Some say that LIFE is a ZERO-SUM GAME....

By a ZERO-SUM GAME, people mean, if one person wins, then another loses. They say you can't have everyone win. Well....

They may say that, but I don't believe it. Here's why.

You can help everyone to win. YOU win, and others win too. One way to do this is through "technology." What does that mean?

Here's what "technology" really means, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary....

"Technology" means "The practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area." Take notice....

I'm coming back to that later.... But first an example.

Consider gasoline -- or "petrol" for Aussies and Brits. We know that the world only has a limited amount of oil. Once it's gone, it's gone. Every little bit we use up is a piece that can't be replaced.

One way to look at it is to see it as a limited-sized pie. You take a little slice of that pie every time you fill up your car. And the only way to use more gasoline is by taking it away from someone else who could possibly use it later.

NOW, here's how technology can fit into the mix. Technology can effectively make the pie bigger.

An example of this kind of technology is the development of much more efficient cars and car engines. Now, thanks to this new technology, the same amount of gas will make our cars go further.

If what we care about is how far we can travel, the same sized pie, thanks to technology, now can make us all travel further.

It is as if technology has effectively EXPANDED the pie.

It is NOT a "zero-sum game." Through technology -- by developing, applying, and helping to distribute it -- you can make everyone win by expanding the pie. You can win, and you can help others to win too.

Here's that definition of "technology" again....
"The practical APPLICATION of KNOWLEDGE especially in a particular area."

Technology is KNOWLEDGE and its APPLICATION. It doesn't have to mean some sort of device. It could even mean an E-BOOK or even a plain booklet with the right information inside.

The KNOWLEDGE it contains is half of the definition of technology.... The other half YOU supply by APPLYING it.

The first part of technology is knowledge. By sharing your knowledge -- such as through an ebook -- you can help everyone to win.

For example, let's say you are an expert in creating web pages. By TEACHING your knowledge to others, everyone can win. You win, because you arrange to receive some sort of monetary benefit for your teaching. Those who you teach also win, because a whole new means of communication is now open to them, since they can now create their own web pages.

This is in fact a type of technology -- KNOWLEDGE and its APPLICATION.

Let's look at another example....

Let's say you have learned some of the latest, most useful techniques of organization. By teaching this to others, you are again in fact taking part in the spread of new technology. You are helping everyone to win.

You are spreading KNOWLEDGE and its APPLICATION.

So, when people say the spread of technology helps society, that doesn't mean you have to be at the head of the latest streaming-video-on-your-cell-phone venture.

It could be as seemingly "mundane" as creating a booklet containing your KNOWLEDGE for others to APPLY.

Here are some ways you can take part in the win/win possibilities which are available through technology....

You can CREATE the technology. That means creating new knowledge and new products based on that knowledge. This is what most people think of when they think of technology.

You can take part in the DISTRIBUTION of technology. That means teaching it to others, or selling products based on new technology to others. By doing this, you are also contributing to a win/win situation, and expanding the pie.

And lastly, you can APPLY the technology directly. That means, using the technology to make your own activities more effective and efficient.

The opportunities are there and open to everyone.... This article is to help you to see them....

Now you have to reach out and grab them!

Dien Rice

Does life have to be a zero-sum game? To win, do others have to lose?

These questions are often posed in relation to customer/supplier relationships. That is, if I sell a book to a customer for $20, does my gain mean his loss? As I'm willing to sell it for $20 when it only costs me $10 (or $0 to reproduce), does that mean he's being ripped off and thus losing?

In this context, I don't think it is the case. The value of the product to the consumer can easily be higher than the price paid (and often is, justifying the purchase) whereas the value of the product to the supplier is often less than the sale price, resulting in a benefit accruing to each party involved. This, then, is a win-win situation for both customer and supplier.

But is it true that *everybody* wins, and there are no losers? Or in the specific area of technological improvement, or "enlarging the pie" as Dien talks about, is that an example of a situation where everybody wins?

I believe this isn't the case. Yes, certainly it is possible for both suppliers and customers to win by utilizing more efficient technologies... And society overall would benefit by increased technology, but everybody? Surely not, if you consider competitors. I believe you don't even have to compete directly to be effected. For example, if Dien comes out with a new technology to make his product more attractive and as a result somebody spends $10 of their budget on his product, then if I am a retailer selling a different product, that customer now has $10 less in his budget to spend on other goods (including my products).

Thus, I believe that it is difficult to find situations in which everybody wins, but I also don't believe life is a zero-sum game.

- Thomas Rice.

To make a long story short (especially because I'm a little rushed right now :-) I, like MOST people, was very unclear on the intricacies of MLM and in actuality exactly how money was made -- well it's really not ever *made* just redistributed, but I didn't understand that till I reead this article about 10 years ago.

This article is called the Zero Sum Theory and at least for me, it opened my eyes to the MLM industry and how UTTERLY FOOLISH those who try and hype prospects into believing that "everyone" can make money in MLM, are.

There's always going to be fast talkers and those who buy into the Make Money Fast, Money For Nothing philosophies, espoused by the greedy -- however if YOU read this and take it to heart, you don't have to be one of them... if you ever-endeavor into the MLM realm!

Paul

> By a ZERO-SUM GAME, people mean, if one
> person wins, then another loses. They say
> you can't have everyone win. Well....

> They may say that, but I don't believe it.
> Here's why.

> You can help everyone to win. YOU win, and
> others win too. One way to do this is
> through "technology." What does
> that mean?

> Here's what "technology" really
> means, according to the Merriam-Webster
> dictionary....

> "Technology" means "The
> practical application of knowledge
> especially in a particular area." Take
> notice....

> I'm coming back to that later.... But first
> an example.

> Consider gasoline -- or "petrol"
> for Aussies and Brits. We know that the
> world only has a limited amount of oil. Once
> it's gone, it's gone. Every little bit we
> use up is a piece that can't be replaced.

> One way to look at it is to see it as a
> limited-sized pie. You take a little slice
> of that pie every time you fill up your car.
> And the only way to use more gasoline is by
> taking it away from someone else who could
> possibly use it later.

> NOW, here's how technology can fit into the
> mix. Technology can effectively make the pie
> bigger.

> An example of this kind of technology is the
> development of much more efficient cars and
> car engines. Now, thanks to this new
> technology, the same amount of gas will make
> our cars go further.

> If what we care about is how far we can
> travel, the same sized pie, thanks to
> technology, now can make us all travel
> further.

> It is as if technology has effectively
> EXPANDED the pie.

> It is NOT a "zero-sum game."
> Through technology -- by developing,
> applying, and helping to distribute it --
> you can make everyone win by expanding the
> pie. You can win, and you can help others to
> win too.

> Here's that definition of
> "technology" again....
> "The practical APPLICATION of
> KNOWLEDGE especially in a particular
> area." Technology is KNOWLEDGE and
> its APPLICATION. It doesn't have to mean
> some sort of device. It could even mean an
> E-BOOK or even a plain booklet with the
> right information inside.

> The KNOWLEDGE it contains is half of the
> definition of technology.... The other half
> YOU supply by APPLYING it.

> The first part of technology is knowledge.
> By sharing your knowledge -- such as through
> an ebook -- you can help everyone to win.

> For example, let's say you are an expert in
> creating web pages. By TEACHING your
> knowledge to others, everyone can win. You
> win, because you arrange to receive some
> sort of monetary benefit for your teaching.
> Those who you teach also win, because a
> whole new means of communication is now open
> to them, since they can now create their own
> web pages.

> This is in fact a type of technology --
> KNOWLEDGE and its APPLICATION.

> Let's look at another example....

> Let's say you have learned some of the
> latest, most useful techniques of
> organization. By teaching this to others,
> you are again in fact taking part in the
> spread of new technology. You are helping
> everyone to win.

> You are spreading KNOWLEDGE and its
> APPLICATION.

> So, when people say the spread of technology
> helps society, that doesn't mean you have to
> be at the head of the latest
> streaming-video-on-your-cell-phone venture.

> It could be as seemingly "mundane"
> as creating a booklet containing your
> KNOWLEDGE for others to APPLY.

> Here are some ways you can take part in the
> win/win possibilities which are available
> through technology....

> You can CREATE the technology. That means
> creating new knowledge and new products
> based on that knowledge. This is what most
> people think of when they think of
> technology.

> You can take part in the DISTRIBUTION of
> technology. That means teaching it to
> others, or selling products based on new
> technology to others. By doing this, you are
> also contributing to a win/win situation,
> and expanding the pie.

> And lastly, you can APPLY the technology
> directly. That means, using the technology
> to make your own activities more effective
> and efficient.

> The opportunities are there and open to
> everyone.... This article is to help you to
> see them....

> Now you have to reach out and grab them!

> Dien Rice


The Zero Sum Theory

Good response Thomas.... :)

> But is it true that *everybody* wins, and
> there are no losers? Or in the specific area
> of technological improvement, or
> "enlarging the pie" as Dien talks
> about, is that an example of a situation
> where everybody wins?

> I believe this isn't the case. Yes,
> certainly it is possible for both suppliers
> and customers to win by utilizing more
> efficient technologies... And society
> overall would benefit by increased
> technology, but everybody?

Okay, that's a good point.... I guess I was mainly talking about a benefit to *society* (which I think is a good thing)....

> Surely not, if
> you consider competitors. I believe you
> don't even have to compete directly to be
> effected. For example, if Dien comes out
> with a new technology to make his product
> more attractive and as a result somebody
> spends $10 of their budget on his product,
> then if I am a retailer selling a different
> product, that customer now has $10 less in
> his budget to spend on other goods
> (including my products).

Yes, I think you're probably right....

There may be some rare counter-examples, which is where the technological innovation not only improves the product, but also makes more people buy it, so the "old" manufacturers don't end up losing sales either....

Maybe an example would be the "Walkman" personal tape recorder. If people in general didn't buy "Walkmans" to *replace* their usual tape recorder, but instead they bought them in ADDITION to their normal tape recorders, then it would seem like win/win/win for everyone involved.

But then you might argue that the people would spend less money on movies or something other thing (since they already spent it on a Walkman), so the providers of these other products and services could end up losing sales....

Anyhow, I thought you brought up a good issue. :) Thanks for more food for thought....

Actually, that's one good thing about this forum, it keeps my brain cells working! :)

In revision, I would say that it is good to have products which help society in general, and I believe by creating, distributing, and using technology (in the way I talked about in my earlier post) we can all participate in that....

Dien

Hi Paul,

That was a great article you linked to....

> This article is called the Zero Sum Theory
> and at least for me, it opened my eyes to
> the MLM industry and how UTTERLY FOOLISH
> those who try and hype prospects into
> believing that "everyone" can make
> money in MLM, are.

I agree.... SOME things ARE a "zero-sum game." I didn't really spell that out in my original post, but that's my general belief.... SOME things fall into the "zero-sum game" category....

And SOME things don't.

Here's my usual source of wisdom.... Hollywood!

Part of the original inspiration for my post was the movie "Wall Street" starring Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen.

Michael Douglas won an Academy award for his portrayal of the corporate raider Gordon Gecko.

Somewhere in the film, Gecko espouses his belief that everything is a ZERO-SUM GAME. And that's how he lives his life. He doesn't care about the losers, because he figures that life has winners and losers, and HIS view seems to be that you can't become a winner without creating a loser.

THAT's the view I don't agree with.... Because the pie doesn't have to stay the same size.

You can EXPAND the pie, thanks to technology, which is KNOWLEDGE and its APPLICATION.

Paul Zane Pilzer's book, "Unlimited Wealth," is where I learned this from. It may be out of print, but if you can find it, it's excellent.

The point is, you DON'T have to be a DOG to get ahead (as in "dog-eat-dog").... you can think WIN/WIN/WIN.

One way to do that is through KNOWLEDGE and its APPLICATION, or technology.

Creating, distributing, and applying it yourself.

Thank you for sharing that article with us, Paul....

Don't need to be a Gecko or a dog -- think WIN/WIN/WIN through technology, which is KNOWLEDGE and its APPLICATION. :)

Cheers,

Dien