What do Super Mario, a well-run law firm, and my kid playing “Floor is Lava” through the house on a Tuesday night have in common?
They’re all about strategy, levels (or at least getting better over time), and knowing when to jump.
But first, a little back story on this newsletter…
As you know, I am a tortured Miami Dolphins fan (not that there are any other kinds…) and a HUGE Mike McDaniel fan. At some point he mentioned that the book called Talent is Overrated was his favorite and so I had to buy it.
The book is about how there are some instances of pure talent and ability (I will never be tall enough to be a center in the NBA) but that SOOOOOO much of success comes from deliberate practice and staying in the game.
For the LONGEST time I really struggled with this – how do you get deliberate practice from the law? There isn’t immediate feedback, we don’t have the same support structure as athletes so we cannot really get practice reps and honestly…we can do the best job and lose a case or a pretty meh job and win sometimes…
And then in the middle of a pretty epic Super Smash game with my son it hit me – or to be more accurate – he hit me. As Kirby turning into a giant statue after about 100 attempts to pull off the move while in the air…sports wasn’t the right analogy…it was video games.
Most lawyers start with minimal resources…by the time we know most athletes they’re past that stage…but Mario doesn’t start the game with a cape, a fire flower or even a Yoshi. He starts small. A few bricks. A couple of Goombas. Eventually a mushroom or two. And slowly—through trial, error, and a lot of restarts—he levels up.
Same thing happens in real life. Nobody drops into your law firm with a star and a perfectly optimized case pipeline. But with the right mindset, the right tools, and maybe a few of your own mushrooms (read: mentors, systems, and actual sleep), you can go from rookie to rainmaker.
Let’s talk about what it looks like to gamify your career—so growth feels more like a quest and less like a slog through Bowser’s castle. Because while people talk about enjoying the journey many don’t explain HOW to do it…here we go (please tell me you read that last part in a Mario voice like I did!)
You Can’t Skip to World 8 Without Earning It
Look, I get it. You want the results. The castle. The coins. The client referrals raining from the sky.
But real growth happens level by level.
And every level comes with its own:
- Power-ups (the habits, tools, and team members that supercharge you)
- Bosses (the obstacles you’ve got to beat)
- Hidden blocks (the unexpected gifts that only show up when you explore)
If you approach your career like a game—with strategy, curiosity, and a little joy—you’ll actually look forward to leveling up. Even the hard parts.
5 Ways to Gamify Your Professional Growth (No Controllers Required)
1. Define Your Levels
Where are you now… and what’s the next level?
Level 1 might be answering every call and email yourself.
Level 2 Delegating intake to a VA
Level 3 Hiring a full-time in-office paralegal.
Level 4 Hiring an associate.
Level 5 You’re CEO of your firm, and now your job is playing golf and closing dream clients over tacos.
Don’t aim for Level 5 on day 1… just focus on the next one.
Bonus Tip: Rename your levels with ridiculous video game names like “Paperwork Dungeon” or “Trial of the Impossible Client.” A little humor goes a LOOOOOONG way.
2. Collect Your Power-Ups
In Mario, it’s mushrooms and fire flowers. In real life, it’s:
- A CRM that actually works
- A VA that gets your inbox to zero
- A morning routine that doesn’t involve crying into your coffee
The right tools (and people) make the next level easier.
Power-Up Challenge: What’s one power-up you could add this month? A new process, a course, a coach, a checklist? Use it.
3. Know Your Boss Battles
Every stage has a villain.
- Fear of hiring
- Overwhelm from delegation
- Getting stuck in the weeds
You don’t defeat Bowser with one jump. You learn his patterns. You die a few times. You keep showing up until he’s toast. And you know what I love the most about the Original Mario Game? It’s so simple that it’s clear YOU are the problem. If I were better at the game, I could be this guy.
And here’s the truth, the more we are the problem…the easier we can be the solution because changing ourselves is easier than changing anyone else. So whenever it turns out that you are the actual boss of the level, CONGRATS!!!!
Mini-Boss Reminder aka Mindset shift – the obstacle you’re facing is the price of the next level. That’s all.
4. Track Your XP (Experience Points)
Games reward progress—even if you fail.
You should too.
Track:
- Wins (signed clients, happy team members, systems you created)
- Lessons learned (what broke, what sucked, what didn’t go as planned)
- Streaks (days of sticking to your calendar, working out, not yelling at Slack…ugh I hate slack so much…)
XP System Tip: Make a real-life leaderboard for yourself. Weekly review + score = momentum.
5. Play Co-Op Mode
Even Mario needed Luigi (or at least Yoshi).
In real life: mentors, peers, coaches, masterminds, the Luau group (), your EA… even your kids reminding you it’s time to stop working and go play.
Multiplayer Move: Schedule one “level-up lunch” this month with someone who makes you better. No set agenda—just strategy talk. I promise you, there are people out there who WANT to help you and see you succeed!
The Takeaway: You’re Already in the Game—Play It Better
You don’t need a new life. You need a new lens.
Start seeing your career as a game—one you’re actually excited to play. Track your progress. Grab your power-ups. Celebrate the small wins. And don’t forget to save the Princess (read: spend time with your actual family and live your actual life).
Until then, avoid the lava, eat the mushrooms (not those mushrooms), and keep leveling up.