Here is an interesting bit that came up recently on the Day[9] show.
It appeared in Day9 Daily episode 341, an episode about multi-tasking. It was meant to demonstrate how being to able to play on a decent level in Starcraft 2 is not necessarily some impossible skill. The trick is to realize and understand what is important.
It’s a goofy example and perhaps a bit too manipulative. But it reminds me of another idea I’m quite fond of myself. In one of the House M.D. Episodes, one of the characters said once “work smart not hard”. The quote kinda grew on me.
For me it means to always try to understand the underlying principles behind a challenge. To understand what preconcieved notions may make it unreasonably difficult for me to solve a given problem. It means to deliberately chose a different approach where the rules shift and invest my effort and energy EXACTLY where I can exploit this to my advantage.
It doesn’t mean that I won’t work hard. But the results of my work will be so much more effective than they otherwise would be.
“Work smart not hard” is something that can be applied to any creative activity. For an independent developer, I may be perhaps the most vital survival strategy. And apparently, it can also help you with Starcraft II, so there you go. 
