Are you or your kids experts at video games? If so, take advantage of your expertise. Video games can often be metaphors for businesses. Metaphors can provide new insights into how to think strategically.

For example, Angry Birds companies seek to launch that magic bird (a product or service) to knock down the competition. The competition has a well-established structure. Sometimes companies don’t invest enough, and the product launch falls short. Sometimes companies hit part of the established structure and don’t make a dent. It takes solid market research to hit the sweet spot in the established structure to knock it down and provide that unique product or service.

Pac-Man companies need to eat all their dots to get to the next level. These dots represent all the HR, finance, accounting, marketing and supply-chain considerations to make the firm as efficient as possible in a well-defined track (industry). The competition is tough and is definitely out to defeat the company, but sometimes you can use the competition to gain points or an advantage through knowledge of its ways.

Guitar Hero companies are all about being in sync with the music (or customer) in highly customer-oriented businesses such as sales. Extensive market research is required, along with lots of practice. Knowing when to strum and ding at the right time will allow companies to score as many points (profits) as possible.

Mario Brothers companies remind us that life is not all about seeking those gold coins. There are different characters every company has not only to enhance the search for gold coins but to enhance the culture. Popular leaders such as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad and Yoshi can gain special powers from time to time to move the company forward. Antagonists such as Bowser and King Boo can sometimes cause problems, but this is part of the rich experience of corporate life.

Even relatively unknown support characters such as Toadette should not be ignored. Folks such as middle managers are often the glue that keeps company communications running smoothly.

Tetris companies remind us to clean up our messes. If we allow unethical behavior and other problems to continue, eventually more and more problems build up until they become unbearable.

Pokemon companies show how to build coalitions of friends and allies. Existing clients, vendors, references, suppliers and distributors can be powerful forces for your business. Diversification of your various Pokemon is the key to ensuring that you can handle challenges as they occur.

Mahjong companies show us that in many moves, there is risk in the unknown. Corporate managers need to take calculated risks to succeed. Sometimes the economy tanks. Sometimes the competition comes up with great innovations. With Mahjong, you may lose because of unexpected tiles. Keep trying. Don’t give up.

Wii Fit companies reveal that sometimes being in business is good for your mental and physical health. Being in business is not all about making the most money. It is also about developing a lifestyle that is healthy through good work habits.

In summary, our Idaho companies Sims to have the Call of Duty to use video games to Just Dance beyond the Asteroids and achieve Super Smash success in Mortal Kombat with the Resident Evil competition.

Gundars Kaupins, professor of management, Boise State College of Business and Economics. gkaupins@boisestate.edu