Many of you wouldn’t know that I am a poker player – Texas Holdem to be precise. Some of the most exhilarating times in my life includes poker tournament wins against rooms packed with over 95% men and also playing amongst some of the greats of the game at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
Not only did it help me to hold my own in life with confidence and trust my skillset, it helped me to tune into my intuition and become an even more careful observer of human nature. And of course I have a great poker face!
Some of the other lessons poker taught me are the following:
Never underestimate your opponent, even a beginner can take your chips.
You are your own worst enemy and having a strategy going in to the game and the correct mindset is key.
Don’t play if you are coming from a space of fear – recalibrate and enter the game with a positive mindset and most of all enjoy the game. If you no longer enjoy it - get out or take a break.
Think long, think wrong – most often your initial gut instinct is the correct move. When the second guessing comes in it can mess you up and create confusion – not always but most times.
Know when to fold em, know when to walk away and know when to run – don’t keep hanging on to a losing hand because you’ve invested so much time, money, pride etc.
Sometimes you need to fold a big hand because you know you’re beaten – don’t put more chips in the pot if you know you are behind – cut your losses.
Sometimes the gutsiest moves pay off the biggest returns.
If you have a chip and a chair you are still in the game, never ever give up.
Don’t announce your moves and don’t become too predictable - keep em guessing.
Seize the opportunities that come your way
PATIENCE - Be patient but also make strategic moves to stay in the game when the cards aren’t coming your way.
All that you can do is make the best decisions you can possibly make with the available information that you have, the rest is up to the “Poker Gods".