JumpStart National Condiment Month (9/1/25)

I’m wondering in how many households this same situation has occurred:

PERSON 1:  (opening fridge) There are waaaay too many bottles and jars in here.  I can’t find anything!
PERSON 2:  (feeling defensive)  But the best part of any meal is the sauces… and yes, before you ask, we NEED 4 kinds of hot sauce and 3 kinds of mustard.
…..later….
PERSON 1:  (sitting down to dinner)  Did you get out the green sriracha  - not the red one?  I need that on my burger.
PERSON 2:  (passing the bottle) I rest my case.

What’s your go-to condiment? I really like that sweet Thai chili sauce.

QUOTE:  "We achieve more when we chase the dream instead of the competition." (Simon Sinek)

When author and speaker Simon Sinek talks about The Infinite Game, he’s referring to a mindset shift that applies to business, leadership, and—very much so—education. His premise is simple but profound: some games in life are finite, like soccer or chess, where there are set rules, clear players, and a definite end point. You win or you lose. Other games are infinite, like education, relationships, and leadership. These don’t end. The “rules” evolve. The goal isn’t to win, but to stay in the game and keep it going for the long run.

Teaching, when viewed through the finite lens, can feel like a never-ending checklist. We chase test scores, focus on classroom rankings, and push students toward benchmarks. Those are finite markers. They matter, but if we only measure ourselves and our students against them, teaching becomes exhausting, competitive, and often discouraging.

But what if we looked at education as an infinite game? The goal isn’t to “win” against a neighboring district or get every student to a certain percentile. Instead, the aim is to nurture lifelong learners, to stay engaged as educators, and to contribute to a profession that is always evolving. The “success” of our work might not show up this semester or even this year. It might be the former student who comes back to tell you that your encouragement sparked their love of science. It might be the quiet kid who, years later, finds their voice because you gave them space to practice.

Sinek points out that those who play with an infinite mindset focus on resilience, adaptability, and purpose. For teachers, that might mean shifting from asking, “Am I ahead of others?” to “Am I better than I was yesterday?” or “Am I helping students build skills for the long term?”

Why this mindset matters in teaching

1. Reduces burnout – When you see teaching as infinite, you give yourself permission to step back from impossible expectations of “winning” each day or each year. Instead, you invest in sustainable growth.
   
   
2. Strengthens relationships – Infinite players value connection over competition. Students sense this, and classrooms become communities rather than battlegrounds.
   
   
3. Encourages innovation – Because the “rules” of infinite games change, infinite teachers are more willing to adapt their practices, try new approaches, and learn alongside their students.

Teaching is one of the truest infinite games. There’s no finish line, no final scoreboard. There’s only the enduring impact you leave on your students and the profession. By embracing Sinek’s mindset, we not only strengthen our classrooms, but we also ensure that the game of education remains rich, resilient, and meaningful for generations to come.

This week, try this: Try doing this Better Than Yesterday reflection:

At the end of each school day this week, take three minutes to reflect with these two prompts:

• What did I do today that made my teaching practice better than yesterday?
• How did I help at least one student move forward on their own infinite learning journey?

You can jot this down in a notebook, share it with a colleague, or even ask your students to do the same for their learning. Over time, these small reflections build a mindset that values progress over perfection, growth over winning.

​DAD JOKE:  When it's raining cats and dogs, you have to be careful not to step in a poodle.