Do you play to win?

Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing. Vince Lombardi

It feels good, I'll admit. Winning.

But that was when the game was simple; you knew who the players were, when the boundaries were clearly marked and the rules were clear.

But in life as the game gets bigger and the stakes get higher these things get more complicated. Funnily enough many leaders, peers and even I reacted to this complexity by making the game smaller and racking up wins in daily and soon micro games. We live in a society dominated by devices now. Dopamine-dealing platforms built by diabolical digital dysfunctional dorks who don't care about your productivity but instead invest deeply in the idea that finite games are addictive.

Have you had bosses and leaders who were short term thinkers? Who focused on winning the game in front of their face? This year's numbers, this quarter's advancements, this launch, just one more win. Not only is this strategy exhausting, for those of us who actually care about our work, it's deeply demotivating.

Then, play the long game.

But there is a path and strategy beyond that of the long game and it's been brilliantly illustrated by globally recognized ideator Simon Sinek. Sure, he has one of the most watched TED Talks in the history of the movement that is connected to his best-selling book "Start With Why". But this latest book, a wonderfully quick read unpacks several highly helpful ideas that will be of great value to the long game thinker:

The Just Cause

I personally work in the philanthropic sector, you would be surprised to know how badly many charities mismanage the the powerful inspirational element of working for a cause by bleeding the passion out of their people. Companies do this too, some whose purpose is game changing, world altering and still, they seem to try and take the joy out of the work they do. Simon unpacks why employees want purpose, to feel belonging and treated like owners not renters which is at the heart of the fraud of the gig economy and the hypocrisy of the seemingly egalitarian open office.

Cause can be a compass - guide the way, better than mission, vision, staff statements and other things we mount on foam board to adorn our office walls.

Here's a quick video from Simon on this concept, The Just Cause.

The Worthy Rival

A segment that I deeply loved because I truly believe in the idea of running mates, even having a nemesis. As fired up as many individuals are and I've been guilty of being this monomaniacal focused loner, the thing about it is, it gets lonely! There is a wonderful argument here for consistency over intensity. For that pacing of that long game, the marathon versus the constant sprinting we're encouraged to do every day and the power this idea can unlock.

Another unpacking video from Simon on, The Worthy Rival.

Existential Flexibility

Almost every day, my little family repeats the mantra that "flexibility is a secret weapon" because no wind can break the tree that bends. Nor can any disruption break an organization that disrupts itself. Blowing up even its' own best ideas to evolve. Think Apple evolving the iPod while Blockbuster stood still as Netflix evolved, then evolved again.

Want to go deeper? Here's Simon sharing what this means.

So I hope you pick up the book "The Infinite Game" and enjoy it.

Much of my work and life revolves around the idea that the long game is of paramount focus; my work involves legacy at the core of philanthropy, and I personally exist to put legacy at the core of a person's career . So if I can be of value to you in any way, please reach to connect. For those peers who work in the social-profit sector I hope this podcast about playing the long game in fundraising and career is of value to you. Thank you to the Fundraising Leadership team for having me on the show.

For those of you who are podcast fans, here is Simon in conversation with one of my favourite authors Whitney Johnson, whose podcast is often one of the best to help a thinker unpack their ideas really well - listen to it here.

I leave you with Simon himself talking about the book, enjoy!