My sisters play Hay Day. It's a popular mobile game where you build and manage your own farm. They frequently chat about what they're growing, whose horses are running freely on the roads, and who generously shares their supplies. It's creating a fun, common bond among siblings separated by time and distance. Frankly, I felt left out.
At the same time, I avoided getting involved. I told myself it was a waste of time.
Then my cooler-than-Justin-Bieber teenage nephew spontaneously told his Grandma, my big sister, that I need to play Hay Day on my big a$$ iPad (i.e., iPad Pro).
Well, when your award-winning snowboarding, skateboarding great-nephew thinks his Aunt is cool enough to play Hay Day, it's game on!
Business Skills Doppelgänger
It's surprising to experience the similarities between amusing oneself on Hay Day and business building. Could it be a valuable tool to honing one's business skills, without the financial risk?
Downloading the app is similar to launching your business. Time is allocated to learn the basic workings -- like when you start your business. Decisions are made that fit the way you work best.
Naming your farm is no different than naming a business. It's a piece of your identity that represents your attributes and values to the market. It's important enough to give careful consideration to choosing the right name.
"Location, location, location" is important for business success. It is being at the right spot where business flourishes. For Hay Day, the location of your fields, chicken coop, bakery, barn, and silos influences performance.
Speaking of fields... Successful farmers plant strategically. This ensures the correct quantity of crops is available to make the feed needed for the chickens to lay eggs. After all, without feed, the chickens go belly up -- literally. No one wants to see that. Doesn't this sound just amazingly similar to strategic planning and resource allocation? Trust me, just like in Hay Day, it doesn't happen on its own.
Then there is the grumpy old man, the happily annoying little girl shopping for her "grandma," and the Mary Poppins look-alike who randomly stop by the farm requesting to make a purchase. Like your business, you serve a variety of clientele. Can you tell which one best matches the buyer persona you've selected to serve through your products and services?
Of course, good strategic planning creates growth. And, as your business grows so does the need for capacity. Purchases needed for expansion require pre-planning and a budget. So it is with Hay Day. Hopefully, you've saved for equipment to remove stumps, cut down trees, and pulverize boulders. If not, things stagnate, like business.
There's no resting on your laurels -- on your Hay Day "farm" or in business. The land is continually surveyed for new opportunities.
On the "farm" -- as in business -- it's all out growing, selling, delivering, and resource allocation. That is, until a problem develops. (For me, I'm still missing a bolt to expand my silo capacity.) Where do you turn for help?
As far as I know, there aren't any instructions. You're on your own to figure out how to run and grow a farm that is successful and thriving until your farm becomes large enough to access assistance.
Sadly, access to help for the small farmer is eerily familiar for the small business entrepreneur. (This is why we've geared our services for the small business entrepreneur.)
Overall, Hay Day is truly a game of honing strategic business skills. From strategic thinking to planning to budgeting to resource allocation -- each move you make on the "farm," as in business, determines the degree of success or struggle you'll experience.
So, if you decide to jump in to hone your skills, be sure to look me up. You'll find me at "YaYa's" on Hay Day.
Business Skills You Can Learn From Playing Hay Day first appeared on Synnovatia's small business growth blog.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.