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

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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/wayneyap

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Wayne Yap: Poker Pro to Business Guru & Spiritual Explorer

01:00 - The Spiritual Rabbit Hole: Meditation & Transcendent Experiences

02:26 - Crushing Poker: Singapore's #1 and Big Wins

03:08 - Why Leave Poker at the Peak? Climbing a Higher Mountain

04:40 - Lessons from Life: Bowling, World of Warcraft & Obsession

06:05 - Poker Skills for Business: EV & Polarization

08:45 - Why You Need People to Like & Hate You

11:24 - First Business Acquisition & Fighting Industry Norms

15:19 - Finding & Exploiting Opportunities (Business vs. Poker)

19:05 - Bouncing Back: Overcoming Poker & Business Setbacks

20:49 - The Leap into Buying Businesses

23:16 - Solving Problems & Motivating Teams Without Experience

26:48 - Different Types of "Genius" in Life & Work

28:29 - The Inner Game: Motivation & Self-Talk

29:39 - The "Star Principle": Finding a Winning Market Niche

32:42 - If I Started Over: Poker as a Hobby?

34:40 - Business vs. Poker: Risk, Rewards & Finding Your Path

38:08 - Getting into Business Without Money: Apprenticeship & Acquisitions

44:16 - The Dangers of Partnering with the Wrong People

45:40 - Is Business for Everyone? Finding Your Archetype

50:00 - Deep Dive into Spiritual Experiences & Joe Dispenza

55:09 - Experiencing Energy & Questioning Miracles

57:25 - Samadhi, Unity, and Out-of-Body States

1:01:42 - Integrating Spiritual Insights into Business & Life

1:05:35 - Evaluating Tony Robbins: Value, Manipulation, and Ethics

1:09:38 - Connecting & Collaborating: Wayne's Community & Future Vision

1:12:21 - Final Thoughts & Where to Find Wayne

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