What is Game Theory and What Does it Have to do with You Becoming Successful?

If the rules of the game force a bad strategy, maybe we shouldn’t try to change strategies. Maybe we should try to change the game.

~Brian Christian

I see you Gentrifanatics!

Game Theory.

One of the most interesting theories that you may not even realize you’re interested in!

Becoming successful is a game. Some people play to win. Other people play just to play.

Let me tell you what I’ve noticed about myself. My standards of “winning” at success have changed drastically in a very short time.

In my teens success meant a car with 12″ subwoofers bumping Tupac while cruising down the strip.

When I accomplished that I had won the game.

In my 20’s success meant being the dopest DJ at the best clubs and parties.

I lost that game!

But never becoming the best DJ really didn’t matter to me as much because I loved DJing and playing at parties and clubs.

I just loved playing the game, even if I didn’t win.

Now that I’m in my 30’s I still have goals that define success.

My goals that relate to wealth and my personal goals both lack a clear stopping point. In other words I’m currently playing the game just to play. Right now I think that’s the best way to go about anything in life

In this post you’ll learn about game theory and what it has to do with you getting to where you want to be in life!

Two Types of Games

There are finite games and infinite games. It’s important for you to know not only which one you’re playing; but which one the people around you are playing too.

Finite Games: known players, fixed rules, agreed upon objective.

Infinite Games: Known and unknown players, rules are changeable, objective is to keep the game in play, players don’t lose infinite games they just run out of the will or resources to keep playing

Finite Games

A finite game has a clear ending…someone wins.

Take street fighter for example. If you’re like me you remember being at the arcade with as many quarters as you could find!

When you hit someone with that sonic boom and they fall in slow motion it’s a wrap!

Gentrifanatic, Game Theory

That’s a finite game, Guile wins and Ken loses. Best two out of three. Game over.

You have to keep that life bar at the top of the screen full or you’re done!

Scarcity

A finite game is based on scarcity. This means that in a game you play to win there is something that you need to have more of then your opponent to be the winner.

In street fighter it’s that life bar at the top! Whoever runs out first loses.

There are only a finite number of bitcoins. A finite number of seats at Harvard. The game is securing these scarce things for yourself and loved ones.

Think about it in terms of money now. Is that something that you need to have more of in order to be successful?

Successful in the eyes of others?

How about in your own eyes?

Is there a finite amount of money?

Sometimes you work to win something scarce that you don’t really care about…just to win.

Promotions at a job you hate.

Likes on Instagram.

Rocking the newest Jordan’s.

Buying a huge house.

Getting a PhD.

All if these are games we play voluntarily. That is required of finite games, you have to choose to play.

Changing the Game

If you’re not winning in life changing your strategy is good.

Changing the rules of the game is better.

Changing the game entirely is best!

Think about it. What are the game changing developments in the world. How successful are the people behind them?

Computers used to cost 100k. They were scarce. Only a few people had them.Gentri

Gentrifanatic, Game Theory

Now computers only cost about 1k. Almost everyone has a computer.

Technology and innovation that made it possible for everyone to have a computer changed the game.

Same is true for Smartphones. What you have in your pocket today was inconceivable a couple of decades ago.

Changing the game is my goal with Gentrifanatic.

Imagine if everyone in the world knew things about wealth, health, and wellness. Today these ideas mindsets, and methods are only made available to small groups of people. If everyone was able to look at money, health, and well being through this lens it would upset the status quo by giving everyone access to know what the elites of the world know!

Game changer!

When you think about it life is a game too. But you have no choice on whether you play or not, just how you play.

Infinite Games

In these types of games you play just to play.

Infinite games have no boundaries and don’t need opponents.

Learning

Take learning for example. That’s the ultimate infinite game. There’s no trophy you get when you’ve learned more than anyone else. You’re always learning. Things that may seem impossible today can become common tomorrow through learning. Boundaries of what we know to be real today can be expanded.

That’s because in an infinite game the rules change as you play the game.

Working

Just because everyone tells you that you need to get a good education, a good job, and save money doesn’t mean you have to do it that way.

There are no boundaries to how you live your life.

No one is forcing you to work where you do today. You accepted that job and you’re playing by the rules of that game.

If you’re thinking in terms of a finite game then you’re doing whatever you can within the boundaries set for you by that game.

But remember, it’s voluntary.

You may say, “ok but I need money”.

That’s true, but is your job the only way you can make money? Is it even the most efficient way?

Probably not.

Educate yourself, set your own boundaries and create your own infinite game.

When you are an infinite game player you can still play the finite games like a 9-5 job but you don’t take it as seriously. You know that that job doesn’t have to be what you do until you die. Infinite game players know that by learning and changing their mindset they can enjoy success.

Many finite games can be played within an infinite game but it doesn’t work the other way around.

Competition is Finite

When you put an infinite player against a finite player the finite player is playing to win but the infinite player wants to keep the game going.

For example if you are an infinite player building wealth because you enjoy the way you’re building it and you like the benefits of doing so, you develop systems that perpetuate wealth. These systems are things like long term cash flow, tax strategies, and lifestyle habits (frugality).

Why Post-Trump Tax Law Real Estate is Still a Good Investment

Changing Your Mindset

If you’re a finite player you’re trying to make as much money as you can until you retire, then you’ll live off of what you accrued while playing the game.

Infinite players don’t compete against competition they compete against their past performance.

A finite player looks at the next man and says I want to drive a Tesla and own a big house like that.

An infinite player says I want to continuously optimize every aspect of my life and my family’s life.

I’m sure you’ve heard this before but don’t measure yourself against someone else’s success.

That makes room for envy and greed which is why so many rich people are unhappy. They wake up thinking how can I help myself be better than the next person. They think they know the players, rules, and objectives of the game but they often miss the point until late in their life.

They are finite players in an infinite game.

Instead of thinking how can I help myself, infinite players think about what value they can bring to others and how they can increase that value as time goes on.

Wrap up

When you hear companies or people telling others that they are the best at something you know they’re playing a finite game.

Alternatively, when you hear something about bringing value, and beating past performance you know you’re dealing with an infinite player.

Whichever player you choose to be always keep in mind that you have a choice to play a different game.

Wanna talk about game theory?

Just HMU, I’ll be around!

What is Game Theory and What Does it Have to do with You Becoming Successful?