professional development and team building firm around games. He’s gamifying learning to engage people more deeply.
Right now his firm is still a side business. He teaches full time at DePaul University as his primary source of income. He also has several other side hustles including:
- He invented a team-building game called Insight (read below to get a special discount!)
- He runs a social entrepreneurship group he runs in Chicago called Coffee and Conversation.
- A co-working space he wants to start in Logan Square in Chicago.
If you want learning about business to be more fun, this is the guy you should be hanging out with and you will when you listen to his interview!
Some lessons in this episode include:
- Defining financial success. Having enough money coming in to pick and choose your next work project.
- Important of developing emotional skills. Learn why expanding your portfolio of emotions helps you make more effective decisions.
- Building businesses in stages, rather than “going all in”.
Life Skills That Matter In This Episode
- Self-directed learning.
- Building community.
- Planning.
How Levi Works and Thinks
- Wake up time: 8am to 9am
- Superpower: Optimism
- Definition of success: Having enough time, money and energy to take care of himself and his loved ones.
- Wants to meet: Elon Musk and someone with great marketing skills.
- Recommended book: Startup Communities by Brad Fields
- Regains focus by: He plays a game! He says he also embraces his procrastination by doing a few smaller tasks that help fuel his motivation.
- Favorite game: Settlers of Catan and The Grizzled
- Favorite productivity tool: Forest App
- 90-day goal: Open his co-working space.
Inspirational Quotes
“Entrepreneurship is about what can you do next.”
“Games are a pathway for empathy.”
Coaching Advice
Have a business idea, but are having trouble getting started? Levi offers this key pieces of advice . . .
Start somewhere. Create the $0 version of your product or service and find 5 people who are interested in your idea. You need people to buy into the concept before you start adding bells and whistles to your creation.
Find some action, any action. Get out of your head and make something or learn something. Don’t let what you don’t have stop you.
Resources + Bonus Materials
15 Gamification Resources for Trainers
Special Offer
Get $5 off when you buy Levi’s game Insight. Use the promo code: lifeskills