Storytime

11:30 AM on October 28th. Middle seat on a Southwest flight. Beads of sweat dripping down my forehead.

The day before, I completed the biggest accomplishment of my life.

I was an Ironman.

And yet, as I sat there, I felt nothing.

No joy. No pride. Just emptiness.

Family and friends told me how proud they were, how big of a deal it was, how they could never imagine doing something like it.

But me? I felt zip, zero, zilch. Honestly, it sucked.

When I got home, I gave myself time to decompress. The emptiness lingered.

That’s when I stumbled on this quote from Finite and Infinite Games:

I realized it was never really about becoming an Ironman.

Sure, I’m proud of the accomplishment. But what mattered more was the process:

• Setting a goal.

• Crafting a plan.

• Showing up daily, logging miles, and watching my endurance grow.

It wasn’t about “winning” or crossing the finish line. It was about the joy of playing the game.

A realization

Life is full of infinite games:

• Business: The goal isn’t to “win.” It’s to build something sustainable, solve problems, and keep playing the game.

• Relationships: You don’t “win” at love. The goal is to grow together, support each other, and find joy in the journey.

• Fitness: It’s not about one race or one PR. It’s about consistently putting in the work, feeling good, looking good, and living without health complications.

Infinite games aren’t about a finish line — they’re about improving so you can keep playing.

You might be thinking: “Eric, are you saying I shouldn’t chase big goals?”

Not at all.

I’m saying: don’t chase goals for the sake of recognition or because society tells you to.

Instead, pursue things where the pursuit itself brings you joy.

If hitting a big milestone genuinely excites you, go for it. Just remember: the mountain peak is fleeting. The climb is where the magic happens.

A Sobering Thought

If you live to 90 years old, you get 4,680 weeks.

Thank you Tim Urban for the Graphic.

• At 30, you’re 33% done.

• At 60, you’re 67% done.

Father Time is undefeated.

You can’t win that game. But you can decide how you play your remaining weeks.

So when you set your goals, ask yourself: Why am I doing this?

If you’re chasing something just for the title, you might reach the top and still feel empty. But if you love the climb, you’ll never lose.

Wrapping up

I did a lot of thinking this week over the holidays and my birthday. Getting older is weird. You still feel like the spry 21 year old you once were, but reality is something different.

Anyway, the key take away here is:

Life is an infinite game. Play it wisely.

Rooting for you,

-Dodds

P.S. I tried out a new format this week. Did you love it? Hate it? Have a different recommendation? Let me know below.

P.P.S. New project launching in the new year. I can’t share much yet, but I’m stoked. That’s all that matters for now.