Lessons Learned #2: Play the Infinite Game with an Abundance Mindset
As part of our 10-year anniversary series on lessons learned, this post explores one of the most transformational mindset shifts I’ve encountered over the past decade. Simon Sinek’s The Infinite Game puts into words what many entrepreneurs sense intuitively: we’re all playing one of two games - finite or infinite. The finite game is about short-term wins and comparison. It’s driven by quarterly goals, competitive benchmarks, and a desire to “win” by outperforming others. The infinite game, on the other hand, is about enduring value - building a resilient culture, creating meaningful impact, and leaving a legacy that lasts long after the founder steps away.
This mindset shift mirrors Carol Dweck’s work on fixed vs. growth mindsets. Leaders with a fixed mindset view success as static - something to protect and prove. They tend to hoard knowledge, avoid risk, and operate from a scarcity mentality. In contrast, those with a growth mindset see capability as evolving. They embrace learning, develop others, and approach challenges as opportunities for long-term progress.
When we combine Dweck’s growth mindset with Sinek’s infinite game, we arrive at a powerful leadership philosophy rooted in abundance. It’s not about beating others - it’s about being the best version of yourself. Not about proving worth - but creating something worth passing on. This mindset doesn’t just fuel success; it sustains it.
Why a Finite (Fixed) Mindset Can Hurt Your Leadership & Business
A finite mindset doesn’t just show up in inner thought world - it shows up visibly in behavior, culture, and decisions:
It creates tunnel vision. When you're obsessed with "winning," you miss chances to collaborate, innovate, or experiment. You stop learning, which is the death of long-term relevance.
It fosters internal dysfunction. Scarcity at the top breeds fear across the organization. People begin to compete with each other rather than for the mission. Psychological safety plummets.
It limits transferability. Businesses built around a founder’s charisma or perfectionism often falter when that founder exits. A fixed mindset makes it hard to let go of key responsibilities and even harder to scale the business beyond its founder.
Shifting Toward a Growth-Oriented, Infinite Game
One phrase that helped reframe my thinking was this:
"You don’t have to own the ocean to sail on it."
Most entrepreneurs don’t need to dominate a market to build a wildly successful company. You simply need to serve your niche exceptionally well - and keep showing up, learning, and adapting over time.
Simon Sinek’s The Infinite Game brings this truth to life. He reminds us that business isn’t a winner-takes-all arena. There is no final buzzer. The real goal is to stay in the game: to keep improving, to keep adding value, and to keep evolving your people and your purpose.
And that requires a mindset of growth and abundance - believing there is room for others to succeed, that your value is not zero-sum, and that success is iterative, not final.
How to Lead with a Growth Mindset and Abundance Lens
Whether your goal is a long-term legacy or a profitable exit, leading with an infinite mindset makes your business healthier and more valuable. Here are five practical shifts you can make:
1. Develop others instead of dominating the room. Growth-minded leaders aren't afraid to share power. They invest in people, not just outcomes. They build teams that can thrive without them. Ask yourself: How many months could you step away and your business still run strong?
2. Create a culture of continuous improvement. Encourage your team to learn from both success and failure. Growth cultures aren't afraid to fail - they’re afraid of not learning. When was the last time your team did a post-mortem on a project that went well and one that didn’t?
3. Be generous with knowledge and recognition. Fixed-mindset leaders guard information. Growth-minded leaders share it freely. They celebrate the success of others and create space for rising stars. Model what it means to win together, not alone.
4. Let your competitors sharpen you. Your rivals can be your greatest teachers. Infinite-minded leaders respect and learn from the competition. They don't obsess over copying or crushing them; rather, they stay focused on their own evolution. Ask: What is our competition revealing about what we are not seeing?
5. Build beyond yourself. If your company can’t run without you, it’s not built to last. Growth-minded founders design systems, develop leaders, and define values that endure. Are you building for succession, or for control?
What It Looks Like to Play the Infinite Game
I see this mindset at work in many of the leaders and companies I coach. Here's what it looks like in practice:
They view competitors as catalysts. Instead of fearing others' success, they study it. They ask, "What can we learn from them?" and "What are they doing that our customers might want from us?"
They build beyond themselves. They scale their impact by scaling their teams. Their companies don’t revolve around them - they evolve through their teams.
They prioritize legacy over vanity. Rather than obsessing over short-term applause, they think in decades. They ask, "What will this company stand for after I’m gone?"
Final Thoughts
Playing the infinite game isn’t idealistic - it's a good strategy. It leads to better culture, better decisions, and a more transferable business. It requires courage, humility, and a mindset of growth.
So whether you’re staying for the next 20 years or preparing to exit in the next 2, zoom out. Lead with abundance. Shift from finite to infinite. From fixed to growth.
Play the game with integrity and intention. And remember:
You don’t have to own the ocean to sail on it.
