How To Make Millions Playing World Of Warcraft (The Hard Way)

Stephen Gillett was at one time the youngest chief information officer on the Fortune 500. How’d he get there? Playing a ton of World of Warcraft, of course.

It’s not the grinding that got him there, nor the neglect of a personal life outside of the game. No, Gillett says it’s the leadership skills developed through becoming the head of one of the game’s guilds that are to thank for his fat paychecks and nice suits.

Speaking at a tech conference, Gillett’s former boss at Starbucks, John Hagel III, says guild leaders “require a high degree of influence”, in that they need to go out on their own, recruit allies then overcome obstacles as a group using sometimes complex strategies.

“You have to be able to influence and persuade people—not order them to do things” he says. “Ordering people in most of these guilds doesn’t get you far.”

If there’s a Fortune 500 company out there looking for someone able to recruit large armies, manage complex global trade routes and maintain delicate international relations, I’m your man. And when I make my first million, I’ll thank you, Empire: Total War.

Entrepreneurs Get An Edge Playing Videogames [Forbes]