CISO Tradecraft® #239 - Actionable Gamification and Lasting Success (with Yu-Kai Chou)
Jun 30, 2025
Yu-Kai Chou, a gamification pioneer and author, shares insights on how to harness play for success in life and career. He explains his Octalysis framework, emphasizing the importance of aligning passions with skills and selecting meaningful life games. The conversation delves into practical advice for knowing personal attributes, enhancing skills, and building alliances. Chou argues that reframing dedicated practice as enjoyable play can unlock legendary success, encouraging listeners to find their true passions and embark on quests for continuous growth.
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Octalysis Explains Motivation
- The Octalysis framework breaks human motivation into eight core drives that predict and create behavior.
- Top drives foster long-term intrinsic motivation while bottom drives create short-term urgency and possible demoralization.
Make Mastery Feel Like Play
- Treat 10,000 hours as joyful play, not grinding practice, to build lasting success.
- Gamify your dedication so the process becomes enjoyable and sustainable.
Choose A Game You Care About
- Pick a life 'game' you genuinely care about before evaluating talents.
- Play a game you'll enjoy even if the final goals remain unmet.
