Winner takes all

Is it good to always win?

In every competition, who doesn’t want to win? We all work hard for the best outcome—but the best outcome isn’t reserved for everyone. The top of the pyramid is always smaller than its base. As the saying goes, the winner takes all.

But I believe winner takes all is a scarcity mindset. It assumes resources are limited and must be seized before they’re gone, rather than shared to grow collectively and sustainably. People with this mindset chase the top of the pyramid instead of expanding the base—so the pyramid itself can become larger and higher.

Have you ever worked with someone who can’t stand losing? They win every argument. They always have an opinion. They can critique your work flawlessly. They’re champions defending their title. But tell me—are you happy working with them?

I don’t think losing is always a bad thing. Failure pushes us to try new approaches. It makes us work harder than winners. It helps us connect with others—because let’s be honest, there are more losers than winners in this world.

The problem is, we value outcomes too much and effort too little. Sometimes life throws us into losing so we can grow stronger. The opportunity to learn from our mistakes is just as valuable as victory. Winning and losing both teach us how to collaborate. I know I can’t always be right, so I listen to my teammates more carefully—so that next time, I can do better.

The joy of playing the game itself is far greater than the joy of being a champion. I’d rather be a loser who still gets to play, than a winner who’s too afraid to play—or worse, has no one left who wants to play with them.