Nearly 35 years ago, I was working in advertising on new product concepts for a major packaged goods manufacturer. Tetra Pak technology—those shelf-stable boxes—was brand new, and we had some ideas that were way ahead of our time, including still- and carbonated-water–based beverages infused with juice (I told you we were way ahead of our time!). We tested them, and the consumers loved them. We presented the results to the client, who was very happy with the results, and they proceeded to introduce a ready-to-drink version of a powdered drink that the client already sold rather than to develop our very successful ideas. Why? Because that would provide greater short-term cash and sales to the company than the several years of development and significant capital investment that our breakthrough product ideas would have required.
This is what modern-day philosopher Simon Sinek meant when he spoke about finite vs. infinite games when I heard him speak the other night. When corporate America focuses on “maximizing shareholder value,” companies use short-term vision rather than looking at the company’s long-term mission. Sure, it’s trendy for corporations to have vision statements that talk about product quality, customer service and care for the environment…but more often than not, the day-to-day decisions are governed by short-term profit.
Hence even the most customer-focused companies now require you to press 1,
press 2 for several rounds before you can get a human on the phone. According
to Harvard Business Review, between 70% and 90% of mergers and
acquisitions fail—why? IMHO it’s because, in spite of the thousands of dollars
in Ivy League MBA analysis done on the transactions, the decisions are based on
profit margins and short trends rather than on the big-picture connections
between the companies on both a product level and a corporate-culture level. Per
Sinek, part of the demise of these transactions and businesses is the fact that
employees in finite-thinking companies are constantly trying to reach the right
numbers and are in fear of the next round of layoffs rather than focusing on
the long-term mission and vision and how those lead to long-term success.
I was lucky to receive two tickets to see the soon-to-open Broadway show Diana:
A True Musical Story—literally a musical about the tragic life of Princess
Diana. I left the theater sad. Not because Diana died, which, of course, was the
obvious conclusion. I was sad because the show is a simplistic attempt to
exploit the commercial power of Diana’s name and memory. With the rising cost
of Broadway shows, producers have recently been turning “sure thing” movies
into Broadway shows—Shrek…Pretty Woman…Beetlejuice…Mean Girls…Mrs.
Doubtfire. Not a single original—“infinite,” as defined by Sinek—idea in
the bunch. I can imagine the meeting to present “Princess Di the musical” about
the single most famous and desirable woman of the 1980s.
My friend who worked at People magazine during the Diana era often told me how every time Princess Diana was on the cover, the magazine would get an enormous jump in single-copy sales. But the Broadway show was an entirely “finite” view of her life—name…headlines…amazing wardrobe…and yet nothing interesting. Diana was an incredible mother who broke the royal rules of parent-child engagement…a deeply caring and sensitive woman who broke the rules of interaction with “the public” and those in need…and a woman with very real emotional challenges shared by millions of others. A show that delved into any of those aspects of her life and truly celebrated Diana’s magic and achievements would have brought a new awareness—an infinite perspective—to the audience. But instead, the show went nowhere beyond the headlines that we all already know and merely exploited her name for the sake of ticket sales. I am sad for the entire royal family—and for Diana’s memory—that she continues to be used as a finite pawn rather than the infinite world changer she was.
In the political arena, candidates promise short-term benefits rather than talk
about the principles upon which our nation is built—tax cuts and free stuff vs.
long-term infrastructure and functioning of the country.
Sinek roots this shift in the 1970s, when the baby boomers of the “me
generation” grew up to be adults who were self-absorbed and focused on
individual performance and reward. Prior generations had focused on the greater
good of community and country. While many are now “woke” about dangerous
ingredients in our foods and personal products and the need to protect the
environment, they are simultaneously absorbed about the number of likes they get
on their latest Insta-pic.
Fast-forward to today—technology now provides constant and immediate rewards
for every individual need. Virtually every human need can be met within days if
not moments. But is all that really satisfying us in the long term? Is it
making us better people? Or just creating more anxiety as we are constantly
worried about hitting the next goal?
Life is a balance of finite and infinite games. It’s not really an either-or game.
In the throes of coronavirus, people are hoarding hand sanitizer and toilet
paper along with as much food as they can store because they are worried about the
possibility of being isolated or quarantined for a week…or two…or three. Finite.
Are they eating better…sleeping more…and getting exercise in order to build
their immune systems for the infinite game of health and wellness? Faced with
this very real challenge, success requires addressing both strategies.
Finite is tempting. It’s rewarding. It’s immediate gratification. And we like that. But, understanding and playing the long-term game is what fills the soul.
Sarah Hiner, president and CEO of Bottom Line Inc., is passionate about giving people the tools and knowledge they need to be in control of their lives in areas such as living a healthier life, the challenges of the health-care system, commonsense financial advice and creating great relationships. She appears often on national radio and hosts the Bottom Line Advocator Podcast, where she interviews leading experts to help people be their own best advocates in all areas of life.
