How Did Tony Hawk Build a Successful Video Game Empire?

TL;DR

Tony Hawk built a successful video game empire by collaborating closely with Activision on what began as a passion project, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, which became a blockbuster. His background as a skateboarder taught him resilience and the ability to identify opportunities, which he applies to his investments and business ventures, including his new show 'Funded.'

Transcript

I think that once the video games exploded in terms of popularity, that's when I realized that I had become a brand, like my name was a brand and so, for me, I just realized at the time, oh, I have this voice and people are listening and I could do something good with it. For both myself and Tony Hawk, it's more the access that you get once you get... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎮 Tony Hawk's video game empire was built on a passion project, showcasing the value of pursuing what excites you.
• 🧑‍🏫 Skateboarding's influence taught Hawk the importance of perseverance and the willingness to take risks, traits that contribute to his success in investments.
• 🤫 The skater mentality of always seeking what's next and progress enables Hawk to spot opportunities and approach different fields with an innovative lens.
• 🙈 Virtual reality shows potential in various industries, with architectural design being an area where Hawk sees significant value.
• 🥺 Hawk's experience in different fields and his understanding of business operations led him to create a system for building and accelerating start-ups, known as the Dyrdek machine.
• 👨‍💼 Tony Hawk's show "Funded" on NBC aims to accelerate investments through a business show centered around capitalism and a fund.
• 🦧 Hawk's investment strategy is often guided by personal interest and gut feeling, rather than solely employing investment strategies.
• 🎙️ More videos with Rob Dyrdek / Tony Hawk:
  • How I Got A Playboy Model Wife - Rob Dyrdek
  • "Use These 5 DAILY HABITS To Manifest Success & The LAW OF ATTRACTION…
  • Joe Rogan Experience #1477 - Tony Hawk

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Tony Hawk turn his brand into a video game empire?

Tony Hawk got involved in creating a video game by working with Activision on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Initially a passion project, it became a huge success due to Hawk's hands-on involvement and dedication to making a game that skaters would enjoy.

Q: What makes being a skateboarder beneficial for investing in start-ups?

Skateboarding teaches individuals to deal with failure, persevere, and always seek progress. The skater mentality encourages them to constantly look for new opportunities and approach the world from an innovative perspective, which translates well into the world of investing.

Q: Will there be virtual reality games in the Tony Hawk franchise?

While virtual reality is intriguing to Tony Hawk, he believes that the first-person perspective in skateboarding games may cause motion sickness. However, he sees potential for virtual reality in architecture, where users can experience designs before they are built.

Q: Why does Tony Hawk invest in so many start-ups?

Tony Hawk's background as an entrepreneur, professional skateboarder, and TV celebrity has given him a unique understanding of business operations and how to accelerate growth. He created the Dyrdek machine, which combines all his experiences into a system for building and investing in start-ups.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Tony Hawk unexpectedly built a video game empire by working closely with Activision on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, a passion project that ended up becoming a blockbuster game.

• As a skateboarder, Hawk believes that the ability to deal with failure and persevere is key to his success in investments and other ventures.

• Hawk and others in the skateboarding community are always focused on what's next, which allows them to see opportunities and innovate in different fields.