Run Your Startup Like a Poker Pro

The best poker players are great at thinking on the margin. They completely forget about pocket Jacks when the flop is Ace, King, Queen (though it wouldn't take a pro to lay down that hand). You should have the same mindset about your startup. You should be getting your money in when the odds are in your favor and check or fold when they aren’t. Bad card players chase. They get behind and start to make bad decisions hoping to recoup their losses. This same behavior can be seen in entrepreneurs and it’s completely understandable – they’ve put their lives and passion into a vision. If you want to be a great entrepreneur though, you’ll have to learn to think like the pros. Remember, you make money by playing well over many hands, not by throwing all of your chips in on a risky bet.