In order to be happy, we need a sense of purpose or meaning businesses are no different.Īs an example, let's look at Sweetgreen. So let's unpack these, starting with a Just Cause. Number four, prepare for existential flexibility, and finally number five, demonstrate the courage to lead.

Similarly, if a business leader wants an organization to have long-term health, he or she will have to do five things - and importantly - do them all. If we decide to focus on our health, we need to make certain long-term lifestyle choices, and prioritize things such as diet, sleep, and exercise. Choosing to lead with an infinite mindset, is like deciding to get into better shape, and consistency beats intensity. Adopting an infinite mindset, requires conscious choice and assertive action, which isn't always easy. There's a fundamental difference between a finite-mindset leader, and an infinite-mindset leader. On the other hand, some organizations make a decision to shift from a previous finite mindset, to see what's possible with an infinite mindset. Many businesses start out playing an infinite game, but that mindset can shift under new leadership. Instead of always focusing on the balance sheet, it consistently keeps its purpose, which is 'to create innovative play experiences, and reach more children every year.' A truly successful business is one where a succession of leaders play the infinite game, building something sustainable, that will contribute to the welfare of its staff and customers, and benefit future generations. That's because it's a company that has used an infinite mindset for a long time. And in business, careers, politics, and parenting, there's no such thing as an end-game winner.ĭid you build Lego as a child? Irrespective of age, most of us know Lego. But the reality is that each leader's time runs out, but the game lives on. They aim to create a winning company in terms of measurable results. If we apply this to business, currently, many businesses play a finite game, driven by short-term market gains and shareholder demands. These are finite games, and they're centered around the self, competition, and our innate need to win. In the world of sports, the aim is to beat opponents, cross the finish line, get the highest score, or beat the clock. For instance, if you play chess, Monopoly, or Settlers of Catan, there's a clear set of rules, and the aim is to come first. If you open up any board game, there's usually a pamphlet containing the rules. So if you're interested in understanding the qualities required for leadership, The Infinite Game provides crucial insights. Whether you're in business, politics, academics, or a parent, we all need to realize that an infinite or finite mindset will impact others, long after we're gone. As the players in the game of life, this is a crucial choice that we all have to make. This summary briefly guides us through the choice to adopt a finite or infinite mindset. Building from this, Sinek evaluates finite and infinite leadership within different institutions, and he illustrates how remarkably different the results of each mindset can be. The author of Finite and Infinite Games, James Carse, explains how finite-minded leaders play to win, whereas infinite-minded leaders play to keep playing, ultimately for the good of the game.

His previous books, Start with Why, and Leaders Eat Last, lay the foundation for this, and his inspiration came from a book called Finite and Infinite Games. Sinek wrote The Infinite Game in 2019, as part of his own infinite game. Collaborating with others, around a shared purpose, builds a better resourced, and more caring world. Finite mindsets focus on winning, whereas infinite mindsets develop a more significant cause than ourselves or our business. The Infinite Game explores leadership choices, and provides guidelines to implement an 'infinite game' plan. How do you feel about playing the long game? Well, according to Simon Sinek, the bestselling author of numerous business and leadership books, we should all be looking a lot further ahead.

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