Playing to Win vs. Playing Not to Lose

Matt and Garrett are back with their second installment of Life at Ten Tenths to continue their mission of inspiring people to live at the pinnacle of their ability and purpose. This time around they examine the power of adopting a 'play to win' mindset across various facets of life, from business ventures to personal relationships. Throughout the episode, they discuss the importance of setting lofty goals and the significant impact this approach can have not only on one's personal growth but also on the broader community.

Highlighting the stark contrasts between playing to win and playing not to lose, the hosts reveal how a proactive and ambitious outlook can shift one's trajectory towards more rewarding outcomes. Their conversation explores the cultural fixation on being number one and challenges listeners to redefine what success means to them. Drawing on examples from real life and references from such influential thinkers as Simon Sinek, Matt and Garrett emphasize the role of resilience and the healthy acceptance of failure in pursuing long-term success. In the end, they encourage listeners to reflect on their past achievements and setbacks to gain a better perspective on goal-setting, avoid the pitfalls of overly cautious objectives, and embrace the energy of playing to win as a catalyst for profound personal and professional transformation.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 Start

0:22 Introduction

1:06 Reflecting upon the past 5 years

4:43 The mindsets of playing to win vs. playing not to lose

7:54 The energy in playing to win in all aspects of life

10:11 Two important elements in playing to win

13:11 What does winning mean to you?

15:17 Playing not to lose as a scarcity mindset

18:38 The stress element

19:51 Applying these mindsets in relationships and business

25:51 Being the best version of yourself

29:16 Being okay with failure

31:01 Joining the Life at Ten Tenths community

Key Takeaways:

"Playing to win means going out there to operate at the best of your ability."

"If you're playing not to lose, you're just hoping not to fail, rather than striving to succeed."

"The real journey is in playing to win, which allows for growth and learning from failures."

"Setting a goal out of fear of failing is playing not to lose; setting a goal to see how far you can reach is playing to win."

"Every time you set a goal, think about whether you're protecting yourself from failure or aiming for a breakthrough."

"True success comes from setting the bar high and reaching for it, regardless of the outcome."

"In life and business, playing to win creates opportunities for innovation and collaboration."

"When you play not to lose, it limits your potential and keeps you from taking the risks necessary for significant achievements."

"Embrace the ordinary as your foundation for building the extraordinary."

Links:

Life at Ten Tenths: www.lifeattentenths.com

Simon Sinek’s The Infinite Game: https://simonsinek.com/books/the-infinite-game/