342: Can One Person Kill an Entire Industry? ‘Once Upon Atari’ with Howard Scott Warshaw

In this week’s show, Phil talks to Howard Scott Warshaw, a video game pioneer, an award-winning filmmaker, an innovative technologist, an author, and a Museum of Modern Art artist. He now employs this eclectic skillset as a psychotherapist in California’s Silicon Valley.

His latest book, “Once Upon Atari” (subtitled How I made history by killing an industry) details his exploits at Atari and how they reshaped his life.

Howard talks about why we should remember that goals are only achieved through hard work and perseverance. He also discusses the value to be found in understanding what it is that we really want in life.

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

 

TOP CAREER TIP

Be prepared to pay your dues when it comes to your career. Dreams are all well and good, but always recognize that hard work is required in order to achieve them.

 

WORST CAREER MOMENT

While working on Yars Revenge, Howard insisted on carving out his own path for the game but was forced to admit later that the game he’s insisted upon was not good.

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHT

While being interviewed by Steven Spielberg in order to discuss a game version of Raiders of The Lost Ark, Howard not only got to meet his hero, but also was allowed to tour the Warner Brothers Studio.

 

THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T

IT is so wide open. One piece of tech can often give birth to whole new worlds and ways of thinking. The future is almost boundless when it comes to innovation.

 

THE REVEAL

What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – Computers in college showed Howard a life he wanted to pursue.

What’s the best career advice you received? –That the world of technology is chaotic!

What’s the worst career advice you received? – That he was throwing his life away to make video games.

What would you do if you started your career now? – Howard would focus more on handheld apps

What are your current career objectives? – Howard enjoys taking longstanding problems and applying new ways of solving them.

What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Hypervigilance.

How do you keep your own career energized? – Always try new things and seek out new challenges.

What do you do away from technology? – Movies, TV shows, and exploring new places in his own mind.

 

FINAL CAREER TIP

Understand what it is that you want, and the you that you really wish to be, and then start a journey that takes you, day by day, towards the version of yourself that you wish to be.

 

BEST MOMENTS

(20:13) – Howard – “Most successful products do not realise 100% of their design”

(24:15) – Howard- “Success has a thousand parents, but failure is an orphan”

(26:25) – Howard – “Be prepared to have your dreams corrected. The difference between your fantasy of where you’re trying to get to and the reality of being there can be harsh”

(36:01 – Howard – “IT is at the forefront of the toolset that’s going to help make people’s lives better. To me that’s the most exciting thing you can do”

 

ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS

Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organizations to design, develop, and implement software solutions.  Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers.  And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that