Hello readers! It’s time for chapter 8: Bringing Your Loyalty 3.0 Program to Life. In this chapter Paharia debunks the idea that hiring game designers to be on staff is helpful. He shows us that gamification doesn’t just mean animated games, it is so much more. Through step two of his process, the author highlights key activities that a company would want their consumers to do. Pages 213-214 lists tactics such as, ‘goals, badges, and points,’ to name a few. My favorite method was collaboration, “users can be a part of their team representing their local school. When the team’s aggregate purchases reach $10,000, the school earns a reward” (Paharia, 2013). This quote gave me so much nostalgia. I remember in elementary school, working with non-profits or other organizations to sell candy, raise money for charity, or gather food cans/box tops. As we were raising money, we were also working to win an awesome prize, either for the top class or the school as a whole. When we got older, my high school would do similar challenges, but have each grade compete against each other. It was so much fun. We had a night called clash of classes, and usually it came down to the Juniors vs the Seniors; by default, the underclassmen would then help the Juniors to beat the older students. While it is super simple, it is such an effective strategy at getting anyone to compete and participate. If schools can get unbothered teens to engage, businesses can do the same with their target markets.
One other topic that stood out to me was about designing an experience that motivates. The major point is to tell a story. One that compels, evokes emotion within your team, but most importantly resonates through their personas and environment. Through their perspective, does it tell their story? If not, you are speaking to the wrong audience. Further, a quote was mentioned to keep in mind while pursuing this step: “Perfect is the enemy of good” (Paharia, 2013, pg. 219). This quote from Voltaire made me sit and ponder for a while. Eventually I looked up the intended meaning, “striving for perfection often prevents the completion or implementation of a good, functional result” (Mosunic, 2025). Immediately from the Christian standpoint I thought of two things: Jesus Christ & obtaining salvation.
- I myself struggling with the pursuit of perfection. I feel the need to not only be good at things, but flawless. Sometimes I fear failing more than I love winning, and it shows mostly in the sport I play. I have had to do a lot of work with God on my mentality, and reflecting on who I am in Christ, than identifying with failures or imperfections. It is vital to remember the only perfect person that has walked and will ever walk this Earth, is Jesus. So I will fail every single time if that is my only goal. Instead, I can strive to look and act more like Christ every day.
- Many people struggle with trying to clean their lives us before they come to Christ. They lack the biblical understanding that God can see all and is all-knowing. Therefore, we cannot hide our sins and faults from Him. God actually wants ever honest imperfection in our lives, and then He can make us white as snow! This Voltaire quote speaks volumes to that. When people strive to get ‘good enough’ for the presence of God, they are being counterproductive, because they will never reach that standard. They prevent themselves from allowing God to transform them.
Mosunic, C. (2025). “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good”: 7 tips for perfectionists. Calm
Editorial Team. https://www.calm.com/blog/dont-let-perfect-be-the-enemy-of-good
Paharia, R. (2013). Loyalty 3.0: How big data and gamification are revolutionizing customer and
employee engagement. McGraw-Hill Education