On a lovely trans-Cascades drive this week, I had the opportunity to listen to the book The Infinite Game, by Simon Sinek. (I tend to approach these types of books by audio).
Sinek develops a powerful concept: finite games have fixed rules, fixed players, and a win/lose ending; infinite games have fluid rules, no fixed players, and last forever—in fact, the purpose of the game is simply to continue playing.
Now, his book is focused on the business domain, with some of the expected examples discussed (such as Microsoft under Steve Balmer playing a finite game vs Apple under Steve Jobs playing an infinite game), but my interest is more personal: how does an individual play an infinite game?
He mentions five criteria for businesses wanting to play an infinite game:
- Advance a Just Cause
- Build Trusting Teams
- Study their Worthy Rivals
- Prepare for Existential Flexibility
- Demonstrate the Courage to Lead
But can these business elements of an Infinite Game be adapted for an individual?
I am not sure. For example, I would content that Beethoven, Einstein, and Dirac all had an infinite mindset towards their respective crafts, but it’s unlikely they were pursuing a Just Cause, building Trusting Teams, or concerned about their Courage to Lead.
Perhaps there is another infinite game around?
Infinite solitaire anyone?