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December 27, 2003

Poker vs Football

There are two basic metaphors for attempts at acheivement: the football metaphor and the poker metaphor.

The football metaphor requires one to give one's all: 100% + whatever additional percentage the coach feels is appropriately motivating. The idea is to never quit.
The poker metaphor was best enumerated by The Gambler himself, Kenny Rogers:

  1. You gotta know when to hold 'em
  2. Know when to fold 'em
  3. Know when to walk away
  4. Know when to run.
  5. You don't count your money when you're sittin' at the table; There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
Basically, if you approach most real-life situations with the football metaphor in mind, you will experience ignominious defeat.

Whereas, if you come in with the poker metaphor, you will know, as stated in premise #2, that you should turn your cards face down and wait for the next hand, which may include something like pneumatic pistons.

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Posted by mslaybau at December 27, 2003 06:49 AM

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