I have just finished reading “Games Foxes Play” which breaks business down into being seen as a game. First it defines the “Rules of the game” and then spends the rest of the book looking at “Playing the game”. It is written by two South African authors, and I was most impressed with it.

Based on Game Theory, everything we do can be seen as a game. And thus, to every game there are winners and losers. So the ultimate conclusion drawn in the book is “The meaning of winning”, and how we define that, so as to win the “games” we play.

Personally, I have encountered a few arguments between people share differing implications of winning in playing the same game. Some work to get by, some work because it is their interest or passion, while others might work to learn a particular skill they can leverage to their advantage later in life – and so on.

Having thought this through, it makes a lot of sense to me that taking a little while to consider what your personal motivations are for a particular venture, project, or task can not only assist in planning a route to achieve this, but also appreciate the end result even more when you do conquer it.

It only takes a half hour on the freeway each morning to realize that certain of those stuck in the rat race have a very blurred vision of their own meaning of winning. Also, that so many people are playing to society’s or another’s meaning of winning. Here – consumerism springs to mind. Purchasing material goods, just because everyone else is, cant really make you happy, can it?

So my question is open for discussion. What is your “meaning of winning” for something you are currently dedicating your time and effort towards? I hope you have one, and I hope it is worthwhile.