#EVO2018 — Back To Where I Started
One year later I’m smarter, more connected, and all this with less hair.
One year ago I stepped into the Mandalay Bay Events Center wondering if I made the right decision getting to the esports world at age 45. I knew I could serve the industry well with my skills, but would I be welcome?
Absolutely and with open arms.
One year into my esports career and I have more new friends and connections than I know what to do with. Less than a month after returning home I started working for PayDayGG. In the last 12 months, I met great people online like Kevin Hitt, Braydon Wilmoth, and Nuggy Bunny that translated into IRL friendships and business opportunities.
I spent a few hours recently pondering my path and appreciating my opportunities. I realized I made them from whole cloth. I did all the outreach. I took all the risk. I had no mentors nor guidance. I opened my own doors. I shook at the hands. Learned all the hard lessons. All me, all by myself, all the way.
So that means I now get to pave the way for others and make the road better for them. That’s how this works for those who build success. Making the path easier for others is how communities are built and sustained.
No Time To Rest
That brings me back to the present. Being back in Vegas with a clearer understanding of what to expect and how to make it happen means less stress and more empathy for potential opportunities. So what’s the plan?
I wrote THIS LinkedIn post last October about the necessity of casters. I want to meet as many FGC casters as I can while I’m here. They are the soul of esports. They are the conduit through which we stay connected at the deepest emotional level. I need these people in my life.
The necessity of cosplay to the delicate weaving of personal stories is intriguing. As much as I know it’s fantasy, it doesn’t change the emotional connection esports has with it. Last year I posted many images of cosplay both male and female. I want to get more of those as well as a profile/interview with a cosplayer. I need their insight into that world so I can better understand those with which I interact.
Keep telling good stories, and right now those which people most want to read involve women. Nuggy Bunny already said she would sit with me. I also want to sit with QTPYEX. Her Twitter feed makes me more curious about her each time I read it. There a deeper understanding in her thoughts I must delve into.
The best experiences are when I meet people smarter than me. My friend and co-worker Cheeto connected me with a young lady who is a statistical wizard. She has a sabermetric understanding of esports. If gaming is to be taken seriously as a professional endeavor, then analytics MUST be a part of that. So if Cheeto tells me Jordan Fragen is someone I should know, then come the hell of Las Vegas summer heat or bad coffee, I’m making that happen.
Then the best part: Spread the PayDayGG love. I’m really excited for what we do at PayDayGG. Our platform is unique and fills a real need in the esports world. I brought a bunch of business cards. I know there are plenty of people who we can help and take to a higher level of esports fame.
So please stay tuned. I’m writing at least 2 posts for VegasTech.com as part of my media obligations. I’ll write a few more here as well as plenty of Instagram and Periscope posts. Thanks for being on board.
Bill Wagner is the Chief Relationship Officer for PayDayGG. You can follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.
