Tweet

The spirit of the game

Written by: Seth Godin

Article Overview: There are two ways to get ahead. You can work the system or you can beat the system.

The spirit of the game

There are two ways to get ahead. You can work the system or you can beat the system.

Beating the system usually involves some sort of subterfuge. Once everyone knows how you beat the system, the system adjusts and changes the rules, making it difficult for you to repeat the feat again. When card counters beat the system in Las Vegas, they weren't breaking the rules, but the system didn't care. They just increased the number of decks in use so it would be more difficult and less lucrative. When athletes beat the system by doping, the system adjusts so it's either a lot more difficult or less of an advantage.

Years ago, leading accounting firms were pitching wealthy prospects the idea of "perfectly legal" tax shelters that would lead to paying zero taxes on investments. You guessed it... the secret leaked out and they were busted.

Working the system is very different. Far from being secret, working the system is public and honored. When Malcolm Gladwell works the system to deliver two stunning bestsellers in a row, booksellers and publishers don't quickly make it more difficult to write books that appeal to a large audience... instead, his competitors work to raise their game and everyone benefits. When Bill Boomer taught the US Olympic team to swim in a very different way, he had nothing to hide, because he was working within the spirit of the game.

The web is nothing but a system, a bunch of (largely unwritten) rules regarding search, linking, promotion, etc. It's fascinating to watch as some people work hard to work the system, and succeed time and time again, while others waste countless hours with one scheme after another designed to beat the system. They invent cloaking devices and seo scams and pyramid schemes and lightly disguised spam pages, constantly struggling to stay ahead (and to stay quiet). Sure, you can beat the system (any system) for a while, but it's a constant struggle.

In Ultimate Frisbee, there are no referees. The system insists that you make your own calls... players closest to the play call it, with no real appeals. The goal: play in the spirit of the game. If you keep working to beat the system, you'll end up with no one to play with. Work the system, and you'll win now and later.

Related Articles
  Spontaneity
  The Hole in The Sum of The Parts
  Changing the Game
  Do You Need Experience to Own a Franchise?
  The Difference Between Those That Do And Those That…

Article Tags: accounting firms, booksellers, breaking the rules, card counters, cloaking devices, constant struggle, countless hours, decks, legal tax shelters, malcolm gladwell, prospects, pyramid schemes, referees, scams, spirit of the game, subterfuge, two ways, ultimate frisbee, unwritten rules, us olympic team



Related Forum Posts
Re: Playing sports or games with clients - If we are playing more than one game, I will let him win the first game, then win the second one and let him win the third. Business relationship should not be jeopardise because of sport or game. The reason is because some people don't like loosing.
Re: What are you doing if o have a bad day? - Glad you all like that idea. I don't play it too often, but it definitely helps with stress or relieving anger. David, that reminds me of another game for the NES called Galaga. It's also a shooting game in which you have to also dodge projectiles. Very fun as well. A pure classic. I would say that any video game would work well to just take your mind off of work. Who knows, you may be able to come up with a breakthrough idea from playing them!
Re: Playing sports or games with clients - [quote="ideasuniversity":rd7ddnmg]If we are playing more than one game, I will let him win the first game, then win the second one and let him win the third. Business relationship should not be jeopardise because of sport or game. The reason is because some people don't like loosing.[/quote:rd7ddnmg] But then would you really want to do business (or be friends) with a sore loser? Secondly, a client could be even more offended if he/she discovers that you deliberately let him/her win.
Re: Business hype - The Irish bar has a nice World Cup promotional campaign on to draw people in to view the games live... Each game has a special drink discount IF something happens during the game, and whenever possible the drinking theme is related to the game. EG: Half price drinks if Japan scores (as the bar is in Japan)... Half price tequila shots if Mexico scores first...
Re: Thanks for the link Barbara - Yes....last year - and again this year - I've subscribed to MLB TV on the web, so I can watch baseball games on my computer. I can watch every baseball game this season, "on demand" which means not only when the game is going on, (except if its blacked out in my area - a restriction that really annoys me!!!), but after the game is over, even if it was blacked out, I can watch it. Very helpful to keep track of the Seattle Mariners, since they're 3 hours ahead of me and I can't stay up that late to watch my favorite player, Ichiro! And you can continue to watch games past for the whole season. For sports writers, that's an invaluable tool! My only regret is that baseball started recording games so late...I would so love to be able to watch a full game of Lou Gehrig...


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

A New Year in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Life, Conflict and Work

Winning Market Share in a Tough Economy

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.