Are You Playing the Finite Game or the Infinite Game?

Once upon a time, there were two competing business leaders. They each founded companies in the same industry and market. Both businesses had strong leaders, talented employees, and incredible products and services to offer. By all accounts, Leader A and Leader B were on equal footing. But what set Leader A apart was their mindset.

Leader A’s company was rooted in a strong purpose. Their mission was crystal clear — and every decision made served that vision. Leader A didn’t worry about “beating” Leader B or any other competition. They kept their purpose front-of-mind and inspired their team with that goal.

Leader B followed a different path. They were determined to be the “best” in their field, defeating any competitor (including Leader A) that stood in their way. Leader B wanted to outsell and outperform at every turn. Their sole focus was winning.

Years later, only one of these two companies survived when the market dipped. Can you guess which one?

Leader A, who ran a purpose driven business, pivoted as needed and survived the storm. Leader B, still fighting to win over Leader A, ultimately lost. They were so consumed with outperforming everyone else in their sector that they failed to adapt to a troubled market. Their business went under, and all those little “wins” throughout the years meant nothing.

They were both talented leaders. But they were playing completely different games. Leader B was playing a finite game. Leader A was playing the infinite game.

Simon Sinek’s Infinite Game Theory

The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek explores this concept fully, as does Sinek’s talk for the New York Times. His revolutionary idea can transform how you run your business, lead people, and not only survive hardships — but thrive through them.

The Finite Game

Finite games have established rules, known players, and a way to win. Think baseball or board games. The guidelines are clear — you follow them and perform tasks better than your competitor, you’re the champion. 

You play the finite game to win.

The Infinite Game

The infinite game is the opposite. There aren’t set rules or players. In the infinite game, the goal isn’t to “win” but to keep playing. You want the game to keep unfolding, and you want to stay in it.

You play the infinite game to keep your mission alive — perpetually.

What Happens When Infinite and Finite Players Compete?

Everything is smooth sailing when a finite player goes up against another finite player. They’re playing the same game. But what happens when a finite player tries to defeat an infinite one? As we saw with Leader A and Leader B, the infinite player is at an advantage.

Sinek uses the Vietnam War to illustrate this concept. While the U.S. won most of the individual battles, they ultimately lost the war. They were fighting to win, but the North Vietnamese were fighting for the ultimate purpose — to survive and to solidify their political stance. The U.S., like any finite player, couldn’t keep up. 

How to Run Your Business With an Infinite Mindset

This concept may make sense in theory, but how does it unfold within your business? Undoubtedly you have plenty of competition in your industry. The infinite mindset doesn’t just set you apart from those rivals — it launches you into an entirely different league.

You Must Have a Strong Cause

Forget everyone else. What is your business working for? To play the infinite game, you must be purpose-driven, rooted in something much more significant than today, this quarter, or this year.

You Must Be a Courageous Leader

Infinite leaders must be brave enough to make course-altering decisions when the time comes. Instead of focusing on the short-term, they focus on keeping their mission alive — even when decisions seem scary or dangerous.

Your Team Must Have Faith in You

Infinite players trust the process and the mission. Even amid significant changes, they have faith in their leader. They must also have psychological safety — knowing they can be honest without punishment or judgment because the same values and goals drive everyone.

You Must Have a Worthy Rival

You aren’t playing the infinite game to “beat” a rival, but a worthy opponent is still valuable. Rather than focusing on outplaying the finite team, infinite players allow their competitors to inspire, motivate, and educate them. 

You Must Be Flexible

The infinite mindset requires what Sinek calls “existential flexibility.” They aren’t consumed with the rules but with doing whatever they must to perpetuate their mission.

Leading Your Team Into An Infinite Future

If you’re going to play the infinite game, you have to ask yourself what drives your business. Are you determined to win and focused on the individual battles that each day or month brings? Or are you propelled by a mission bigger than you, your competition, and the industry at large?

There are finite games to be played within your infinite mission. Your employees continuously pursue finite goals — their weekly metrics, for example. But when they understand that those finite pursuits are merely tactics to push an infinite cause, it changes everything. They’re empowered to make smart decisions that may “lose” in the short term but keep your mission going. Think TOMs, who could save incredible costs if they didn’t donate a pair of shoes for every pair sold, but that would defeat their mission. They continue to thrive because of their cause.

Forget winning. Forget defeating the competition. Instead, devote yourself to your cause. Play the purpose-driven infinite game.