Mastering the art of not doing everything.
Don’t get involved.
When we host a PokerDivas program beginners often ask if they should play a mediocre hand. They are excited to be in the game, so they want to play any starting hand and wait to “see what happens.” 8 out of 10 times I say fold. Don’t get involved.
In a poker tournament, players begin with an equal amount of chips and aim to collect them all to win. This requires making bold moves. However, many players make small bets, hoping to avoid significant losses. As a result, they waste time trying to survive rather than aiming to win. This approach, known as “piddling away your chip stack,” is often driven by fear.
It is natural for some people to want to get involved in too many things. It makes them feel needed, productive, competent, and yes helps them avoid FOMO. But it’s a long-term losing strategy. To win you need to consciously be more selective and assertive and make your “bets” matter. Don’t be afraid to make a decision and take a strong stand on one thing rather than just putting your toe in the water of many.
Opportunity Costs
Think about when you have the opportunity at work to create a program or make a sale or deal which will showcase your talent to senior management or a client, but instead of making a big move, you spend most of the day crossing minutia off your to-do list, and never get to the meaty stuff that matters and helps you move ahead. Piddling away your time.
Perhaps you are piddling away money on inexpensive but unqualified talent. You might spend a quarter of the going rate and think you are getting a great deal when in fact the project drags on and winds up costing the same or more than it would have if you’d committed the resources upfront to finding the right person.
Three tips you can use now to go from a piddle mindset to a winning one:
1. Focus Over Spread:
Instead of spreading resources thin across numerous endeavors, prioritize focus. Concentrate your time, money, and energy on a select few initiatives with high potential returns.
2. Boldness Over Timidity:
Embrace boldness over timidity in decision-making. Avoid fear-based behavior that leads to small, safe bets or hesitant actions. Instead, dare to make assertive moves and stand firm and don’t second-guess your choices.
3. Quality Over Quantity
Opt for quality over quantity. Rather than chasing numerous opportunities without significant impact, concentrate on strategic initiatives that offer substantial gains.
Spreading yourself too thin is a surefire way to dilute your effectiveness and results. Understanding the power of focus and committing to a few rather than many is key. Because you just don’t want to play a mediocre game, you want to win it.
Ready to break free from the cycle of piddling and embrace a bold approach to success? The PokerDivas program can help. You’ll learn important assertiveness skills to get you in the “play to win” mode while building a network to support your success. Set up a call with us and find out what we can do for you.
