Hello – my name is Jon, and I am a gamer. I’m also a professional.
For many years, I did not think these two areas of my life had anything in common.
But the more I studied and taught real world success, the more I realized that the same habits and traits are practiced while playing video games.
Now it’s my personal mission to share with others how life and leadership lessons can be learned from video games.
Author of Mastering The Game: What Video Games Can Teach Us About Success In 
Life please stop by http://allegamy.com/ or purchase on Amazon HERE
About Classically Trained
Did you ever hear that video games will rot your brain? Well, to start with it’s not true. Not even the worst reality TV will do that (at least, I don’t think so). But what I have noticed is that there are many Life and Leadership lessons that can be learned or even put into practice in video games, that also can transfer over to real life.
My ideas have been featured or cited in a range of publications, including:
~ Entrepreneur Magazine
~ FastCompany
~ The Computer Games Journal
~The Good Men Project
~ LifeHacker Article 1 Article 2
~ Monster
~ NY Daily News
~ South Florida Supercon 2014
~ N4G
~ CNN iReport
Interviews
Gamertag Radio
Starve The Doubts Podcast
Fatherhood is Leadership Podcast
Trivial Warfare: Video Game Showdown v.s. Chris Kohler of Wired
Vroom Vroom Veer Podcast
Ask Pat Podcast
The Empowered Podcast
My Credentials
I’m an 80’s kid who grew up with video games still being a bit of a fad. I have awesome parents who did not let me over indulge, but they were to thank for my 1st home Pong game, my Atari 2600, and most importantly, my NES. I was a bit nerdy, but never really off the charts (unless recording the Bubble Man stage background music with a cassette player as a kid, so that I could listen to later counts).
I also was a semi-finalist in the 1st Blockbuster Video World Championships, competing in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, all the way back in… 1994 (whoa, I feel old all of a sudden).
And along with a college buddy, we cleaned up at a Pokemon competition back in the early 2000’s.
Just to clarify, I’m not a “Professional Gamer,” but I am a “Professional, Gamer.” In other words, I don’t get paid for playing video games (though I’m not opposed to the idea), and I am not competitive enough to beat you at every game ever made. I am, however, a gamer who is also employed in a Professional role.
Professional Credentials
MBA with a specialization in Human Resource Management
Bachelors Degree in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy
Organizational Development Certified Consultant (ODCC)
Development Dimensions International Certified Trainer
I am currently the Director of Learning & Organizational Development at a University, were another passion of mine is put to good use: Leadership development.
Time management, conflict resolution, leading others successfully, process improvement, decision making, communicating effectively, critical thinking, personal accountability, customer service, and teambuilding are all topics that I have created and taught classes on.
I also work a personal development coach and speaker.
Personal
I’m a husband of a super-awesome wife, father to an amazing son (who had gaming roots before even leaving the hospital – more about that later).
- Husband
- Father
- Florida Native
- Christian
- Gamer
- Graphic Artist
- Car Enthusiast
- Music Fan: Chiptune, JRock, Synthpop, Rock, Metal, Spanish, Classical, Gothic, and all kinds of other wacky sounds.
My Ever Changing Top 10 Game List (In no specific order)
1. Castlevania: SOTN
2. Mega Man 2
3. Final Fantasy VII
4. Final Fantasy VI
5. Super Street Fighter IV
6. Super Metroid
7. Samurai Shodown Anthology
8. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
9. Half Life 2
10. Devil May Cry
