Three Lessons You’ll Only Learn by Switching Industries

When I left video game development to design plush toys, people thought it was a wild leap where I needed to start from scratch. In reality, moving between industries does not mean leaving your past behind. Instead, it means sorting your habits and skills into two categories: what accelerates you in your new field and what slows you down. Over the years, I have learned three lessons that apply to anyone considering or undergoing a transition.

1. Prototype in public

In games, we often hid our half-built work until it was polished and perfect. However, when I transitioned into consumer products, I discovered something that applies across industries: sharing early, rough prototypes and being open and transparent about them can actually spark more engagement than the finished product. 

The key is reframing the development loop. People, especially Millennials and Gen Z, want to be part of the messy middle and love exploring work-in-progress content. Sharing raw drafts builds trust, invites feedback and creates loyalty. If you are moving into a new industry, resist the instinct to hide your rough work. Put it out there, even when it feels unready.

Please select this link to read the complete article from SmartBrief.