My son Joshua and I have played countless videos games together. Spider Man, God of War, The Last of Us. One of us plays and the other watches. When you do this enough times, you start to notice how differently two people approach the same challenge.
He’d hit a level he couldn’t beat and look over at me, frustrated, asking how I got through it so easily. You see, for him, the whole point was to advance fast. Solve the puzzle, beat the boss, move on.
I played differently. I liked wandering around, completing side missions, uncovering hidden stuff, strengthening the character before stepping into the hard parts.
And that made the difference. He kept rushing ahead with a half built skill tree and the game punished him for it!
The Price of Ignoring the Skill Tree
In games, ignoring your skill tree makes you weaker than the level you’re trying to beat. Life works the same way. Most people think the problem is the challenge in front of them, but the real problem is the part of their character or capabilities they never upgraded.
It’s easier to blame the level than to admit you skipped the work that would have prepped you to beat it.
The Creative Skill Tree
Creatives do this sort of thing. Many times we chase the next opportunity with the same unleveled traits that held us back in the previous stage. We rush into bigger projects without building stamina. We want leadership roles without upgrading communication. We expect recognition without developing consistency. And this is about way more than just technical knowledge. I’m talking about the kind of soft skills that takes a creative professional from being hireable, to being promotable.
In games, a skill tree forces you to choose. You can’t unlock everything at once. You invest points one branch at a time. Speed or strength. Defense or stamina. In our world, it’s the same. Identify the branch that keeps breaking under pressure. The type of work you avoid. The better software you keep resisting. The part of your character you pretend not to see.
Target that upgrade. Strengthen it until it stops holding you back.
It Was Never About the Level
It was the version of you entering it. The work gets easier when you stop sprinting past your own growth and start building the traits that let you handle bigger creative challenges.
There are infinite resources out there for your growth, both in technical and soft skills. Both paid and free for everyone. Choose one upgrade to start with and commit to it until you master it.
If you want clarity on what to level up first, reach out to me. I always respond.
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