Either we win or we don’t win. James Carse talked about this in his book, Finite and infinite games. There are two ways to play: people play to win and people play to keep playing. Finite or infinite games. Simon Sinek picked up and ran with this theme in his own version of the title that applies to business. The concept is about the joy of playing, an intrinsic reward, versus the joy of winning, a temporary extrinsic reward.
When I interviewed Cameron Schwab, former CEO of Richmond Football Club, he said he had to face this question: “What does winning look like when you’re not winning?” He faced many challenges during his time in Richmond. If you are not winning the post of prime minister, how do you define success?
This is the question I often ask leaders: How do you define success? How we respond defines how we feel about our efforts and our results.
I have come to realize that success is actually two things: it is the results we produce and how we feel about the process. It is both an internal and external measure. They are finite AND infinite games. It is the game and the joy of playing.
I recommend to all my clients that they keep a success journal. In it they should record their efforts during the day and how they felt about it (the joy of playing). They can also record any goal achieved (the joy of winning). From the joy of playing we get serotonin (the neurochemical of well-being), and from the joy of winning or reaching our goals, we get dopamine (another happy neurochemical).
The only thing that interferes with our ability to feel successful is our own mental focus. So in the face of insurmountable odds, in the face of epic challenges, how do we define success?
When the going gets tough, the “game” feels less fun. And yet if we wake up every day, find beauty and joy in the little moments, connect, and are at the service of others, then this is a good starting point to stay in the game without losing hope.
Play for the fun of it and savor the victories when they happen.
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Related Posts:
- How to develop a slogan for your culture
- Unlimited Leadership: The Success Trap
- Unlimited Leadership: Why Sports Are The Worst Analogy For Leadership
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