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#172 | LEVEL UP: 10 WAYS TO GAMIFY YOUR CAREER

  • Writer: Carter Ferguson
    Carter Ferguson
  • Aug 3
  • 5 min read

This episode is sponsored by

Gamification is not about turning everything into a game. It’s about taking the essence of what games do really well and applying it to areas outside of games. Simon Sinek

In last weeks show I looked at 3 Reasons Why Creatives Fail, and it’s been a show that’s gone down a storm, so if you haven’t listened to it et, please do check it out! Continuing my tactic of listing shows with a number in the title – don’t ask me why but they always seem to do a wee bit better than ones that don’t. today I’m looking at 10 ways to Gamify your career as a solo freelancer. I know a lot of different people listen to the show, but creative freelancers seem to make up a large majority, so this one is for you, and there will be as always plenty in there for everyone else to tap into as well.


You may already be aware of the term, but what is gamification? Well, Gamification is the process of turning tasks or goals into a game-like experience by adding rewards, challenges, or milestones. It can make freelancing less isolating and perhaps a bit more fun.


It involves integrating aspects of game design, such as points, badges, leaderboards, challenges, or levels, into various activities, tasks, or processes. It:


1.     Adds structure to the unstructured nature of freelancing.

2.     Increases motivation by making progress tangible.

3.     Turns challenges into opportunities for growth.


Without relying on gaming-specific jargon here are 10 productivity-focused ways to gamify your freelance career 


1. Break Goals into Milestones – I talk about this often.

  • Divide large projects or long-term goals into smaller, manageable milestones. Say you’re a freelance video editor working on a half-hour documentary. Instead of trying to tackle the whole thing at once, you could break it up into smaller steps. Start by sorting through all the footage, then make a rough cut of the first ten minutes. After that, add music and sound effects to just that section before moving on. Taking it chunk by chunk not only makes the project feel less daunting, but it also helps you see your progress as you go.


2. Follow this up, buy adding in a Rewards System.

  • Assign rewards for completing specific tasks or achieving goals. For example, if you’re a freelance graphic designer working on a big branding project. You could decide that after you finish the initial logo concepts, you’ll take a proper break or catch up with a friend. Setting up small rewards like this for each milestone can help keep you motivated and give you something to look forward to as you move through the project.


3. Next, and I’m doing this right now with podcast episodes - Track Progress Visually

  • Use a chart, whiteboard, or app to track your progress. Seeing your accomplishments grow over time creates a sense of achievement and motivates you to keep working. I’ve just 4 more episodes to research and develop after I complete this one today. Another thing I do, as I use whiteboards a lot, is when I complete a task, I don’t wipe it off, I cross it out or I put a tick next to it. As soon as I finish this show, I will put a tick in the ready to record box. This really makes it feel like I’m getting stuff done. I’ll do this same as soon as I have recorded it, and as soon as I have completed its promotional elements.


4. Set Time-Based Challenges

  • Use time limits to focus and boost productivity. For example, give yourself 90 minutes to finish a specific task and see if you can "beat the clock." Tools like the Pomodoro Technique can help. Again, I am doing this right now as I research the show. I have 43 minutes left to complete my research. I have a full day tomorrow to complete 4 episodes. That’ll be a stretch but I will be going for it.


5. Build Daily or Weekly Habits

  • Create consistent habits, such as writing for 30 minutes each morning or pitching to two clients every week. Track these habits in a habit tracker or app, and aim to maintain streaks. I find this a hard one to stay across as a freelancer as my days and weeks can become a total mess with bookings and other worries, but if you can get into the swing of it habit building is a total gamechanger.


6. Use Checklists as Productivity Boosters

  • Turn your to-do list into a productivity checklist. Checking off tasks as you complete them provides a sense of accomplishment and keeps you focused on completing all items. Again, I talked about this a few minutes ago. Using checklists for complex tasks can also dramatically reduce errors, improve efficiency, and enhance overall performance. By breaking down processes into clear, manageable steps and ensuring all aspects are covered, we can perform tasks more effectively, consistently, and reliably and in terms of gamification, it acts in itself as a reward when you put those ticks in the empty boxes.


7. Compete with Yourself

  • Track how long specific tasks take and aim to improve your efficiency over time. For example, if writing a blog post takes 3 hours, try to reduce that time incrementally without sacrificing quality. It’s perfectly possible to do this, perhaps not with everything, but in certain things that you do in your day-to-day life and work. Identify these and give it a go.


8. Celebrate Small Wins

  • Don’t wait for big achievements to celebrate. Acknowledge small wins like sending out invoices, completing admin work, or sticking to your schedule. Small celebrations build momentum. Also clearing up these small enhances our productivity by reducing mental clutter, building momentum, preventing task accumulation, and developing discipline. I’d also add that neglecting to celebrate small wins can lead to a decline in motivation, self-confidence, and growth, slowing down your productivity cycle. Recognizing and appreciating these victories, on the other hand, helps maintain your drive and commitment to continued progress and success.


9. Leverage Accountability

  • Share your goals with a friend, mentor, or accountability partner. Check in regularly to share progress and encourage each other. Knowing someone else is tracking your progress sometimes, but not always increases our motivation.

And finally…


10. Focus on One Priority Task Per Day

  • Choose one "priority task" each day and focus your energy on completing it. This ensures consistent progress and eliminates the overwhelm of trying to do too much at once. Don’t forget when you do this to use SMART goalsetting:


  • Set a Specific, well-defined task.

  • Establish Measurable objectives.

  • Ensure the task is Achievable within a day.

  • Choose tasks Relevant to larger goals.

  • Set a clear Time sensitive daily deadline.

 

This creates a targeted, efficient plan contributing to long-term success.

Gamification is just a buzzword for what good games have been doing all along: providing meaningful experiences. Ian Bogost

So there you go, that’s 10 gamification tactics that might help you become more productive. If you are enjoying the show, I do urge you to subscribe, leave a review on whatever podcast app you listen on, and please do share this episode with a friend or colleague who might benefit from it. I’d be very grateful for the support.

Let me end today with some words from Jane McGonigal who said “The beauty of gamification lies in its ability to make the mundane extraordinary, turning everyday tasks into immersive adventures that transform our lives for the better.” 

Now take control of your own destiny, keep on shooting and join me next time on Film Pro Productivity and Success

 

10 gamification tactics that might help you become more productive.

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© 2018 Carter Ferguson - Film Pro Productivity

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