Seeing work as a game

A game, at its core, is a structured interaction involving multiple players, a set of rules, and potential outcomes. In any situation where we face decisions, we can frame it as a game to gain clarity and strategy. Games exist in every strategy, whether we acknowledge them or not. Here are a few universal truths about games:

• You don’t need to enjoy a game for it to still be a game.

• You’re often playing a game without even realising it, and recognising it as a game can significantly improve your ability to navigate it.

• The outcome of a game isn’t necessarily tied to how much you want to win as desire alone isn’t enough.

• Some games are easy to step away from, while others are perpetual and ongoing.

• Importantly, no game stays static. The act of playing inherently evolves the game itself.

Viewing a project or a challenge as a game offers a unique advantage: it allows us to depersonalise our work. This perspective can reduce emotional entanglement, foster creativity, and encourage a more strategic mindset. I think by recognising the "game" in what we do transforms how we approach decisions and adapt to changing circumstances.

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A simple model

I think everything you do in life will fall into one of three categories: bad work, good work, or great work. Here’s a simple model:

• Bad work is a waste of time, consisting of life-draining bureaucratic tasks.

• Good work involves fulfilling your job description, being productive, efficient, and getting things done. It includes tasks your boss or board expects you to complete.

• Great work is more impactful and meaningful. It is strategic and engaging, resonating with both your head and your heart.

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Work-life balance

In my experience, there are leaders and organisations who focus on equipping employees with tools to improve their performance, and there is not so much focus on their personal development. When we are at work, our personal life impacts our performance, and when we go home, our work impacts our personal life. So, if a person is in tune with whom they are then they are one person, the same at work as at home. I think people need to feel valued, heard, and supported. In Denmark, there is a value placed on work-life balance, emphasising that people take pride in their work without the necessity of showcasing dedication through long working hours.

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Learning by doing

Why is experience in life considered to be the best teacher?
I think experience is one of the best teachers because when you do something you are actually involved in the whole process. And this helps you understand your behaviour and reaction towards a given situation. Learning by doing and teaching by experience can produce higher learning results and have a more lasting effect. Too many people in sales get a little bit of success and get carried away thinking they know it all, and don’t need to practice, study, plan, or review because they think they are already great. Sometimes that’s just the ego, but I think it’s imperative to remain humble. Do you think that happens in any other profession, sport, or activity?

“For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.”

— Aristotle

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Less measurable, more meaningful

The world of work is changing, and changing in very fundamental ways. We are just at the start of another period of uncertainty and significant disruption partly driven by Covid-19, partly driven by the collapse into irrelevance of old ways of working, and partly driven by the changing expectations of the workforce. This is going to be longer and more significant period of change than most people realise and we will need stories to help us make sense of what is happening.


Our global economy desperately needs more alternatives to the conventional corporate model. I think it’s important to know that you don’t have to follow the conventional norms and you do have other options. The new era will see more and more organisations putting purpose before profits. Are you interested in learning how to improve your customer lifetime value by providing purpose and satisfaction?

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