In a zero-sum game, by contrast, the total rewards are fixed, so every gain comes at someone’s expense — one person getting more pie means another gets less.

The idea is simple: in a zero-sum game, one party’s gain is another’s loss. If I win, you lose. If you win, I lose. The sum of our outcomes is zero.

The zero-sum perspective stems from the belief that resources, such as wealth, success, or opportunities, are inherently limited. It's like viewing life as a fixed-size pie, where we must compete ...

Zero sum game in commercial real estate: The myth of winning at all costs The next time you’re sitting at the negotiation table, try to move away from the mindset of “if I win, you lose.” In a ...

In a zero-sum game, terminology is often used in commercial real estate, in a given transaction, one party’s gain is another’s loss. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) ...