I’ll start with a confession: I used to operate from a win-lose mindset, especially in business. Most of us do. It’s how we’ve been conditioned to think. Whether it’s a game, promotion, or closing a deal, we assume that for one person to win, another has to lose.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. There’s a better approach—one where everyone can win: a win-win-win mindset. When we evolve our thinking, something powerful happens. We stop seeing the world as a fixed pie and start recognizing that the pie is constantly expanding. This mindset allows for more collaboration, creativity, and love. In every interaction, we can look for a win for the other person, a win for ourselves, and a win for the greater community.
It took a real-world wake-up call for me to truly understand this. Nine months after opening the first Whole Foods in 1981, a devastating flood wiped out our store and nearly ended the business. But then something incredible happened—our Team Members, customers, suppliers, investors, and neighbors all came together. Our business was brought back to life because this interconnected group of stakeholders saw our success as their success. Whole Foods’ survival meant that we were all simultaneously winning. For the first time, I saw that business didn’t have to be a win-lose game — it could be win-win-win.
Ever since the flood, I’ve been working to apply this mindset not only in business but in everyday life. But how do we actually put win-win-win into practice?
It starts with consciously changing the way we think, from strict self-interest and a win-lose mentality to seeking creative solutions that benefit everyone. If we look for trade-offs, we’ll find them. But if we look for win-win-win solutions, we’ll find those instead.
Practicing win-win-win takes more than creative imagination — it requires both a mind and a heart shift. Oftentimes, the heart shift is the most difficult. It calls us to rise above fear, ego, and a scarcity mindset. It challenges us to bring love, compassion, and selflessness into conversations when we’re used to competing or protecting our own self-interest.
Win-win-win thinking doesn’t come naturally. It’s not how most of us were taught to think and interact. And it’s not a one-time change. It’s a skill you have to practice continually. It’s a daily commitment to show up with openness, generosity, love, and a belief that there’s a way for everyone to win. You will inevitably fail or forget sometimes, but you just have to try again next time. With consistency, it becomes second nature.
Imagine what our relationships, communities, and businesses could become if more of us embraced this way of thinking!
So the next time you’re faced with a challenging conversation, tough decision, or simply your next interaction, try entering the moment with compassion, openness, curiosity, and most importantly, love. You might be surprised by how much more becomes possible.