A riff on positive sum:
We’re not wired for abundance—We’re wired for scarcity
When we lived in tribes, if someone took your food, or excluded you, you didn't have anywhere else to go
It was a zero-sum world
Which is why we instinctively feel someone else's gain as our loss
We’re not wired for abundance—We’re wired for scarcity
When we lived in tribes, if someone took your food, or excluded you, you didn't have anywhere else to go
It was a zero-sum world
Which is why we instinctively feel someone else's gain as our loss
Then we invented technology: the ability to do more with less.
Then we invented markets, which enabled people to acquire resources while simultaneously enriching others.
Suddenly, our world is positive sum.
The more you create for yourself, the more you are giving to others.
Then we invented markets, which enabled people to acquire resources while simultaneously enriching others.
Suddenly, our world is positive sum.
The more you create for yourself, the more you are giving to others.
We expanded our circle of empathy across genetic boundaries.
We now emotionally care about not just our tribes but entire nations.
Positive-sum thinking and building enables us to feed billions of people.
We can always grow the pie (as long as we do so sustainably)
We now emotionally care about not just our tribes but entire nations.
Positive-sum thinking and building enables us to feed billions of people.
We can always grow the pie (as long as we do so sustainably)
Positive sum thinking is what grows the pie in a macro POV, but also in your own life.
The more happy you are for others, the happier they’ll be for you.
Even if a local situation is zero-sum and you lose, be positive-sum b/c it's long-term advantageous
The more happy you are for others, the happier they’ll be for you.
Even if a local situation is zero-sum and you lose, be positive-sum b/c it's long-term advantageous
Play long-term games with long-term people.
It's easiest to do this in fields where the pie is expanding.
Zero-sum mindset is what we're wired for, so positive- sumness has to be learned.
It's easiest to do this in fields where the pie is expanding.
Zero-sum mindset is what we're wired for, so positive- sumness has to be learned.
Nonzero is my favorite book detailing the rise of Positive-Sum thinking.
