"Why I QUIT POKER at the top..." - Wayne Yap reveals decision 5g1637

"Why I QUIT POKER at the top..." - Wayne Yap reveals decision 5g1637

This week I'm with Wayne Yap, who literally dominated the Asian poker scene as the former #1 in Singapore, stacking up over $1.3M in tournaments and $3M+ in cash games before making a hard left into business. Seriously, why would someone leave crushing it at the tables? We dug into applying hardcore poker thinking – the EV, the polarization – to the business world, and turns out, most business folks are missing this crucial stuff. He breaks down why you actually need to repel some people to attract the right ones, a wild concept that makes a lot of sense once you hear it.Beyond the strategy, we touched on some deep and unexpected territory: intense spiritual journeys, what it's really like buying and running businesses without prior experience, and the brutal lessons about who to trust along the way. If you've ever wondered if poker brains are wasted just playing cards, or how to find leverage and value in unconventional places, this is the conversation.Check out Wayne's X linked below for more unfiltered thoughts.https://x.com/wayneyapCHAPTERS00:00 - Wayne Yap: Poker Pro to Business Guru & Spiritual Explorer01:00 - The Spiritual Rabbit Hole: Meditation & Transcendent Experiences02:26 - Crushing Poker: Singapore's #1 and Big Wins03:08 - Why Leave Poker at the Peak? Climbing a Higher Mountain04:40 - Lessons from Life: Bowling, World of Warcraft & Obsession06:05 - Poker Skills for Business: EV & Polarization08:45 - Why You Need People to Like & Hate You11:24 - First Business Acquisition & Fighting Industry Norms15:19 - Finding & Exploiting Opportunities (Business vs. Poker)19:05 - Bouncing Back: Overcoming Poker & Business Setbacks20:49 - The Leap into Buying Businesses23:16 - Solving Problems & Motivating Teams Without Experience26:48 - Different Types of "Genius" in Life & Work28:29 - The Inner Game: Motivation & Self-Talk29:39 - The "Star Principle": Finding a Winning Market Niche32:42 - If I Started Over: Poker as a Hobby?34:40 - Business vs. Poker: Risk, Rewards & Finding Your Path38:08 - Getting into Business Without Money: Apprenticeship & Acquisitions44:16 - The Dangers of Partnering with the Wrong People45:40 - Is Business for Everyone? Finding Your Archetype50:00 - Deep Dive into Spiritual Experiences & Joe Dispenza55:09 - Experiencing Energy & Questioning Miracles57:25 - Samadhi, Unity, and Out-of-Body States1:01:42 - Integrating Spiritual Insights into Business & Life1:05:35 - Evaluating Tony Robbins: Value, Manipulation, and Ethics1:09:38 - Connecting & Collaborating: Wayne's Community & Future Vision1:12:21 - Final Thoughts & Where to Find WaynePINNED COMMENTWhat do you think of Wayne Yap's decision? Smart? Crazy? Drop your thoughts below...