Small change: don’t race for the prize

First published on
Jan 20, 2026
we’re out of balance
Writing Small Change Business development Culture in companies Getting change done High performing teams Values 2026

If capitalism has done one thing well, it’s exploit the competitive streak inherent in human nature. In any situation where we believe resources are limited, people feel it becomes necessary to clamber over one another to survive.

One consequence of this is that the focus can quickly become winning at all costs. Two potential problems result: the prize might not have been worth the effort of running the race, or the prize might not have been worth what we sacrificed to win.

How do you make sure your victories aren’t hollow? The answer is basic, but difficult to embrace in the heat of competition: think before acting. It’s worth remembering that not all races are worth winning. And some are not even worth the price of entry.

Something to consider: If we stop, what might we gain?

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