What happens when 60 software professionals put away their screens and start talking?
Yesterday, we hosted the first HabitZup Open House at HPE, Mahadevapura, with close to 60 employees participating across 8 teams.
The venue was a lively open cafeteria. There was plenty of energy, conversations, and even a strong breeze! Despite the informal setting, every table was immersed in the game.
Before we started, Sumathi and Madan, founders of HabitZup introduced the purpose behind HabitZup.
This isn’t just a card game. It is a strategy game for life.
Its purpose is simple: Save a life. Save a relationship.
Every player learns to think differently about everyday situations.
- 🩷 Pink – Challenges we face in life
- 💚 Green – Character strengths that solve them
- 🩵 Light Blue – Self-effort and personal action
- 💛 Yellow – Seeking support from others
- 🟧 Orange – Life’s surprises, opportunities, and setbacks
- 🛡️ Dark Blue – Protection built through resilience, trust, and preparation
We started with a practice round so everyone could understand the mechanics. Within minutes, every table transformed into a lively discussion.
- People weren’t just matching cards.
- They were debating solutions.
- “Would breathing help here?”
- “Should I ask a mentor?”
- “Is patience a better answer than reacting immediately?”
They were quietly practicing something we rarely practice in our daily lives:
Decision-making.
One of the HPE leaders joined the game, appreciated the logic behind it, and shared how the game encourages collaboration, thoughtful decisions, and positive affirmations.
We also discussed how powerful it can be when played at home, helping children and parents think through life’s situations together.
The Rewarding part
The participant feedback was the most rewarding part.
One participant said:
“I was losing initially, but suddenly I won because my teammates pointed out a better solution. I realized it wasn’t just about matching colors—it was about understanding the meaning behind the cards.”
Another shared:
“The game showed us how important listening is. When people truly listened to each other’s ideas, we found better solutions together. That applies not only at work but also at home.”
A third participant remarked:
“Initially, the game felt a little complicated. But once we understood it, we also understood its purpose—it encourages us to stay away from screens and use our own thinking.”
That last comment beautifully captured what HabitZup is all about.
We don’t want people to stop using technology. We simply want people to pause, think, discuss, and make conscious decisions before life makes those decisions for them.
As Madan shared while closing the session:
“I hope each one of you leaves with at least one solution that you can apply at work or at home. Whenever life presents you with a new challenge, I hope you’ll remember which card you want to play.”
Congratulations to every participant. There were winners—but in reality, everyone won.
Because the true spirit of HabitZup is not competition. It is cooperation, conversation, and understanding each other better.
Thank you to the entire HPE leadership team for believing in this initiative and giving us the opportunity to bring HabitZup into your workplace.
This is just the beginning.
