Two years ago I had the good fortune to play in the Main Event of the WSOP. It was quite an experience. I was a relative new Hold 'em player, thrust by winning several progressive satellites, into competition with 5700 other players from all over the world. I went out on Day 2 with pocket aces; I wish I knew then what I know now. Even so, there were some real lessons to be learned, just from the experience and being around so many top players.
Some people, as in their personal lives & work, think being a winner is simply luck. After becoming at least a decent player, I would say it is about 20% luck and 80% skill. Just as we make our own breaks in our careers and relationships, so it is on the tables. It's all about attitude and confidence.
Notice that I didn't say AROGANCE and confidence. Arrogance, as misguided confidence, is often fatal in tournaments just as it is in business. We love winners, but struggle with people who are full of themselves. Everybody is the most important person in the world to themselves; they don't want to be patronized, ignored or abused. Yes, I know, there are obnoxious players who have that table image, but they are in the minority.
Last November, I played in a game in LA at the Commerce Casino. From the beginning, there was an aggressive AND obnoxious player who tried to dominate the table. It took us about an hour and several hands to drive him out, but we did so, simply because no one liked him.
Do you see a version of this dynamic in the workplace? Will people avoid those who act superior, who don't support the culture? You bet. These same people will often think they were mistreated, but they brought it on themselves, having the victim mentality.
Instead, if we have a quiet confidence with a measure of humility, it generally adds up to RESPECT. Simply put, this is what I strive for in my business, and when I'm on the tables. Without it, there's almost nothing that is possible; without it virtually everything is.
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