Old railroad tracks off Highway 395.
Winner's Game vs. Loser's Game
I recently heard Sahil Bloom discuss a concept which he refers to as the “Winner's Game vs. Loser's Game.” He defines a “Winner’s Game” as one in which the objective is to win; whereas the objective of the Loser’s Game is to not lose.
In amateur tennis for example, where 80% of points lost are due to self-inflicted errors, the best approach for an unskilled player is to play a Loser's Game. By keeping things simple, avoiding silly mistakes and focusing on merely keeping the ball in play, their opponent becomes the one most likely to commit the costly errors. In this instance, by playing to not lose, the odds of winning actually increase.
Professional tennis players, on the other hand, can no longer depend on the Loser’s Game; they instead must play the Winner’s Game—attacking aggressively, with precision, putting spin on the ball, thinking a few shots ahead and using their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses against them. Against top-competition, the Loser’s Game would leave them dangerously exposed.
Sahil makes clear that neither approach is right or wrong; it entirely depends on the situation and the opponent you’re up against. The real skill is recognizing when to switch the game, as there are inevitably moments in which the Loser’s Game requires a match-ending kill shot, and a Winner’s Game requires simply surviving. Awareness and adaptability are crucial.
This concept applies to many aspects of life—relationships, careers, health, business, finance, parenting and so much more—and I have already started to contemplate which game I’m playing in the various categories of mine. The risk, in my opinion, is to continually default to playing the same game purely out of habit or fear of change. The key is to choose the game with intentionality, knowledge and awareness, and to continue to adapt the tactics over time, as needed.
“In each case, the game is a long one—played over and over again until the end of your days. You have a choice of how to play. Occasionally, a situation may call for the elegant, perfect shot. You want to be prepared for those moments and know you have it in your back pocket. You want to be able to win the Winner's Game. But most of the time, you just want to keep the ball in play. You just want to stay in the game long enough to let the magic of compounding do its thing. You need to win the Loser's Game.”
-Sahil Bloom
