SPLIT or STEAL?

Which will you pick?

Imagine there’s a briefcase with $1,000 in it.

Standing across from you is a stranger.

You each have a choice.

“Split or steal.”

You won’t know what the other person chooses until you announce your choice.

If you choose “steal,” and they choose “split,” you get the entire $1,000.

If the stranger chooses “steal,” and you choose “split,” they get the entire $1,000.

If you both choose “split,” each of you get $500.

What would you do?

As you may know, this is known as “The Prisoner’s Dilemma.”

So what’s the “correct” answer?

Well, that depends on your perspective.

Some argue, 100% of the time, one should choose “steal.”

It goes like this…

You can either get half or nothing (split)…

Or all or nothing (steal).

They’d argue one might as well choose steal and make it “all or nothing.”

In fact, some people think it’s stupid and irrational that some people would choose “split.”

The problem is, if both people choose the “rational” answer, neither wins. It becomes a lose-lose proposition.

It only ‘pays’ to be selfish if the other person is trusting you to split.

This mindset may explain some sociopathic behavior where people take advantage of those more trusting and giving.

I’d make a case it’s perfectly logical to choose to split. Even IF someone only acts in self-interest.

Because even a self-serving person must realize there’s more than one “game” you’re gonna play over your life.

What about the stealer’s reputation? What about people seeing them as a self-serving person who can’t be trusted?

If they choose to steal, they may get some money in the short-term. But they may lose a LOT more money in the long-term from broken trust and a negative reputation.

Plus, there’s the personal psychological impact.

What’s ironic is many people who choose to “steal” feel horrible about their lives. So they end up spending the money on their drug of choice to numb the pain.

While those who give to others (without OVER-giving) often end up feeling greater happiness and fulfillment.

I’m simply laying out a logical case that giving to others may be a much cheaper, better, and longer-lasting “drug” than anything else out there money can buy.

I bring this dilemma up because it explains the difference in the mindset of people you’ll meet throughout your life.

And to achieve greatness, it’s more than just a one-person show.

The most successful people I know all had partners and collaborators whom they aligned their interests with.

As the African proverb says, “If you want to go far, go together.”

This may not be new to you. You may naturally be inclined to “split” anyway.

However, there’s a key lesson here the splitters like us need to remember: You gotta be mindful about who you split with.

If you partner with the wrong person, they’ll choose to “steal” while you choose to “split.”

If you’ve ever had a business partnership or relationship go bad because someone took advantage of your good nature, it’s a betrayal that can enrage you to your core.

On the other hand, if you find the right people to partner with, you’ll do far more together than you can ever do on your own. It becomes a win-win. And THEIR win helps YOU win more in the future too.

Success is about Collaboration for the good of all. How are you building your success?