The Three Ps: Poker, Peloton, and Pulp Fiction
Originally a thread on X/Twitter:
Poker, Peloton and Pulp Fiction. A game, a company and a movie. I’ve learned major life lessons from all 3.
Here’s the single biggest takeaway from each that helps me in my professional life.
2/14: Poker – Focus on the process, not the outcome
We all make decisions every day. Its not atypical for an average person to make thousands of small decisions in a 24-hour period and people in positions of authority make big decisions all the time.
3/14: Poker teaches that outcomes are a function of decisions and luck. Poor decisions that result in positive outcomes should be treated as a bad decisions and should be avoided. Good decisions that result in negative outcomes should be repeated.
4/14: In my world (VC), too many investors fixate on outcomes vs. honing their decision making skills and thought processes. Putting yourself in a position to repeatably win is more important than any individual outcome. If you’ve done that then you’ve done your job well.
5/14: “Wrap your arms around the uncertainty. Accept it. Know that the way things turn out has a lot of luck involved so don’t be so hard on yourself when things go badly and don’t be so proud of yourself when they go well. Focus on process instead.” – @AnnieDuke
6/14: Peloton – It’s just work
There have been days when I was in the middle of a long ride or run and wanted to quit. But I’ve finished every single one of my 750+ rides and runs because I know that quitting is a learned skill.
7/14: Once I realized that finishing is always possible, it changed my mindset in a profound way.
Workouts are now either rough, good or great. Every workout is a success. And every time I start I know I’m doing more than the person sitting on the couch.
8/14: And knowing I’m going to finish created another important mindset shift.
Now I focus on how much I can accomplish in a fixed period of time vs. whether I’m going to accomplish anything at all.
9/14: In my world (VC), it’s really easy to get frustrated by the volatility that comes with investing in early stage companies. Fire fighting isn’t fun. Long stretches of marginal deal flow happens. Board and company level drama is par for the course.
10/14: It becomes easier to deal with the volatility once you realize that putting the work in is all that matters. Days aren’t all great, but every day that you put the work in is a day that you’re doing more than the investor who puts today’s problems on tomorrow’s to-do list.
11/14: “The good ones work out, the great ones work” – @alextoussaint25
“It’s time to kick the tires and light the fires” – @MattWilpers
“You didn’t wake up to give up” – @emmalovewell
12/14: Pulp Fiction – Be memorable
Quentin Tarantino might be one of the most talented Writer/Director/Producers in the movie business. The “why” is easy:
His movies are among the most quotable ever written.
13/14: When you think about the film, certain lines and scenes pop into your head.
“I’m Winston Wolf. I solve problems.”
“Royale with cheese.”
And of course: “The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.”
14/14: In my world (VC), storytelling isn’t just important, it’s all important. Helping Founders create “quotable and memorable moments” pays dividends. It helps them fundraise. It helps them attract and hire talent. And it helps customers know what they do.