Goodbye Jim, I'll miss you.
Some words for my late friend Jim Rutt, who lit the spark of a better game
Beyond saddened to hear of the passing of the incredible Jim Rutt.
It’s hard to express the impact Jim made on me. Not only was he was one of the key originators of the Game B movement, which massively inspired my thinking (and even helped kickstart Win-Win) but he was a living demonstration of how one can tackle the heaviest topics in the world head-on, and do so with bravery, grace and endless good humour.
See for yourself what I mean - it’s really hard to combine such deep insights, technical chops, and ebullient comedy into one person, but Jim managed it effortlessly, making him probably my favourite interviewee ever:
On top of that, Jim also was one of the most hardworking, deeply researched podcasters there ever was (go look up the Jim Rutt Show to see what I mean). You can dive in anywhere, but I expect he’d particularly like you to listen to his final “Worldviews” episodes, which he chose to pivot to upon learning of his terminal illness.
Plus, he was also a prolific writer right here on Substack. And it would mean so much if you, as my readers, took some time to read some of his recent essays, which are not only deeply relevant for our shared mission of trying to design a better world, but because they are also the final thoughts of a man who knew his time was shortly coming, and selflessly gave his last months to writing those words, as a final gift to us all.
So thank you, dear Jim.
Thank you for all your wisdom, and thank you for passing it on to us with the wit and lightness and effort it warrants. You lit the torch of a better game, and the rest of us will now continue to grow it, and pass it on to the next generation, to keep the great game going for as long as it can.
I know you’re giggling at us from the infinite place. And I suspect that place is shaped like the letter B.