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My last blog was more focussed specifically on running a tournament and my aspirations. This one is going to be a bit more focussed on everything as a whole in eSports.
In eSports we are a rather volatile community. As much as I want to be involved and be the best I can be, there are always huge challenges and I start to see them more and more each day. One such event is criticism of event management as well as production quality. I will admit, I am also a terrible person for this. I have a terrible habit of complaining about stuff that I think is wrong 9 times more than praising that which is executed brilliantly.
MLG has been on the HotS seat (Kappa) recently with the whole WCS AM not living up compared to the other parts of WCS. The games were still relatively good, but the production, the hype and the overall feel of the tournament was a let down. Don't get me wrong. This isn't meant to be a dig on MLG as I well know running a tournament with high quality is harder than most people would actually realize. I would bet any denomination of money that they were incredibly rushed by Blizzard as well as the other parts to WCS.
However the open criticism is also causing hesitation on my part. Should I actually go all in on this and have it blow up in my face because of a negative image it would be devastating. If I don't go all out though I never have the ability to properly do what I need done...
Thus is my dilemma,
Thoughts?
 
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As a person with some experience in what you're aspiring to do, I can tell you without doubt that no matter what you do or how much good you do for the community, there will always be someone to hate on your efforts. To compound things, most of your efforts in this arena will go unrecognized and un-thanked.
I spent some time trying to figure out how to write something meaningful to say to you without sounding bitter, but the reality is that I am a little bitter about my time spent on "that side" of eSports, and one of the best decisions I've made in the past few years was leaving it behind. I definitely met some cool and great people along the way - and people I am friends with to this day, but for nearly every bright spot along the way, there is a dark spot; one of many ugly and depressing truths about eSports that are not spoken about often in public forum.
My honest recommendation to someone now, where you are, would be to forsake this pursuit and spend your time and energy on something that is more productive to your life in the long run. Someone with the drive to even consider something like this already has a leg up in the professional world, and regardless of what your skillset is, I can assure you that there are managers and business owners that would kill to have people with that kind of self-determination on their team. Grab a job and choose to focus that energy on improving the company - it will pay off. If you are dead-set on the eSports thing, you'd better grow a thick skin because criticism is going to be the least of your problems along the way.
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Definite thank you for the feedback. I am still going to try for it now seeing as it is sort of a side hobby. I enjoy running my tournaments on the side even though it is all out of pocket and at no gain for myself other than to chat with all of these players, casters and personalities along the way. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see this go super explosive and give me the ability to devote my life 100 percent to that but it is also not feasible for me at the current time.
As for finding a good job and devoting to that, the biggest issue I have is I need to feel very much engaged by what I am doing. If the job bores me or feels insignificant, I tend to do a rather shitty job. I can admit it. I am still a young guy and definitely have growing up to do. I need to get over myself. Being in my twenties I still have time to change my path but I need that push, I need that one thing that someone can sell on me as really mattering. If you can't sell me your product or business then how do you expect me to work towards it y'know?
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If you don't have plans for it to be super big, I don't see why people would go all hate on it.
Wcs AM got so much hate is because people expect it to be better or different to what they expected.
As long as the whole thing runs smoothly, it's already a good achievement. Then you can consider improving it to next level etc.
Rarely would anyone actually praise a tournament is amazing etc unless it is like gsl or Dreamhack level. So as long as you think it's up to your expectation, then it's all good.
Don't beat yourself down before trying it out :-)
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EPT
