This was first published on Linkedin November 2020 by Darcien Balog. ![]() What do you say when your adult daughter, and mother of your first grandbaby, calls with a great idea and asks you, "Mom, will you do it?" Yes. You say yes. And I'm glad I did. I am now the COO, the Jack-of-all-trades, of Twilight Tabletop Games, LLC. I didn't start as the COO, Chief Officer of Operations, though. In fact, I was just supposed to be an artist, illustrating her mini module with 20 NPCs (non-playing characters). That's a lot, by the way, for one mini-module. But more on that later. And here's how you, too, can become the COO to your daughter's dream. Step One: Agree to be an ArtistOne afternoon, we discussed the project and what the art style would need to be (if you've never played pen and paper roll playing games, you likely still know the aesthetic. It has a realistic animated feel while still playing to fantastical creations, you know: minotaurs, dragons, and improbable mixed-species heroes like half-human/half-cat. Think Dungeons and Dragons or Pathfinder). The thought suddenly popped into my head, "You know, Daughter (I don't really call her that), Oma is graduating with her bachelors of fine arts degree. Maybe you should ask her to illustrate this. These portraits are right up her ally." My daughter liked the idea and asked her Oma (grandmother) who said, "Sure." Out of a job, but still a student in college myself, I settled back with a feeling of satisfaction. I'd made a legitimate well-mated connection. Step Two: Agree to be an AuthorA short time later, my daughter called to consult with me over actually starting a company and the product ideas she was kicking around. And, lo (yes, I said "lo"), she offered me a new job opportunity: write some of our product. I thought, while I love to write, I haven't played pen-and-paper DnD. I've only ever played DDo (Dungeons and Dragons Online–it's an MMORPG, Massively multiplayer online role-playing game). And I've never even read the dialogues of the game as I played. I'm just there to swing a sword or toss a bard song out. I don't even know those stories. Then the thought popped into my head, "You know, Daughter, your two youngest brothers have great stories, and they are Game Masters. They know how to write this stuff." My daughter liked the idea and asked her brothers, who both said, "Sure." Out of another job, but still feeling a sense of satisfaction, I sat back and smiled. I had the sort of grin that John "Hannibal" Smith from the "A-Team" show sported. I may have even said to myself, "I love it when a plan comes together." I do that sometimes. Step Three: Agree to be the Marketing GuruAn even shorter time later, my daughter called back. This tabletop gaming company was a real idea and she wanted it done right. So, we consulted together, threw ideas back and forth, discarded some, and filed others away for consideration when the time was right. She took notes. That's like her. That's like me. She then offered me a new job within her burgeoning gaming empire–er, company. "Mom, will you do the marketing?" I said yes again. But this time, I didn't think there was someone else to do this job. It was mine. After all, I was currently earning my associates of applied science for graphic design. Step Four: Plug the Holes![]() So how did the Marketing Guru become COO and what does "COO" mean to our little family company? According to WIKI (I know, but it has a reasonable explanation for what COOs do for a company in general), the COO position, which is a Jack-of-Trades position, in a company is on decline. But don't count the position out yet. The author of the wiki article says there is every reason to believe the position of COO will become increasingly necessary for today's companies. "Companies are becoming larger and more complex, making it more difficult for one person alone to have total oversight over the whole organization.
None of these reasons apply to us–yet. But we did see a need for a Jack-of-All-Trades position: A person who could fill any niche necessary to keep the business operating smoothly. For some projects we have the writer, but not the artist; I become the artist. Other projects we have a great artist lined up but need someone to write the content; I become the writer. When a sub-contractor needs a nudge to keep up, I do that too (moms/daughters/wives have great cajoling skills). The website, marketing, logo, brand guide, social media maintenance, and so much more fall to this COO because I am also the marketing guru. Twilight Tabletop Games, LLC, has grown to 9 contributors: 3 officers/owners, 6 writers, 5 artists, and 1 cyber-security consultant. Is that math right? It is if one considers that the COO isn't the only one to wear multiple hats. Not everyone will follow the same steps in becoming the COO of a company. My situation is specific to our creative family, but the job of the Chief Operations Officer is still the same–and yet also different for each company. COOs are versatile, quick thinking, problem solvers. The second in command. And differ only in the manner their company will need them. So, if your child comes to you and asks you to, you may find yourself the COO of their dreams too.
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AuthorDarcien Balog is the Chief Operations Officer for Twilight Tabletop Games, LLC. Archives
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