I’m currently reading Julius Caesar by Philip Freeman. There are many lessons in Caesar’s story, but here I want to share one about the importance of staying in the game.
In 58 BC, during the first year of Caesar’s Gallic Wars, an episode occurred that illustrates this well:
Caesar was now in a truly perilous situation as his troops had only a two-day supply of food remaining and—more to his chagrin—had seen their commander let a golden opportunity for victory slip through his fingers. His pride would heal, but Caesar knew he had to find food for his troops quickly. His only chance lay almost twenty miles north at the hill fort of Bibracte, chief city of the Aedui. This enormous citadel loomed over the surrounding fields and held more than enough grain to feed his troops for many weeks. Thus Caesar ceased his pursuit of the Helvetii and turned his men towards Bibracte.
Humanly speaking, Caesar had just lost a golden opportunity. He could have chased the enemy to restore his pride—strike quickly, claim victory, and worry about supplies later.
Instead, he recognized the dire supply situation. Despite the temptation to win fast, he stopped the pursuit and made finding food his priority.
That decision carries an important lesson for us:
Staying in the game matters more than quick wins.
Why? Because a quick win that costs you the ability to continue is not a win at all. Quick victories feel satisfying, but what matters more is your ability to keep playing over the long haul.
Simon Sinek, in The Infinite Game, draws this same distinction. Finite games have known players, fixed rules, and a clear finish line—football is a good example. Infinite games have no defined end; the goal is not to “win” once and for all but to keep the game going. In an infinite game, the primary objective is to preserve your ability to continue.
Caesar acted like a player in an infinite game. Rather than risking everything for a short-term triumph, he prioritized his army’s survival so they could keep fighting later.
In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey uses the term Production Capability versus Production. You may want to produce a lot, but what matters more in the long run is your production capability. You need to be able to keep producing over time, which is why rest, renewal, and sharpening the saw are essential.
As we approach the New Year, remember this: staying in the game matters more than quick wins. Caesar made the right decision—and we should too.
