Following is the list of lessons I have learnt from Age of Empires:

1. Identify critical resources for your organization without which your organization won’t thrive at all.

2. Attack your competitors when you have some viable resources / army / technology which gives your leverage.

3. Have skilled resources at cheapest possible compensation in early stage to grow fast and exponentially. 

4. Have a few employees in Research & Development Department to eventually build up some new technology.

5. Automate 1-2 micro revenue channels which brings small amount of money continuously, for example: dividend