Psychology has always captivated me, specifically the boundless intricacies and theories about human behavior. Every conversation offers a unique perspective and insight into another’s world, revealing aspects of their shadow selves. Perception, focus, and the meanings we assign to them significantly shape our lives.
Yet our desires and necessities what we yearn for basically, spend money on, and what brings us joy are all part of this complex game. Reflecting on these things, I am reminded of Alan Watts’ notion that life, much like marketing, isn’t meant to be a stringent ordeal but a playful game, a spontaneous dance of interactions.
Alan Wilson Watts
Alan Watts was a British philosopher born in 1915. He was famous for making Eastern philosophy easy to understand for us in the West. He had a unique and liberating way of seeing things. Watts explained ideas in a way that felt deep yet freeing, allowing us to see life as less serious and more like a game. I particularly enjoyed his book ‘The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are,’ which really opened my eyes to new ways of thinking about ourselves and the world around us.
Life as a Game
Watts had this idea that life isn’t meant to be this super serious thing we’ve got to struggle through. Instead, he saw it more like a game—something playful, spontaneous, and without a rigid end goal. Imagine the universe itself just playing around, making things up as it goes along. That’s the vibe he talked about, encouraging us to see the world as a playground where the rules aren’t fixed and every moment is a chance to explore and create anew.
So, how does this apply to everything we do, especially in marketing in today’s tech-driven world? It turns out, marketing is a lot like the game Watts described. We’re always in this playful experiment with our audiences, using techniques like A/B testing to figure out what clicks. This isn’t a static process; it’s lively and constantly moving. As technology pushes forward, the media landscape transforms right before our eyes, which means we can’t just settle into old habits.
We need to stay flexible, ditch the outdated playbooks, and keep our ears open for the next big thing. That’s how we stay ahead in the marketing game—by embracing the unknown and always being ready to adapt to new tools and trends. Just like life, marketing isn’t about sticking to a script; it’s about playing the game with creativity and readiness for whatever comes next.
While by all means, we shouldn’t change what works, what I’m simply suggesting is that as our advancement in technology and modern-day continues to grow—especially given the rate at which we’re going—we must avoid remaining static in our methods of execution and open up to new channels for growth, both in the B2B and B2C worlds. Embracing these innovative technologies not only keeps us relevant but also empowers us to meet and exceed the evolving expectations of our customers and partners.
Embracing the Game
Looking at life, careers, and even marketing as games can really transform our approach and potentially our outcomes. It’s about enjoying the ride as much as you can and finding the fun in the challenges. For anyone in marketing or any field really, try taking this playful, game-like approach to your work. It might just make things more enjoyable, and as Alan Watts always said, “life is meant to be played, not suffered through.” So what are you waiting for? Play the game.
