Curse of the Haunted Demo

You’re part of a team presenting your new work tracker app, “BuddyBot,” to a client over a video call. As the product manager introduces the app, everything seems fine—until BuddyBot starts spouting pirate phrases.Notifications read: “Arrr, matey! Ye have three deadlines awaitin’!” The client’s eyebrows raise and your product manager’s wide-eyed look says it all: things are not going as planned.You're no stranger to bugs during a demo, but you have no idea what's going on. Can you turn this around while keeping the client’s trust and the team’s spirits up?

• Use humor to diffuse the situation, claiming that the pirate slang is an easter egg
• Explain the technical glitch calmly, using straightforward language to keep the client’s confidence.

Diffusing the Situation

Let's see how well this tactic works. Roll the dice to determine the outcome.

• I rolled 4 - 6
• I rolled 1 - 2

It's a Feature, Not a Bug

You jokingly introduce “Pirate Mode” as a quirky feature, making the client laugh. They seem amused and intrigued, lightening the mood and keeping them engaged. Your teammates chuckle nervously...

• Continue the demo with a little pep in your step

Say What Now?

The client looks skeptical, and you sense they’re not buying the “fun feature” angle. Your project manager’s eyebrows shoot up—this one might need some damage control.

• Take a deep breath and continue the demo...

Explain the Glitch

Let's see how well this tactic works. Roll the dice to determine the outcome.

• I rolled a 4 - 6
• I rolled a 1 - 3

Here's What's Going On...

You explain it’s a small bug from testing that snuck into the demo and reassure the client it will be fixed. They’re impressed by your clarity and transparency, and their trust in the team remains intact.

• Impressive. Continue the demo.

Hyper-Algorithmic Optimization

Your explanation veers into tech jargon, and the client starts looking lost. Your project manager starts jumping in to clarify, but the confusion lingers.

• Welp. Continue the demo.

Uh, That's New

With BuddyBot now back on track, you’re about to demo the main features. But as you click, the screen freezes on an upside-down logo. The client hasn't noticed yet.Visible beads of sweat collect on the product manager's forehead.

• Suggest a brief break so you can troubleshoot behind the scenes.
• Attempt to refresh the app quietly while your product manager keeps presenting.

Staying Resilient

Let's see how well this tactic works. Roll the dice to determine the outcome.

• I rolled a 4 - 6
• I rolled a 1-3

Quick Bathroom Break

You calmly suggest a short break, giving you a moment to fix the issue.The client nods and seems to appreciate the professional approach, and the demo resumes smoothly.

• Nice job! Wrap up the demo.

We Only Have an Hour...

The client sighs, slightly annoyed by the delay, and your product manager’s shoulders slump. The pressure builds as you troubleshoot, but you manage to debug the problem.

• You thank them for waiting. Wrap up the demo.

Keep Your Calm

Let's see how well this tactic works. Roll the dice to determine the outcome.

• I rolled a 3 - 6
• I rolled a 1 - 2

Nothing to See Here...

You stealthily refresh the app, and it loads back up smoothly. The client doesn’t even notice the glitch, and you’re able to continue seamlessly.

• I am UNBEATABLE. Wrap up the demo.

Caught in the Act

The app refuses to refresh, and the client asks if everything is alright. The product manager looks to you to explain, and you feel the heat rising.

• You confess. Wrap up the demo.

Blue Screen of Death

While the product manager addresses one of the client's questions, your computer is taken over by the Blue Screen of Death. An old foe. But something's different...The text on the screen reads:

Begin Your Appeal

Let's see how well this tactic works. Roll the dice to determine the outcome.

• I rolled a 2-6
• I rolled a 1

Are You Daft?

You lean over and whisper to your machine. Of course, you left your microphone unmuted and your video takes front and center on the call. Everyone can see you hovering over your keyboard, begging to an invisible force.Your appeal falls on confused ears.

• Just a bad joke! End this nightmare.

Ones and Zeroes

You pet the computer without looking and, through gritted teeth, beg it to stop haunting my code, please!The ghost in the machine takes pity on you. Immediately, the blue screen of death dissolves and everything is back to normal. No one even noticed you quickly losing your composure.The team calls your name for review of the final feature. You've been staring at your screen for an uncomfortable amount of time. "Oh, sorry! Bad connection."

• End this nightmare.

The Demo is Over!

Thank you for giving this a go! I hope it was fun.

What you just experienced is a form of game-based learning. This approach helps develop key skills in a fun, interactive environment. I use this method alongside videos, worksheets, workshops, and other teaching tools to help you develop soft skills.

No matter how the scenario shook out, you made it through. Scenarios like this one give us a chance to take risks, embrace failure, and learn from outcomes without the risk of consequences. This is what makes playful learning such a successful method for developing and improving soft skills.

Just now, you practiced:

Before you head out...

Take a moment to reflect on the paths you chose - what could've gone better (or worse)?The more you practice, the better you’ll be at tackling challenges with grace and confidence.

• Back to home
• Start Over

Meet the Gamemaster

How HuMindWise Came to Be

Hey folks! I’m Lissy, and I’ve spent the last decade in the world of technology as a user experience designer. My journey with serious games began in high school, igniting a passion that led me to Michigan State, where I earned a master’s in Human-Computer Interaction along with a certificate in Serious Games.I was fortunate enough to land a job before graduation—sounds lucky, right? But the reality was that my education didn’t fully prepare me for the tech industry. I found myself tossed into the deep end, one of only two designers in the entire company.Over the years, I had to learn on the job: how to persuade stakeholders, craft compelling stories, and advocate for my ideas—all while maintaining my sanity, my relationships, and my job. I had to create my own professional growth with little guidance beyond the hard skills.For me and many others, the tech world can be isolating, stressful, and overwhelming. Somewhere along the way, the focus on developing soft skills faded away. These are the foundational skills that aren’t taught in courses, that require practice to master, and that fight burnout, stress, and imposter syndrome.But here’s the catch: developing these skills demands time, energy, and social interaction. And that’s where I come in!In 2024, after being laid off, I was burnt out and ready to leave tech for good. But my friends continued to share their stories and their struggles, pulling me back in with a sense of purpose.I knew I couldn't take on the corporate world and make things better from the top. But the corporate world is made of you and me! And that, I can help with.

This is Why I Founded HuMindWise

Play is the perfect way to achieve this. It’s the perfect way to learn, experiment, and grow without the fear of failure.Gaming has always been part of my journey. I may be an adult, but I’ve never stopped playing! From video games and board games to Dungeons and Dragons and other tabletop role-playing games, I embrace the joy of play.So welcome to the campaign—the one where we bring joy back to work!

Join Professional Humans

The Professional Humans community helps humanize the hustle by reducing isolation, promoting connection, and helping each other.

What’s a Professional Human? You! No matter where you are in your journey, you’re the expert on YOU. Join our vibrant community of tech adventurers, where you can connect, learn, and share stories in a safe, inclusive space.

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One on One Sessions Powered By Play

In our 50 minute one-on-one sessions, we’ll tackle imposter syndrome, boost your confidence, and turn stress into progress using game-based exercises designed to build real soft skills.You’ll get personalized support, access to the Professional Humans community, and a digital Miro board packed with resources just for you. Every session is tailored to what you need and uses game based learning to help you nail skills like storytelling, collaboration, and resilience.Sessions are $200 each, or $950 for a bundle of 6 (Save $250)
Book a free call—let’s see if we vibe!

Limited Time Offer!

For a limited time, sessions are available for just $75 each! As part of this early access phase, you’ll enjoy personalized one-on-one sessions at a special rate while helping me enhance this unique experience with your valuable feedback. This exclusive opportunity is offered to a small group, so don’t miss your chance to reserve your spot today!

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Get in Touch

Let's run into each other, digitally!

Community is important to me BUT I'm kinda shy. That, combined with remote work, pandemics, etc makes it hard to meet folks. That's why I have coffee chats! If you'd like to meet just to talk and get to know each other, please find a slot on my calendar. Some topics that could be fun:

Feeling shy? Dude, me too! Try the scary thing anyway.

• Find a Slot

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