An Infinite Mindset

If business is a game, how do you win? According to Simon Sinek’s 2019 bestseller “The Infinite Game”, our focus should not be so much on arbitrary win conditions in our industries, but on developing the kind of systems and culture which will allow our organization to contribute to society for generations to come. This brings transformation in the following ways:

Unchecked Capitalism Turns Into a Just Cause

Uncontrolled capitalism is the kind that benefits the select few instead of humanity as a whole, and where responsibility is not taken for the consequences of its pursuit. Conversely, a company with an infinite mindset uses its will and resources to advance a cause greater than itself, protect the people and places in which it operates and generate more resources so it can continue doing all those things for as long as possible. The rise of B Corps and ethical investing prove that this is the way forward for the business world.

Tunnel Vision Turns Into Existential Flexibility

Sinek cites Kodak (remember them?) as a prime example of a company so focused on one area of the market, traditional photography in this case, that they were completely blindsided by the digital photography and smartphone revolutions. As a result, Kodak is a shell of what it once was. Establishing a Just Cause and exploring all the ways your organisation can work towards it allows you to change with the times as market opportunities present themselves. Change becomes easier when you exist for something more than yourself.

Your Opposition Turn Into Worthy Rivals

Given the competitive nature of the modern marketplace, it’s far too easy to fall into a pattern of tearing down and undermining your opposition. Developing an infinite mindset means learning to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of your contemporaries. A breakthrough for them becomes a win for your entire industry, something everyone can benefit from and aspire to. There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of inter-company banter but try to keep positive regard at the centre of it all.