Most people think success comes from saying yes to more opportunities.
More meetings.
More projects.
More networking.
More commitments.
But in poker, one of the biggest mistakes a player can make is playing too many hands.
Just because you’re dealt cards doesn’t mean you should play them.
Every hand you choose to play costs chips. Once those chips are in the pot, they’re no longer available for a better opportunity.
Life and business work the same way.
Your time, energy, focus, and attention are your chips.
And just like at the poker table, how you choose to invest them often determines your results.
That’s why some people are busy all day and never seem to get ahead, while others accomplish more by being highly selective about where they spend their resources.
Before you say yes to your next opportunity, ask yourself these three questions.
1. Does This Move Me Closer to My Goals?
It’s easy to confuse activity with progress.
We accept invitations, join projects, volunteer for committees, and fill our calendars with things that seem productive.
But are they moving us closer to our goals?
The best poker players don’t play every hand. They play the hands that fit their strategy.
Before saying yes, ask yourself:
Does this support one of my priorities, or is it simply another thing to do?
2. What Is This Really Costing Me?
Every yes creates a no somewhere else.
A meeting might cost you time with a client.
A new project might take energy away from an existing opportunity.
A commitment that looks worthwhile today may prevent you from pursuing something more valuable tomorrow.
The real question isn’t whether something is worth doing.
The question is whether it’s worth what you’re giving up in exchange.
Before committing, ask:
What won’t get my attention if I say yes to this?
3. Is This an Opportunity or a Distraction?
Not everything that looks exciting deserves your chips.
Some opportunities create momentum.
Others simply create motion.
There’s a difference.
Many people spend their days reacting to whatever shows up in front of them. The most successful people spend their days choosing.
Before saying yes, ask:
Will this move me forward, or just keep me busy?
In poker, folding isn’t weakness.
It’s discipline.
Sometimes the smartest move is passing on a good opportunity so you’re available for a great one.
Your Action Step
If you’re finding it difficult to decide where to invest your time, energy, focus, and attention, revisit the CHIP Checklist from my book, PokerWoman: How to Win in Love, Life, and Business Using the Principles of Poker.
The CHIP Checklist was designed to help you evaluate opportunities and make more strategic decisions about where to place your bets.
If you already own the book, pull it off the shelf and spend a few minutes reviewing the checklist before making your next commitment.
If you don’t have a copy, you can find PokerWoman on Amazon.
And if you’d like a copy of the CHIP Checklist, email us and we’ll be happy to send it to you.
Remember: your time, energy, focus, and attention are your chips.
Spend them wisely.
Because winning isn’t about playing every hand.
It’s about knowing which hands deserve your chips.
