Kazuhisa Hashimoto entered the ranks of video game legends in 1986.
After being recruited from college in 1981 by Konami … a dominant force in video arcades of the time … he no doubt had dreams of hitting it big.
And BIG he hit it all right.
His work was immortalized forever in the mantra…
Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A
This is the (infamous) “Konami Code”.
Meant to be a help during game development. It gave play testers of Gradius and other Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) games 30 extra lives … And all the powerups too … Very handy!
But:
Someone whoopsied-up! 🤦♂️
And the code wasn’t removed prior to shipping.
Now, cheating while you’re getting to grips with a game can be a godsend.
So…
Many struggling 1980s gamers were very thankful for Kazuhisa Hashimoto!
Here’s the thing for us freelancers:
It’s very tempting to look for a quick Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A to skip straight to freelancer boss-level.
I spent far too long looking for it in YouTube guru-land. Hoping to find it in A-lister led gated communities. Doing course after course.
But you know what? Once I’d come back to Earth a bit, I eventually realized…
There IS a freelancer cheat code!
Not one that gives the instant boost that we seem wired to want. But a boost all the same.
You see… the real cheat code is…
Building relationships with fellow freelancers.
Maybe this is all self-evident and you’re like… “Chris, you DIDN’T know this?”
Or maybe you also need a penny-drop moment.
Whatever the case…
Don’t be a slow learner like me…
Build up those relationships!
I wouldn’t be writing this email today, if it weren’t for the people I eventually connected with who are on a similar journey to me. People who offered encouragement and know-how. Many I now call friends.
I also offered what I could… doing things like starting support groups. And using my skills to help other freelancers.
So… if you rely on this cheat code as well…
My money is on you having a much happier and more prosperous freelancing life. 😄
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Chris Milham