Let’s be honest: Life is messy.

We all set out to accomplish big goals and do the best we can, but along the way, we get distracted, lost, and confused. Most goals we set are vague and the steps required to accomplish them are unclear. For example: What counts as a great relationship, a healthy body, or a successful business? How do I know if I am on the right track?

For most of us, our goals are fuzzy. The anxiety we feel trying to make progress toward undefined goals with unclear steps makes us want to quit and do something else.

Good game design is all about solving these problems.

In a game:

• You know exactly what your goal is.

• You get rewarded for progress along the way.

• You are given challenges just at the edge of your skill level.

• You learn one thing at a time until you’ve mastered it.

What if you started treating your life more like a game? Not just any game, but the most epic game of all time! In this game, victory means happiness, love, success, and all the other joys life can bring.

It also means facing difficult challenges, getting up after getting knocked down, and leveling up in your abilities so you can face even more significant challenges. 

My gaming life started huddled around the dinner table with my family, hustling for prime real estate in cut-throat games of Monopoly. In high school, I became US National Champion of Magic: The Gathering, and went on to win hundreds of thousands of dollars playing competitively in tournaments around the world. I soon turned my love of gaming into a career in game design, where I learned the principles behind what makes games tick. After launching several successful games for brands like Marvel, DC, and World of Warcraft, I realized my life could be designed the same way I design games. I started working on clearly defining my goals, breaking them down into steps, and rewarding myself every time I accomplished my tasks. Applying these principles helped me lose forty pounds, meet the love of my life, start my own company, and build the lifestyle I’d always wanted. 

I’ve spent the last decade breaking down the principles of design in a way that anyone can understand and apply. I’ve taught these principles to friends, family, and groups around the world to help them reach their personal goals and love the process along the way. Now, in these pages is everything you need to turn your life into an epic adventure.

To be clear, I do not promise a quick fix or an easy win. That would make for a boring game! Life is most satisfying when you grow in the face of challenges. This process of “Leveling Up” allows you to do and contribute more, all while building deep, meaningful connections along the way.

Sound good?

Let’s get started.