Infinite games in business are becoming rarer.
Just writing that hurts but it’s true.
Something that has always bothered me is the short term, milestone based, goal driven approach. You work hard, hit those numbers, and pick your head up just to see another mile marker down the road.
The problem, and why it bothers me, is the attempt to turn an infinite game into a finite one. We take a wonderful, thriving, energizing business and break it down into arbitrary components. We manage to the quarter, or worse, to the month, or the week.
Why do we do it?
To give kudos. To divvy out bonuses and pick a winner. Managers love that. Salespeople do too, not to mention the analysts. We tell ourselves we love competition, but it’s a love of winning that clouds judgement.
Each month, each quarter, each year we reassess and reset. And there is always more to give.
It’s like we’ve been entered into a pushup contests. Same move, over and over. Just give me a few more reps than last year.
Chasing the horizon is closer to the truth. All those steps and not a foot closer. The horizon is always out there. But that is fine if you are enjoying the run.
Business can feel that way as well. It’s not something that can be attained, the numbers, the margins, the customers, you can’t win it.
The goal is to find infinite games and keep playing.
What do you think?