Pile On Motivation

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Tag: The infinite game

  • Why is Motivation 3.0 needed in the modern day Infinite Game?

    This blogpost throws light on why Motivation 3.0 is so relevant in the modern day of Infinite Game.

    The Carrot and Stick method had worked wonders in the age of Industrial revolution and is still popular with organizations who want to instill fear and get work done out of people.

    Such a short term oriented mindset seldom stands the test of time.If it relates to driving results in the short term incentives like the “Carrot and Stick” seem to work but this can never be a sustainable solution when it comes to doing something revolutionary.

    Hence the Motivation 2.0 mindset prevalent in the Industrial Age needs to be upgraded like and operating system needs to from time to time , in order to motivate people towards achievement of a long term vision or a JUST CAUSE.

    The components of AUTONOMY , MASTERY and SENSE of PURPOSE are components of Motivation 3.0 which needs to be part of any employee motivational program in order to get the best out of employees in the modern day Knowledge Worker Age.

    The concepts have been adopted from Daniel Pink’s Drive and Simon Sinek’s Infinite Game.

  • Why are “Type A” personalities prone to depression?

    Type A personalities always want to stay ahead in the race and win in life.

    The brutal fact of life that they fail to realize is that the game of life is NOT FINITE.There are no clearly defined metrics in place to decide a winner or loser in the infinite game of life.

    He who is wise realizes that Life is an Infinite Game where there is nothing like winning or losing.No one will ever be declared winner in life for the plain and simple fact that there are no clearly defined rules , duration is unlimited and players come and go.

    The following quote from Simon Sinek if used as a guiding star can make life really beautiful to live and help achieve true fulfillment.

    “There is no such thing as “WINNING BUSINESS” or “WINNING LIFE” , there is only AHEAD and BEHIND.”

  • The Art of precise “Succession Planning”

    An iconic and infinite minded leader who loves his organization is one who does thorough and precise succession planning to ensure that the organization is in good hands even after he/she leaves the organization.

    In essence the reason the organization exists i.e. the WHY should not be lost when the visionary leader leaves.

    Nothing summarizes this better than the following great quote of Simon Sinek , adopted from The Infinite Game.

    “The ability to adopt an INFINITE MINDSET is a pre-requisite for any LEADER who aspires to leave their organization in better shape than they found it.”

  • The options we choose in life reveal our intentions

    Life is an infinite game where there is nothing like WINNING or LOSING.In the game of life there is only STAYING AHEAD or BEHIND.

    The only choice that we have in life is to choose to play the INFINITE GAME with either an INFINITE or FINITE mindset.

    The option that we choose to play the game in the end reveals whether we are playing for the short term or we are long term oriented.

    Adopted from Simon Sinek’s book The Infinite Game

  • Realizing this truth will help achieve “Fulfillment” in our lives

    Adopted from Simon Sinek’s leadership quotes:

    “The VALUE of OUR LIVES is not determined by what we do for OURSELVES.

    The VALUE of OUR LIVES is determined by what we do for OTHERS.”

  • Understanding this truth about life would help us lead our lives better

    Adopted from Simon Sinek”s book The Infinite Game.

    James Carse’s Game theory talks about infinite and finite games.

    Life and business are infinite games where :

    1. There are no clearly defined rules
    2. Players can come and go and there in no definite number
    3. There is no end limit or time in an infinite game

    It goes without saying that in such a context there is nothing like “winning” or “losing” since the goal should just be to stay alive in the game.This very philosophy has been very well highlighted by Simon Sinek in the following quote:

    “There is NO such thing as “Winning Business” Or “Winning Life” , there is only AHEAD and BEHIND.”

  • Why we should not be obsessed with winning in an Infinite Game

    Adopted from the following great quote of Simon Sinek.

    “There is nothing like WINNING or LOSING in business or life , there is ONLY AHEAD and BEHIND”

  • Great Leaders have the vision to put “Will” Over “Resources”

    Great leaders who possess an infinite mindset focus on the long term instead of quick wins in the short term.

    Investing in Resources over Will seems the most appropriate strategy for a short term oriented finite minded leader in order to show quick wins.

    A long term oriented mindset focusing on “Will” or people , inspires them so that they feel motivated to take care of “resources” in the long run.

    This is by no means easy and takes risk taking ability on behalf of the visionary leader.

    Needless to say long term oriented mindset results in fulfillment and satisfied employees who in turn make customers happy.

    Adopted from Simon Sinek’s book The Infinite Game.

  • Understanding the Infinite Game of Life

    Adopted from Simon Sinek’s book The Infinite Game

    The game of LIFE is an INFINITE one.We are the PLAYERS.

    The rules are not fixed , the players are not fixed.PLAYERS can come and GO and there are no WINNERs and LOSERs.There is no TIME LIMIT as well.

    In such a context we can realize that none of us will ever be declared the WINNER in life.

    So to summarize to lead a fulfilled life and play the infinite game with finesse we must realize that:

    1. We are PLAYERS
    2. We CANNOT choose the RULES
    3. We CANNOT choose the GAME

    ONLY Choice that we have:

    1. The ONLY choice we have is to play with an INFINITE mindset or a FINITE mindset

  • Why adopting an INFINITE MINDSET needs COURAGE?

    Adopted from Simon Sinek’s book The Infinite Game.

    Realizing something in quick time in the short term needs a FINITE mindset.To achieve something in the long run , deriving fulfillment , needs an INFINITE mindset and hence the requisite amount of risk and courage.

    The following quote summarizes this very aptly:

    “Bowing to the pressure of the FINITE PLAYERS around us is the EASY and EXPEDIENT choice.This is the reason it takes COURAGE to adopt an INFINITE MINDSET.”