Whether you are an economist, mathematician, political scientist, psychologist or just someone who loves reading. I am sure you have heard of Game theory.
This covers everything about life, from evolution to international relations. As new year starts I have been thinking about this, and one of the best people in this field is Prof Axelrod. He did a paper before I was born with his friend Prof Hamilton. Axelrod ran an experiment and I want to share my take on the results

Professor Axelrod Game theory experiment. Came up with these qualities to survive and thrive. Here are the Best qualities in life.
1. Being nice
2. Being forgiving
3. Retaliatory
4. Being clear

Being Nice.
Means don’t be the asshole first. This doesn’t mean you are not capable of being one, it just means you never strike first. You treat kindness with kindness and nasty with same measure.
Even in international relations, you will notice some of the countries media propagates as bad countries like China or Russia and lately Israel, they never throw the first punch. But they know how to respond with same measure and worse. But wait Danny, isn’t that tit for tat? Funny story, one of the programmes in the experiment was called Tit for Tat to date it’s been the best winner in the experiment.

Being forgiving
This means don’t hold a grudge and if they apologize and change, you will move on like nothing happened. To be honest I struggle with this part. But it’s a very good strategy, whether it’s country to country, business or even friendship. Remember a good settlement is better than revenge.

Being Retaliatory.
When someone strikes, strike back. Do it with such a blow that they will never think of trying it again. This is one of my life’s philosophy. If someone comes at you, swing your best. Better to die fighting than live a slave. Seen that in international relations or businesses? Friendship?
Don’t be a push over.

Being Clear
Don’t try to be too clever and outsmart others. Be clear and others will play with you. I found this astounding mostly from a psychology and behaviour perspective. Make things clear at first. Re it relationship, sex, business and even in politics. Unless you want to win short term.

Now, does this mean that nasty people wouldn’t succeed? Of course not. They will but not as many times as the people with the four qualities. Life is unfair but life also has equilibrium to equalise things and they always do. To you and me they might look as if things never happen as they should but remember to Life, your days are just a dot in a very big book. With time things equalise. Be it climate change, economies, and even small things. Some call this Karma. I call it life. If you don’t pay a price, your children will or their children. Every value in life has a price and the price will always have to be paid.

Life will send abnormalities along the way. It’s you to know when to strike and when to be forgiving. If you can’t filter the noises. The four strategies might not always work. You have to be deliberate in thinking beyond normal. Skillfully take away what is noise and what is a threat. Remember life is not chess. It’s not a zero sum game. You will never do way better than everyone. You just come up ahead a bit. You will lose as well. That’s a skill you have to learn. Learn to lose and lose gracefully.

The main point in this story is simple. Cooperation works, you don’t have to be a Christian or religious. You can cooperate for your own personal interests. (The foundation of this mortality is actually religious based, but that’s not the debate today)
Life has shown that only organisms that cooperate actually thrive. And the ones that don’t, go extinct. Be it people or even ants, to bacterias.
Cooperation pays, even among rivals.