POKER ISN'T JUST FOR THE BOYS CLUB. IT CAN ACTUALLY HELP WOMEN TAKE THEIR BUSINESSES & CAREERS TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Poker Principles for Business Success: Making Smart Decisions Under Pressure

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Navigating the world of business can often feel like sitting at a high-stakes poker table. Unpredictable challenges, limited information, and the constant need to assess risks are part of both environments. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting, learning how to make confident decisions under pressure is a skill that can transform your career. Here’s how principles from poker can help you sharpen your decision-making skills.

The Problem: Analysis Paralysis and Risk Aversion

Many professionals struggle with analysis paralysis—the inability to make decisions due to overthinking. This is often compounded by risk aversion, where fear of failure or loss leads to missed opportunities. These challenges can stall progress and leave you feeling stuck, unable to move forward with confidence.

In poker, indecision and fear of risk can lead to quick losses. Players learn to evaluate incomplete information, calculate odds, and trust their instincts. This same approach can be applied to business, allowing you to make well-informed decisions even when the stakes are high.

The Solution: The Poker Framework for Decision-Making

Here are three key poker principles you can adopt to improve your decision-making in business:

1. Read the Table (Situational Awareness)

In poker, reading the table means understanding the players, their behaviors, and the dynamics of the game. In business, situational awareness involves evaluating market trends, competitor strategies, and customer needs.

Action Plan:

Spend 10 minutes daily reviewing industry news and trends.

Observe your team and stakeholders during meetings to pick up on unspoken concerns or opportunities.

Use tools like SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

2. Play the Odds (Risk Assessment)

Successful poker players calculate probabilities before making a move. They assess the potential reward versus the risk and act accordingly. In business, you can do the same by analyzing data and weighing the pros and cons of each decision.

Action Plan:

Write down your next big decision and list the potential outcomes.

Assign probabilities to each outcome (e.g., 70% success, 30% failure).

Evaluate if the reward is worth the risk and make your move.

3. Know When to Fold (Cutting Losses)

One of the hardest lessons in poker is learning when to fold a bad hand to avoid losing more money. In business, this translates to recognizing when a project, strategy, or partnership isn’t working and moving on.

Action Plan:

Set clear benchmarks for success before starting a project.

Regularly review progress and be honest about whether you’re meeting your goals.

If not, pivot or let go before sinking more time and resources.

Real-Life Application: A Success Story

Imagine a small business owner launching a new product. Initially, sales are slow, but she’s invested heavily in the idea. Applying poker principles, she evaluates the market (reads the table) and realizes there’s untapped demand in a different niche. She calculates the cost of repositioning the product (plays the odds) and decides it’s worth the risk. By pivoting, she avoids further losses and finds success in the new market.

Your Takeaway

You don’t need to be a poker pro to make smarter decisions in business. By cultivating situational awareness, assessing risks, and knowing when to pivot, you can navigate challenges with confidence. These poker-inspired strategies empower you to act decisively and grow as a leader.

Are you ready to level up your decision-making skills? Start applying these principles today, and watch how they transform your approach to challenges in work and life.

Join the Her Deal Community

Take your skills to the next level by joining the Her Deal community—a network dedicated to empowering women in business. Gain access to free poker and business resources tailored for women entrepreneurs and professionals. For a limited time, new members will also receive a complimentary vacation voucher just for joining. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and grow—join now!

it's just business

Hi, I’m Joy, the founder of Her Deal. My journey into the worlds of business and poker started over a decade ago, and it has been a thrilling ride of growth, learning, and empowerment. Let me share a bit about my background and why I’m passionate about creating a community where women can excel in both arenas.

From Business Strategist to Poker Enthusiast

My professional background is rooted in business strategy. Over the years, I’ve worked in various roles that honed my skills in leadership, decision-making, and risk management. These roles gave me an appreciation for the complexities of running a business and the importance of making calculated decisions under pressure.

In 2010, I discovered poker, and it quickly became more than just a hobby. I was drawn to the game’s strategic depth, its reliance on psychology, and the way it mirrored real-life challenges. Poker taught me invaluable lessons about assessing risk, reading people, and knowing when to go all-in—skills that I found directly applicable to my professional life.

Why I Created Her Deal

As a woman navigating male-dominated spaces—both in business and poker—I often felt the lack of a supportive community. Women face unique challenges in these fields, from breaking through glass ceilings to overcoming biases. I wanted to create a space where women could connect, learn, and grow together while mastering skills that empower them in both work and life.

Her Deal combines my passion for poker with my expertise in business to offer a unique platform for women entrepreneurs and professionals. Through our resources, courses, and community, we aim to demystify poker and show how its principles can drive success in the boardroom and beyond.

My Mission

At Her Deal, our mission is to empower women by teaching them to make confident decisions, embrace calculated risks, and foster a sense of community. Whether you’re here to learn poker, improve your business skills, or connect with like-minded women, you’re in the right place.

Let’s Connect

I’m thrilled to have you as part of this journey. Together, we can redefine what it means to be a woman in business and poker. Let’s build something extraordinary

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