HOW TO LONG GAME[a]

  1. THERE IS NO SHORT GAME, ONLY LONG GAME.[b] SHORT GAME IS TOURISM. LONG GAME IS LIVING THERE.
  2. THE LONG GAME IS ABOUT BUILDING YOUR OWN GAME[c]. ANY PRIZES THAT ALREADY EXIST ARE SHORT GAME CROWNS. WIN BY BUILDING YOUR OWN GAME.
  3. THE LONG GAME IS LONG. YOU WILL BE TEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THE LONG GAME WITH MORE RESOURCES. THIS IS MIXING SHORT GAME THINKING WITH LONG GAME GOALS. BEWARE.
  4. THE LONG GAME IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.[d][e][f] IT’S THE GROWN UP VERSION OF THE MARSHMALLOW TEST. YOU NEED THE RIGHT MENTALITY AND APPROACH TO PLAY.
  5. THE LONG GAME IS ABOUT CONFIDENCE. YOU HAVE TO WILLINGLY LIVE IN A TRUTH THAT’S NOT CERTAIN, YET OPERATE WITH THE FAITH THAT IT WILL BE. THIS WILL BE A CONSTANT PRESSURE YOU MUST BEFRIEND/TOLERATE.
  6. THE LONG GAME = THESIS + MINDSET. LONG GAMING WITH A RIGID PLAN[g] IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY VARIABLES. A THESIS (SOMETHING YOU UNIQUELY BELIEVE TO BE TRUE) PLUS A LONG-TERM MINDSET (DETERMINATION TO WILL SOMETHING INTO EXISTENCE) IS REQUIRED.
  7. THE DESTINATION MUST BE WORTH THE JOURNEY[h]. THERE WILL BE LONG PERIODS WITHOUT FEEDBACK, AND, IN FACT, NEGATIVE FEEDBACK (THINK CHRISTIAN BALE IN “THE BIG SHORT”). THE LONG GAME OUTCOME MUST BE WORTH THE SHORT TERM CHALLENGE AND PAIN.[i]
  8. THERE IS ONLY LONG GAME. REAL CHANGE, REAL INFLUENCE, AND REAL IMPACT ONLY HAPPEN OVER TIME. THE LONG GAME IS THE ONLY GAME WORTH PLAYING.[j][k][l]


[a]This doc started (and first 8 in this list) by me. Other comments and additions are credited to their authors.

Feel free to add your POV, just keep the vibe/POV going. <3

More about me: ystrickler.com

[b]A nod to "Finite and Infinite Games" by James P. Carse?

[c]"Yo no me senté a llorar/ mientras veía mi rancho arder". New territory can only come with new mapmaking.  Build ya own shite.

(And how much of this is new cartography?)

[d]Yes - how does one assemble a team of people willing to play/invested in the game?

[e]a deep focus for me at the moment. after a lifetime, more difficult than initially considered.

[f]This question, this question. Perhaps relating it to the game itself: the need for it to be fun and rewarding for others? But how is this something that you convince others of?

[g]A rigid plan can only work to optimize a short game, because the rules and win condition of the short game are known. If playing the long game is building a long game, then you can't pre-determine the outcome with a plan.

2 total reactions

Chris Lunney reacted with ♥️ at 2025-05-19 01:16 AM

J C reacted with ♥️ at 2025-05-22 15:36 PM

[h]Heard a good quip the other day, like: the longer the game the more indefinite the optimism required

1 total reaction

Joshua Hone reacted with 😍 at 2025-05-28 14:59 PM

[i]yes! the long game often does not feel like a game at all. to stay gaming you have to still find the fun wherever you are

[j]How/where do we acknowledge that there will sometimes be compromise and that there's a duty to be transparent about the trade-offs?

[k]extremely insightful. reminds me of this: https://fs.blog/long-game/

[l]Thanks for this