How to Play the Infinite Game in Music and Life

Have you ever played a game that lasts...forever?

In our world, we have two kinds of games. Finite games and infinite games. Can you guess which one is more exciting?

This post is based on Simon Sinek's thought-provoking book, The Infinite Game. Highly recommended. Actually, buy the audiobook. It comes with the added bonus of Simon Sinek's dreamy voice. If words were silk...

In a finite game, there are agreed upon rules between players. There is a clear winner a clear loser. In an infinite game, the goal is not to win. The goal is to continue playing. To stay in the game. Because it lasts forever.

We're not talking about literal games like Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, and Mouse Trap. Sigh...Mouse Trap...talk about an awful game.

We're talking about the games of life (but not the actual Game of Life...haha...get it? Sorry, couldn't help myself there...)

Studying a musical instrument is an infinite game. There is no such thing as "winning" piano. The same with business, career, learning, spirituality, and a whole lot more. There isn't really a point where you can stop.

Well, actually, there is...and there's the problem. When people play an infinite game with a finite mindset. Or worse yet, they believe the infinite game is a finite game. And they stop playing because they think they've won. And then, they lose hard.

I suspect school unknowingly trained us like this. From a young age, we win at first grade, allowing us to go to the second grade. We pass second grade in order to go the third grade. And so it continues until we finish high school.

And then, we win the college application game and go through another 4-10 years of school, progressing level after level. In the end, we finally won the school game. But, what next?

Over the course of all of this (unless we had the good fortune of running into one of those life-changing teachers they make movies about), we haven't been taught to think infinitely. Where do we want to go? What do we love? What do we stand for? What game to we want to keep playing?

I believe this is why music education has had a rough run in modern society. The infinite mindset required, the lifelong learning, doesn't jive so well with our finite games of semesters, grades, sports, and more.

So, what can you do to start playing the infinite game? Here is a starting place.

First, define your why. Whether it's music, your career path, or anything else important to you. Why this? This is the fuel that carries you through infinity.

Second, think long term. When there is no end point and the goal is to keep on playing, how will the decisions you make now impact the future? Even if that future is five years from now?

Third, think of the impact you want to make and the legacy you want to leave. The infinite game is truly infinite, because it continues even after you are gone.

Fourth, have fun. It is a game, after all.

When we play the infinite game, we have the power to not only live our fullest lives, but create beautiful change in the world. To have an impact on others and leave a legacy. It is unpredictable and there is no endpoint.

And it's so much more fun than settling for a finite game.

Especially Mouse Trap...