Why is Pokemon Go So Popular? What does it Mean to Your Success in Career or Business?

By now the Pokemon Go craze has swept the entire world except Iran. For those that may not be familiar, Pokemon Go is a free mobile game available since July 2016 that integrates your location service with your camera. 

To play Pokemon Go is very easy: you just have to look for Pokemons that could be hidden in your everyday life, like your garden, park or even office.  When you find and catch them, you will be recognized in the world. You will be motivated to go to the next level and find further joy! 

In short, Pokemon Go combines social interaction with individual patience and alertness to win not points or money, but recognition.

I had my very first game on Saturday 6th August 2016 in Singapore. I only played for 5 minutes but on Sunday, I caught a Pokemon sitting at the 7th month dinner table that I was attending. The strange thing is that when I moved across the table, the Pokemon was gone!  

Three Reasons Why Pokemon Go is So Popular and How to Apply Its Popularity to Your Career and Business Now

1. Instant Rush

Those who play mobile games know that you will get instant rush or mood boosting chemicals called endorphin for a simple task. When you complete any level, your brain recognizes your achievement, and you get hit with an endorphin rush. Pokemon Go does exactly this with every Pokemon catch. But you know what else is good at producing endorphin? Exercise. And when you move around to chase Pokemon, your brain gets a double dose of endorphin. More instant rush! 

Application: 

Find something that gives you a rush. Even rushing for deadlines or discount vouchers will make people move and not so reactive. The best push are short term rewards, and rewards that people feel that they can achieve easily with minimum effort. 

2. Social Interaction

When you play Pokemon Go, you need to get out of your house, walk or drive and interact with other players. You will communicate with strangers and exchange ideas and tips on where to locate the next Pokemon. 

Humans like interacting with new people for they have no prejudice and we can be totally at ease when we are with them.  Interacting with people with no business reason also makes the interaction genuine and more sustainable. 

When we show our new friends where to find Pokemon, we get instant praise. What a motivation! 

Application:

Interacting with new people at work, and getting praises for our little achievements, gives us meaning and validation that we are okay individuals, and this is an instant boost to our self-esteem. 

3. Money is Not There

Yes, there is no money to be made in playing Pokemon Go. Also, unlike many mobile games, you cannot use money to buy weapons to make your game more powerful. 

You need one and only thing to succeed in Pokemon Go: Patience

Application: 

Take away the money element in your workplace. Tell people that they will be rewarded with things that money cannot buy, like love, recognition, social status and admiration. 

In short, Instant Rush, Social Interaction and No Money are the top 3 reasons for Pokemon Go to be so popular. You too can apply these concepts to your career and business now.  Happy playing the game of life! 

By AndyTheCoach at www.asiatrainers.com  Watch Andy in action at www.youtube.com/AndyNgCoach/videos