#687: Justin Gary — Taking the Path Less Traveled, The Phenomenon of “Magic: The Gathering,” How Analytical People Can Become “Creative” People, Finding the Third Right Answer, and How to Escape Your Need for Control

947 snips

Aug 16, 2023

Justin Gary, an award-winning game designer and CEO of Stone Blade Entertainment, shares his journey from Magic: The Gathering champion to thriving entrepreneur. He discusses the transformative power of embracing uncertainty and the importance of teamwork over individualism. Gary also delves into the creative processes behind game design, emphasizing the role of iterative testing and community support in success. His stories highlight the balance between artistic integrity and financial realities in the gaming industry, making for an insightful and engaging conversation.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Magic: The Gathering Origins

Justin Gary discovered Magic: The Gathering while playing competitive laser tag.
He won the US National Championship at 17, leading to a career playing Magic professionally.

ANECDOTE

Debate Experience

Justin Gary participated in Lincoln-Douglas debates, arguing assigned topics before a judge.
He enjoyed parliamentary debate, where any topic could be spontaneously discussed.

INSIGHT

Professional Magic Player

Playing Magic: The Gathering professionally involved traveling to tournaments globally with prize money.
While substantial at the time, winnings were not exorbitant, but enough to pay for college.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana

A Visual History

Kyle Newman

Sam Witwer

Michael Witwer

Jon Peterson

This book provides a comprehensive visual history of Dungeons & Dragons, showcasing its evolution through artwork, sketches, and other visual elements. It explores the game's impact on popular culture and its enduring influence on fantasy art.

A Whack on the Side of the Head

null

Roger Von Oech

Roger von Oech's "A Whack on the Side of the Head" is a highly engaging and practical guide to fostering creative thinking. The book challenges conventional approaches to problem-solving and encourages readers to embrace unconventional methods for generating innovative ideas. Von Oech's informal and humorous writing style makes the book highly accessible and enjoyable to read. The book's enduring popularity is a testament to its practical value and enduring usefulness. It's a must-read for anyone seeking to enhance their creative thinking skills.

Think Like a Game Designer

Justin Gary

The 4-Hour Body

An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman

Tim Ferriss

In 'The 4-Hour Body,' Tim Ferriss shares the results of over a decade of self-experimentation and research, involving hundreds of elite athletes, dozens of MDs, and thousands of hours of personal testing. The book covers more than 50 topics, including how to lose weight quickly, gain muscle without steroids, sleep less and perform better, and improve sexual health. Ferriss emphasizes the importance of finding the smallest changes that produce the biggest results, making it accessible for readers to achieve significant improvements in their physical health and performance.

The Productivity Project

Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy

Chris Bailey

In 'The Productivity Project', Chris Bailey shares the results of his year-long deep dive into the science of personal productivity. The book includes 25 powerful productivity tactics, derived from hundreds of experiments and interviews with experts like David Allen and Charles Duhigg. Bailey discusses counterintuitive insights such as slowing down to work more deliberately, shrinking or eliminating the unimportant, and the concept of productive procrastination. The book is designed to be practical and entertaining, offering actionable advice and exercises to help readers improve their productivity and overall well-being.