This is how disruption S-curves work.
1. You learn the negative sum game, striving hard to make it to zero-sum at least
2. Enlightened temporary exit to go find a kobayashi maru cheat code
3. Return to break through to positive-sum game
I did not appreciate the importance of step 2 until recently. You can’t find the cheat code while inside the loser game. You have to get out for a bit. I call it the hegira step.
But you have to return to the *same* game to make bank. Using the cheat code requires baseline skill at playing by the rules in the host game. A chess cheat code is no use in a bridge game. So the return is crucial.