25. Be the MVP in the Infinite Game of Life

How well are you playing this game of life?

The chances are good that if you’re familiar with the term “infinite game” then you’ve likely heard about it from Simon Sinek. He wrote a really popular book called The Infinite Game in 2019. 

But he didn’t invent this idea. 

This idea has been around for a little while. It was an idea coined by James P. Carse in his 1986 book Finite and Infinite Games: A Vision of Life as Play and Possibility.

That said, Simon Sinek sums it up pretty succinctly when he says:

“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 no defined endpoint. There are no winners or losers in an infinite game; there is only ahead and behind.”

In his popular book, Sinek is speaking mostly to business owners and organizational leaders. But this idea of an infinite vs a finite mindset can be applied to both our personal and professional lives. Regardless of our role.

Topics:
• 01:35 – Linus’s story
• 03:28 – What’s the infinite game?
• 07:43 – Focus on a purpose
• 08:37 – Embrace learning
• 09:42 – Prioritize collaboration
• 10:59 – Think long term
• 12:12 – Be adaptable
• 12:48 – Change how you measure progress

Helpful Links:
• The Infinite Growth Mindset: Life as an Infinite Game | Medium
• How to Play the Game of Life | Simon Sinek
• Finite and Infinite Games: Two Ways to Play the Game of Life | fs Blog
• The Power Of Seeing Life As An Infinite Game | Medium
• Finite and Infinite Games | Wikipedia
• Developing an Infinite Mindset | Brené Brown
• The Scientific Benefits of Self-Compassion | Stanford University
• 21. Surviving and Thriving In a VUCA World

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