I Will Stop Wearing Pants to Work on December 16

Photo of me by Douglas Morse for an upcoming book about game designers.
Photo of me by Douglas Morse for an upcoming book about game designers. We’ll edit out the pants in post-production.

I’m pretty sure my first paying job was as a soccer referee in middle school. I wore pants on the field.

My first hourly job was working at a movie theater the summer after high school. I wore pants to work.

I had a work study job during college, summer jobs at restaurants, and a tutoring job in Japan during my year abroad. I wore pants for all of them.

I’ve had two steady jobs since I graduated from college in 2003: 4 years at one and 6 years at my current job. I wore pants every day to work.

That’s nearly 20 years of jobs that required pants.

Well, the streak will stop on December 16, and a new streak (possibly even some streaking) will begin: I have resigned from my day job and will be focusing on Stonemaier Games full time. My office will be my condo, thus the no pants policy.

Of course, it’s not the lack of pants that made me decide to take this step. It’s the rapid growth of my company and the potential I see for Stonemaier Games if I’m able to devote all of my attention to it instead of only the 30-40 hours a week I currently spend on it.

I’m fairly risk averse, but recently I’ve come to realize that the riskiest thing for me to do with Stonemaier Games is not give it my undivided attention. And that’s not just designing and publishing games and running Kickstarters; it’s writing my Kickstarter book and expanding the worlds of Viticulture and Euphoria and inventing new worlds and being more present to people across the industry through consultation, events, conventions, gaming groups, etc. I’ve had to turn down consultation work and speaking opportunities recently because of my time constraints–those are great connections that I simply haven’t had time for.

Well, no more.

I’m very fortunate that my current boss was receptive to my resignation. I really care about my organization and want to facilitate a smooth decision–having the staff be supportive of that is a huge asset. I’m also very fortunate to have a supportive business partner in Stonemaier Games who believes in the company as much as I do. It’s great when your vision is shared by someone you respect.

So that’s what’s happening. I’m letting you know because, well, it’s freeing to share it with the world. I am so blessed to be able to follow my greatest passion full time. I’ve always wanted to build something from the ground up, and I’m incredibly excited about 2014 and what it will bring for Stonemaier Games. It will be a year of lots of games, Kickstarter, events, and very few pants.

48 thoughts on “I Will Stop Wearing Pants to Work on December 16”

  1. So happy to hear your game company is a success! I wish you the best of luck in your new full-time venture. The road to self-publishing a game is riddled with potholes, something you’ve done an amazing service in documenting so thoroughly. I wonder if someday you might even consider publishing other select people’s games? Might be a thought down the road.

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  2. YAYAYAYAY JAMEY! This is amazing news. Major congrats! We’re going to hold you to that no pants rule, though. Have fun at those speaking engagements…

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  3. Congrats Jamey! From one independent publisher to another! It’s really exciting for us to see that doing what we love could be a full-time reality someday! So happy for you! Best of luck to you guys and we’re excited to continue “working” with you in the future! 😀

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  4. Congratulations, Jamey! That’s really awesome that you’re crossing a line that so many of us stare at longingly. As my own designs get more and more clear, it’s been a bit of a tough decision on whether or not to try it on my own or to see if it’s a good fit for Stonemaier. One way or another, by 2015 at the very latest, my name will be on a box, and once that happens, I am going to ritualistically burn all of my pants.

    …I’ll probably have to buy new pants but I was going to have to do that anyway.

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    • Thanks Joe! I really admire your ability to set and achieve clear goals for yourself, and I have no doubt your name will be on a box by 2015. I’ll save some pants to burn at the ceremony.

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    • Thanks Kyle! It’s been great to have Alan’s support throughout this process. He has a family, so the demands on his time are different than mine, but we make it work.

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  5. I assume there will be some kind of pants burning party? Perhaps held on the balcony of your condo or in the women’s restroom of the Denny’s on Hampton?

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  6. Congrats Stegmaier, or should I say STONEMAIER (said in my deepest voice). If my future children ask to meet you some day after playing a game of Viticulture, and you agree to it, all I ask is that you sport a pair of pants for that brief encounter. 😉

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  7. I’m not sure what I am more impressed by: The fact you have built your company from the ground up and developed a few incredible games – OR – the fact that you got me to read you entire post because I couldn’t overcome my curiosity as to why you writing about not wearing pants! Well, there’s that! Congratulations Jamey, this move encourages all of us developers who have our are heads in the cloud!

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    • Ha ha…thanks John. I wasn’t sure if I should announce it in this way, but I thought it would reflect my personality the best. I’m glad it might help encourage or inspire other developers/publishers to pursue their dreams full time when the time is right.

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  8. That’s exciting news Jamey. I’m loving the games Stonemaier has done so far and I’m excited to see what y’all have coming in the future. Best of luck!

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  9. Wow. I was wondering if this would come, and after the Euphoria campaign I half-expected it. Change is thrilling, isn’t it? When I see you tomorrow I’ll raise a toast to the fire in the crucible.

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  10. Just saw this, Jamey! How exciting for you! I just started working for myself November 1 and it is so liberating (but I do like wearing pants. To each his own.) I wish you the best with Stonemaier games!

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  11. Congratulations, Jamey! It’s been great to follow this story from before it even started. What a great step. I’ll put a note on my calendar for the year when I turn your age, I won’t be wearing any more pants. Or at least, I’ll celebrate no pants day in honor of all no pants winners. Or I’ll just drink an entire bottle of wine. Anything to celebrate. Good luck!

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    • Thanks Jesus! I hope you celebrate that day well before you turn 32 (I’ll almost by 33 by that point, really). I’ go for the whole thing: no pants and a bottle of wine.

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  12. Jamey, It is great to see that you will be able to follow your passion full time. It gives hope to other beginner and veteran game designers/publishers. Will be following you on your journey!

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    • Still a few months to go, but I’m very, very happy with the decision. I can’t imagine it any other way at this point. 🙂

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