Gammet

I recently read Jane McGonigal’s book ‘Reality is Broken’, right after I finished ‘Delivering Happiness’ by Tony Hsieh (Zappos). I’m currently waiting for Gary Vaynerchuk’s latest ‘The Thank You Economy’ to be dropped off at my doorstep. So I haven’t read that, but I have listened to Gary for a little while now. I get the sense that these three would get along really well.

Jane describes four defining traits of what should be considered as a game:

1. Goal: A sense of purpose.
2. Rules: Limitations to push creativity and strategic thinking.
3. Feedback system: Motivate players to continue after successes and failures.
4. Voluntary participation: Knowingly and willingly accepting the goal, the rules and the feedback.

The way Tony, Gary and even a Bart (De Waele) display their entrepreneurial spirit and hunger, and the way they approach it, it’s like they are playing a game. Jane writes ‘All good gameplay is hard work’. And from what I’ve read/heard these guys and anybody alike play hard. 

Jane also quotes Brian Sutton-Smith saying: “The opposite of play isn’t work. It’s depression.” All three aforementioned authors considered, to make a better world, to make yourself and the people you care about happy and to grow as a person or a business, you have to:

• give a damn about what you do and who you’re doing it for;
• put in the effort;
• evolve, progress. Learn from both successes and failures, your own and those of others.

Find out what you are good at, what you are passionate about, and do it. Go play thát game. They did. And look at them, they’re happy.

I recently discovered a French soul singer called Ben L’Oncle Soul. I immediately bought his self-titled album and his rendition of the 2006 Gnarles Barkley hit ‘Crazy’. 

This music puts a smile on my face. I you see somebody soulstepping through Ghent, it might just be me. ;-)

(Acoustic version of ‘Soulman’)

A few months ago, I thought I had never heard of Gary Vaynerchuk (@garyvee on Twitter). Then I saw the clip of him on Late Night and had a vague recollection: Oh right. That guy who made Conan eat dirt.

His talk at Web 2.0 Expo was being share by several people I follow on Twitter. They were promoting his attendance/talk at Phare Conference (organisation by Ghent Web Valley). I loved his talk at Web 2.0 Expo as well at Phare Conference. I actually got to attend Phare last Thursday thanks to The Reference and @michlr who had to pass on the ticket he had won.

Gary’s story is a good story. His way of telling it is compelling. I, as well as many others, didn’t even notice he wasn’t using any slides.

I’m not going to tell Gary’s story. I can’t do it nor him justice. His talk at Phare should come online sometime in the future. Definitely look out for that!

The bet

I’m here to state an agreement. At the moment of writing this Gary and I haven’t discussed this. I don’t even know if he’s going to read this. But, during his talk he said this as response to ‘What’s the ROI on social media?’: “What’s the ROI on your mother?”

If Gary can make Jon Stuart (of The Daily Show with Jon Stuart / @thedailyshow) say this in his stereotypical New Jersey goon accent/character, I will buy 10 copies of his new book ‘The Thank You Economy’ on The Bookdepository Amazon.com, which I will hand out to friends and whomever would like a copy. 10 is all I can afford right now. :) (I already have my own copy.)

I can’t watch The Daily Show at the time of the broadcast. I have to watch it online the day after. I’ll post my receipt as proof and I’ll email it to Gary. 

The moment Gary said those words, Jon’s version has been resonating in my head. Jon makes comments in that voice quite often. For example: “I’m not saying your mother’s a whore. I’m just saying she has sex for money. With people.” (Jon commented on Neil Cavuto’s practice of raising “Is Obama a Stalinist?”-style questions.) This is one of my favorites. Couldn’t find the clip though.

Gary, I’m hoping to hear from you. It is for fun, but I’m serious about the 10 copies. 

Cheers!

PS: I’m willing to settle for Jon saying “Fuck you Gammet!” or Stephen Colbert saying: “Hey Gammet! [whatever Stephen feels like saying].”