---
title: The Winner-Take-All Effects
created: 2024-11-18T09:18:12
modified: 2025-11-15T05:35:03
---

> _“Any decision that involves using a limited / the same resource like ([energy](energy-management.md), [attention](attention.md), )[time](time-is-the-most-valuable-asset.md) or [money](money.md) will naturally result in a winner-take-all situation.” — James Clear_

> _“For all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” — The Bible_

---

refers to

* situations in which small differences in performance lead to outsized rewards / very unequal distributions when repeated over time
* being [just a little bit / slightly better](every-single-day-chop-wood-carry-waters.md) than the competition to secure the entire rewards

The winner gets one and the rest get zero.

You only win by 1 percent or 1 second or 1 dollar, but you capture 100 percent of the victory.

* Examples
	* Politicians compete for the same votes
	* Authors compete for the same spot at the top of the best-seller list
	* Athletes compete for the same gold medal
	* Companies compete for the same potential client
	* Television shows compete for the same hour of your [attention](attention.md)

---

[leverage](leverage.md)