Business can be viewed as an infinite game, where the goal is not to 'win' in the traditional sense, but to continue playing for as long as possible. Unlike finite games, which have clear rules and defined winners and losers, the rules in business are flexible and the game never truly ends. Companies may define their success differently, through market share, revenue, or customer metrics. However, a focus on short-term wins can lead to harmful strategies and cost-cutting measures. Instead, businesses should aim to build resilient organizations that can withstand the test of time.

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There are two types of games: finite and infinite games. Finite games have clear rules, well-defined beginnings and endings, and clear winners and losers. Infinite games have fuzzy rules, no clearly defined "win," and players can change the way they play anytime. The objective is to keep playing for as long as possible. Business is an infinite game where players have different strategies, and there is no end to the game. Companies define "winning" differently - Market Share, Revenue, or Customer metrics. Companies emerge, grow, and become bankrupt while the infinite game goes on. To succeed in this infinite game, shift the focus from "winning" every quarter to building resilient organizations that can last many decades. Long-term interests of the company can be threatened when you play with a finite mindset in the infinite game of business. An obsession with short-term metrics prioritizes urgency over importance, which leads to disastrous strategies and extreme measures to cut costs. T...

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The Infinite Game

What’s the difference between leaders who only achieve short-term success and visionaries who create resilient and truly competitive organizations? Re...

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