The Journey towards create an expandable Pie

Do gains for some always require losses for others?
Whether everyone can reach the finishing line at the same time?
Is there a way to design systems that encourage people to co-create, not compete?

Let me carry you into a fairy tale, and together we’ll meet on the other side of its magic.

The Tale of Two Boys and the Magical Pie

Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived two boys — Arjun and Veer. They often argued over food, toys, and even who could run faster.

One day, a wise old woman gave them a Golden Pie and said:

“This pie is magical. How you choose to share it will decide whether it grows or shrinks.”

The First Test — The Zero-Sum Game

At first, the boys fought.

Arjun wanted the bigger slice.
Veer didn’t want to lose.

Each believed: “For me to win, the other must lose.”
When they cut the pie greedily, the magic faded — the pie shrank to almost nothing. This was the zero-sum game — one’s gain was the other’s loss, and both ended up hungry.

The Second Test — The Prisoner’s Dilemma

The next day, the pie reappeared. But this time, the old woman whispered:

“If you trust each other, the pie will reward you. But if you betray, it will punish both.”

Arjun thought: “What if Veer takes it all? I should grab first.”
Veer thought the same.

They both acted selfishly. The pie turned to stone. This was the prisoner’s dilemma — fear and mistrust caused them both to lose, even though cooperation could have helped them win.

The Final Test — The Expandable Pie

On the third day, tired of losing, they sat together and talked.

Arjun said: “What if we share equally?”
Veer added: “Or better — what if we use it to bake more pies?”

So they broke the pie in half and planted the crumbs in the ground. To their surprise, each crumb sprouted into a new pie. The more they cooperated, the bigger the harvest grew.

They realized:

“When we compete, we shrink the pie.
When we distrust, we lose the pie.
But when we collaborate, the pie expands for both of us.”

From that day on, Arjun and Veer never fought over food again. Instead, they built a bakery together, feeding the whole village.

And so, the Expandable Pie taught them what no fight ever could:
True value is created not by taking more, but by creating more — together.

And now comes the true wonder—is this just a fairy tale, or a magic waiting to be lived in our own journey? Come, let’s explore…

Celebrate shared success —- “What did we create together“?

Share your expertise by becoming a mentor and guide — How can I share my knowledge or expertise with the bigger Team?

Celebrate Collective success Recognize not only star performers but also team contributions. — “We achieved this”

Model Win–Win Negotiations – Create or play a role towards creating system for mutual benefit rather than one wins, one loses. – “How can we win together ?”

Contribute to community Growth – Support initiatives that expand the collective capacity of society. – “How can I give back to the society?”