Know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em

I’ve recently taken up the hobby of playing poker. It’s a card game centered on placing bets and mitigating risks in an environment where you don’t have complete visibility to what you’re up against. There are multiple players in the game all of which have the ability raise the stakes, call the bet, confuse you entirely by bluffing or ultimately take the winnings. There are several parallels with playing poker and managing both business and everyday life decisions and anxiety.

We place bets everyday on new items, promotions, packaging updates, career moves, diet fads, anti-aging creams, as seen as TV gadgets and relationships. We don’t always have the privilege of being in control of the ultimate outcome but we do control the two most important decisions: what we’re willing to bet and knowing when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em. Every battle can’t be won, nor can every hand of cards, but knowing when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em is a privilege we should all exercise daily. Know that although you’re not in control of the outcome you control your role in every equation; you control your fate.

Possessing the courage to step into an unknown can be considered a high-staked bet but continuing to sit on the sidelines and not play at all is an even greater risk. Maintain a calm confident vision when you make the decision to see your bet through to the end with the knowledge that however the chips may fall you will survive to play another day.