The concept of a zero sum game is one I think of often. A zero sum game has a winner and a loser in equal proportions. It assumes finite resources that must be distributed to one or the other.

If you have one carrot and you and one other person flip a coin to see who gets the carrot, that’s a zero sum game. There’s only one winner who gets the carrot. The other gets nothing. Poker is another good example – to win money you must take it from other players.

It’s easy to assume that many games in life are zero sum games. That if you get a promotion at work, you’re taking it from someone else. If you make more money, someone somewhere must be making less money, right? In reality, I believe they are rare. In most cases, improving yourself will benefit others. You’ll be setting an example, teaching, expanding.

We don’t live in a world of finite resources. We can build and grow and create opportunity for others while improving our own lives. In fact it, it’s the best way.