When Playing the Long Game Means Trading Short-Term Wins for Lasting Influence

Pressure is a constant in fast-moving organizations, especially ones coping with explosive growth, public drama, or demanding partners. For many at BlackBerry, the difference between survival and spectacular failure often came down to resisting the bait of an easy sale or compromise. When legal and ethical dilemmas landed on the founders’ desks, an immediate fix—like quickly caving to a powerful partner’s demands or agreeing to unfavorable terms for upfront cash—often lurked in the shadows. But the leaders who set BlackBerry’s course knew from repeated trials that shortcuts erode influence and goodwill.

Instead, they responded with caution, measuring the ripple effects of small decisions on their reputation and long-term prospects. They paid attention to how a moment’s relief often created months or years of fallout. It’s a lesson in patience: waiting out pressure, even when your nerves are running high, can preserve your influence and let you outlast competitors who grab quick wins but run out of goodwill fast.

Behavioral science calls this 'delay discounting'—our brains tend to overvalue instant gratification, undervaluing the bigger victories building slowly under the surface. Mindful leaders cultivate the mental pause: when pressured, they breathe, check their principles, and weigh the future’s silent rewards against today’s rush.

As you go through stressful weeks, notice where you’re tempted to settle quickly, and remember—your most powerful moves may be the ones you hold back, banking trust and leverage for later.

Take ten minutes to review your past choices and see where you gave in too quickly or accepted an easy out that left a mess later. Stop and picture what true legacy would look like if you held your ground or waited for better opportunities, even if it meant more work today. Next time you feel pressure mounting, practice pressing pause—ask for time, reach out to someone wise, and use that breathing room to weigh the costs and benefits. Trust may take longer to earn, but every measured choice is an investment that will compound for years. Try it with your next tough decision.