Nerdlympics

VO: Get ready for your semi-regular dose of random ideas from the guys at Codelation. We like to talk about big ideas companies that are winning, and those that aren't along with current events in our crazy world of software startups. So come along with Erick and Josh, who challenge you to think big, start small and turn your ideas into something on this episode of, from idea to done.

Josh: Hey everyone, I'm Josh

Erick: And I'm Erick and today's idea is company culture as the, the unofficial slash super official culture person in our office. I devised a little event. What kind of get into that a little bit later, but Josh, as a business owner, can you give me some of your thoughts on how to prove our company culture?

Josh: I think the main element to company culture is knowing your team what's important to them. You don't really what's happening in their personal life. Uh, we just really want to be around each other at the end of the day,

Erick: A little bit about culture before on the show, but I think trying to care about everyone and being inclusive is the first step that basically no one does. And so I've kind of taken a lead in starting some culture events. And I looked at our projects and kind of tied mild cultural awards to us, finishing some big projects on time and on budget.

Josh: And I can absolutely appreciate that. You've been able to run with those items and help celebrate the small wins we've had. It's far too easy to just say yep. Onto the next

Erick: Right. And some, with some brief chats with our nerds, I decided to create a little event based on those competent or conversations. I went to our friend at Replay Games and I've rented out their facility and we're going to have the inaugural Nerdlympics

Josh: For those listening, who do, uh, don't know what Replay Games is. Can you explain their business a little bit?

Erick: Basically a friend of mine who used to work with me back when Toys R Us was a company. He started his own video game company. And so he owns basically every console that's ever been creative and a lot of games for each system. And then he just has a ton of TVs and comfy chairs kind of set up and you go there and you just rent by the hour to play basically any game ever.

Josh: Awesome shamefully. I've never been there, but CJ is a good guy. So look into change that fact about me, of me not being there. So Eric, let's talk about the nerd Olympics.

Erick: One of the options that replay games has is a party package. And so you get a three-hour block of time to yourself. And I wanted to give like all the nerds, 15 minutes to get their best overall score on various games on various system. And scoring will be the same point system as in Mario kart. And we'll have a big spreadsheet tracking everyone's single game and overall score.

Josh: Oh boy, well, this sounds like I'm doomed to lose unless I can bring the sixth grade version of me and super Mario too. So a little backstory when I was 12, I set up a neighborhood competition and the winner took home a year's worth of Nintendo power magazines. What, I didn't tell anyone it was the prior year's used Nintendo power magazines. So good thing. I want it anyway, which Mario Kart

Erick: That you tricked your neighborhood. It's taking your old magazines, but then you, you got stuck with them. But our scoring system is going to obviously be based on the latest Mario kart game, which is Mario kart 8

Josh: Okay. Okay. I old man here. So anyway, you're building out a competition, picking the games and probably play video games most out of 81 on our staff right now. I,

Erick: It seems like an amazing idea to me. I mean, can we have the prize be all of the 1989 Nintendo power magazine.

Josh: How old do you think I am? It was obviously 1993.

Erick: Fair enough. Either way. I love them and I want them all. And so we'll have a followup episode with the results of our Nerdlympics.

Josh: Thank you for listening to this episode. If you know a startup that could use our random advice and thoughts, have them subscribe and leave a review on iTunes.