Beating The Dealer
Beating the dealer. It’s the eternal quest.
How do I upset the odds? How do I move the needle to get what I want?
At its core, it’s really a desire to remain in control, to stay relevant. But it’s worth remembering what game we’re trying to play as well.
Different games have different rules. If you want to play a specific game, you need to understand those rules and maneuver your way through them.
Some rules are bendable, some can be managed, but you can’t expect to win that game by absolutely flouting the core rules of the game. (If you’re a product business, you won’t win by structuring themselves as service businesses. The economics just don’t allow it.)
You can, however, change the game you’re playing.
Reposition. Rebrand. Restructure. Rethink.
Shift the territory and shift your mindset.
Move towards a game you think you can actually win.
Of course, this means you have to give up the old rules and rethink and reorient towards new ones. Change your definition of who you compete with.
This will mean resetting what “winning” looks like. There’s no shame in that and, done right, can be inspiring to the broader team.
Certainly, success isn’t guaranteed. The odds can only be stacked so far.
But when you can’t win at the game you’re playing, it’s worth considering whether you should change it.
