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Thomas Brush28 Dec 2018

The ONLY 2019 Resolution Indies Should Make

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
Independent developers must shift their primary framework of self-definition from external validation to internal conviction to ensure professional and personal growth.
02
Developers should establish a self-determined vision for their future, setting ambitious goals for game releases, physical fitness, and emotional regulation.
03
Creators should stop focusing on external complaints and instead take full agency over their environment and future professional outcomes.
04
Relying on the opinions of peers, critics, and societal expectations inhibits artistic excellence and undermines individual well-being.
05
While feedback from a select group of trusted mentors remains useful, the broader consensus of the public should not be used as a metric for self-worth.
06
Success is achieved by bridging the gap between internal potential and external output through disciplined, proactive commitment to personal and professional development.

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Transcript

hey guys my name is Thomas brushing the creator of a game called pinstripe I'm also working on a game called once upon a coma now I love making games I've been doing it for 10 years and I want to talk about something a little bit different than what my previous videos are I've been thinking well I want to make something that's gonna go viral a video maybe five steps to X Y & Z but today I want to talk to you about something that's very simple and I want to talk to you about who you are okay this might be sound like a little bit self-help motivational garbage but just hear me out for just a second who are you right as an artist maybe as a game developer as an entrepreneur who do you see yourself as see when I was like 18 to probably 23 or 24 I saw myself through the lens of other people people defined who I was so I would look at maybe what my parents thought which actually was pretty great they were very great parents I looked at maybe family members or even friends and I was honestly very introverted I was

ashamed I would never ever post a video like this online I would never dream of making a extremely personal game like Pinstripe or once upon a coma and do a Kickstarter and do a video and really put myself out there because I was defining myself by what others thought so when you're constantly thinking about what other people think of you suddenly your view of yourself is determined by what other people think but I want to challenge that and actually flip that on its head what if who you are is determined by what you think of who you are so right now right now I would challenge you to think about who you want to be who are you and right now think about who do you want to be at the end of 2019 what is that vision of who you want to be at the end of 2019 do you want to be a game developer do you want to release games do you want to be an entrepreneur an artist see for me at the end of 2019 I see myself releasing an incredible

game called once upon a coma that's wildly successful on all platforms I see myself having a hundred thousand subscribers on YouTube I see myself being continuing physical fitness and getting better at physical fitness and being a great father and a great dad patient never getting angry that's who I see myself as I'm not gonna let anyone else tell me who I am so when I was about 25 and they say that about 25 years old as suddenly when the male brain matures when I was 25 years old I said to myself that I was gonna be an artist I was gonna do this full-time and then I told myself that I was gonna be into physical fitness that's what I was gonna do I was gonna be a game developer and physically fit I was gonna combine the two and that was who I determined I was going to be and part of this comes down to the fact of how you value yourself okay so right now some of you look at yourself and you say well I'm not that valuable so why should I actually pursue perfection why should I pursue dreams to their fullest extent well I would

challenge you and say that you are a hundred percent infinitely more valuable than anyone could ever perceive you are infinitely valuable so start treating yourself that way treat your body in your mind and your skills and the work that you do with with as much value as you truly are and I know that sounds crazy to think so I don't see any problem with looking at yourself in the mirror looking deep down and saying I am an incredible entrepreneur I'm an incredible artist I can work my butt off to make things happen for me I can become 20 times 30 times better than I was last year so I want to challenge you to not use other people as a mirror but start looking at yourself now it is true that there are people in your life that you need to listen to so for me I listen to my dad and I listen to my wife they are my full-length mirrors right they tell me who I am and they help me determine how to become a better person

but I would be careful making everybody your full-length mirror use people who are really close to you who really want to see you become better as opposed to people who maybe might be a little bit jealous of who you are or not want to see you succeed so all this said I want to challenge you for 2019 if you guys want to be indie game developers to not only just pursue a mediocre indie game career but to shoot for the moon right don't let anyone else tell you what you should be doing look at yourself in the mirror after this video and say I want to be the best indie game developer at the end of 2019 and heck why not even go even further become a better person right become a better friend commit to not being angry or frustrated or worrying or what about this how about don't even complain in 2019 commit to all sorts of wonderful beautiful things not

determined what by what other people say you should do or what you should think but by who you want to be because what's on the outside what you do with your work what you do with your body what you do with your art form that is not who you are who you are is inside what's inside is infinitely more valuable than what's on the outside but here's what's really cool as human beings we have the ability to change our environments we have the ability to change ourselves in our future we have the ability to plan and change things so make what's inside match the outside ok that's my challenge for 2019 don't listen to any critique that maybe brings you down obviously it's good to listen to people who offer constructive criticism but look at who you are [Music] based on what I'm saying right now listen to me right that's what I'm saying no I'm saying listen to listen to the the simple concept that your infinitely valuable and and make it

happen make it work for you alright guys my name's Thomas brush I'm the creator of a game called pinstripe also working out a game called once upon a coma I do live streaming every day of game development I make games and sort of show people how I do it and I love doing it that way and I also post vlogs about this kind of stuff today was today's was a little bit more motivational but some things are just simple steps about how to make games if you like this video please subscribe hit the bell icon do all that cool stuff and if you want to support on patreon that would mean the world to me I actually offer coaching for indie game development so if you want to get coached head on over to patreon there's a tier there and this might be great for 2019 get some coaching from someone like me and hopefully we can make great games together that's all I wanted to say thanks guys see ya bye [Music]

Summary

The primary objective for independent game developers in 2019 is to shift the internal framework of self-definition from external validation to internal conviction. The central thesis posits that professional success and personal growth are inhibited when developers rely on the opinions of others to determine their identity. By rejecting the influence of outside critics and societal expectations, developers can cultivate a more resilient, high-value mindset that fosters both artistic excellence and personal well-being.

The core argument emphasizes that individuals possess infinite inherent value, which should dictate their professional ambitions and personal habits. Rather than viewing oneself through the lens of peers or casual observers, developers are encouraged to establish a clear, self-determined vision for their future. This involves setting ambitious goals—such as releasing successful titles, achieving physical fitness, and improving emotional regulation—and aligning one's daily actions with that internal vision. While constructive feedback from a select few trusted mentors remains valuable, the broader consensus of others should not serve as a primary metric for self-worth.

Ultimately, the strategy for a successful year involves bridging the gap between one's internal potential and external output. By treating one's skills, body, and creative work with the respect due to an infinitely valuable individual, developers can move beyond mediocre career trajectories. This approach advocates for a proactive, disciplined commitment to personal and professional development, urging creators to stop complaining and instead take full agency over their environment and future outcomes.