The Infinite Game
One of my favorite business “mind” leaders is Simon Sinek.
Sinek has written many best-selling books and is truly gifted at expanding the mind and elevating perspectives. (If you have not discovered “Start with Why” I highly recommend starting there.)
Another great Sinek book is “The Infinite Game” which explores game theory and how it relates to business.
I’m a fan of Sinek because he’s an unruly lad like me – always looking for ways to challenge the status quo and upend prevailing paradigms that hold us back in our daily lives.
His teaching applies to business and life.
Here’s an excerpt from “The Infinite Game” book page on his website that provides a high-level overview of what’s inside the book:
“In finite games, like football or chess, the players are known, the rules are fixed, and the endpoint is clear. The winners and losers are easily identified.
In infinite games, like business or politics or life itself, the players come and go, the rules are changeable, and there is not defined endpoint.”
Interesting thoughts and profound for business and leaders in general.
I’d say most businesses and business leaders are playing the finite game within an infinite game – with a purpose of winning, however they define it, over and over again.
But it’s myopic way of thinking.
Because everything in life is “in process” – things like “your health” can’t be “won” – it’s not an event but a continuum where the goal is to continue to play the game of being in “good health” as long as you can.
Infinite games have infinite possibilities.
There are no borders, walls, or limitations.
In the infinite game, the only true competitor you have is “you” yourself. The goal is not to beat your competition, it is to outlast your competition and continue your progression.
In his book, Sinek provides “The 5 Practices” for any leader who wants to adopt an infinite mindset as follows:
Just Cause
Organizations have to offer their employees a “cause” so “just” that they would be willing to sacrifice their own interests to advance it.
Trusting Teams
To create an environment that people can work at their natural best - businesses have to ensure the psychological safety of its teams.
Worthy Rival
A worthy rival is another player in the game that’s worthy of comparison. They reveal our weakness that are opportunities to improve ourselves.
Existential Flexibility
If you’re not willing to blow up your own company, the market will do it for you. You must have the capacity to make a profound strategic shift to advance your “cause.”
Courage to Lead
It’s extremely hard to keep a “just cause” in mind as the guiding principle, especially if you have to make decisions that hurt in the short-term.
As a leader, having an infinite mindset is not about ego but knowing that you are part of something bigger and constantly search for ways to grow and be better every day.
If on the other hand you choose to play a finite game, it’s all about the short-term and “what in it for me NOW” – a race to the bottom.
The finite game is what public companies, and highly leveraged companies must play – it’s like a being trapped in a maze with no exit points.
It reminds me of the delusional enthusiasm I had when I became the newly minted CEO of a company with 1000 employees doing over $250M in annual sales…
…I started the journey with great dreams and a vision for a better future…
…better for the employees, better for the stakeholders, and better for our clients…
…then the infinite game revealed itself…
…visions of grandeur would have to wait; the mandate and focus was forever and always to “make the monthly / quarterly / annual numbers” and keep our bank covenants alive and well.
I was struck by the paradox.
I was hired to lead and create a better vision and plan for the future but that was in direct conflict with the prevailing short-term profit and hitting the numbers narrative.
Of course, as a business leader, you can neglect the short-term and think / act only on the long-term – but the winners in the infinite game find the balance and do both…
…but you’ve got to get alignment and buy in from all the stakeholders.
Thankfully, I escaped the finite corporate asylum back in 2008 and have been on my own since.
For me, having an infinite mindset is key – no rules, no limitations, only possibilities.
Said differently, it’s about having an “abundance” mindset versus a “scarcity” mindset.
One will set you free, the other will you running the hamster wheel that has no exit.
But it all comes down to mindset and giving yourself permission to change your paradigms.
Choose carefully.
Game theory is a powerful “narcotic” that has vast implications in business, economics, politics – just about everything.
And finally – maybe it’s time to explore a counter intuitive approach to game theory…
…instead of trying to predict the way that two or parties will act in a given situation with useless scenarios and analysis – just do the right thing.
Be the solution to someone’s bigger problem.
Find ways to leverage the value you create in the market because that’s the exact formula for “success” – V x L = S
And focus on getting better at it each and every day.
Find joy in the process…
…and refuse to play finite games.
Stay unruly out there ~
Warren
Founder & CEO