Annie Duke on the Power of Quitting

44 snips

Nov 28, 2022

Annie Duke, a former professional poker player and decision strategist, passionately advocates for the virtue of quitting. She argues that society's obsession with grit often blinds us to the costs of sticking with losing outcomes. Duke shares insights on how quitting can lead to better decision-making and highlights fascinating analogies, from ants embracing serendipity to tragic stories of climbers on Mount Everest. Listeners will rethink perseverance and understand the psychological complexities behind knowing when to walk away.

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INSIGHT

Grit vs. Quit

Quitting and grit are two sides of the same coin, representing the choice between persistence and strategic disengagement.
The key lies in calibrating when to employ each, maximizing gains by sticking with worthwhile endeavors and minimizing losses by quitting the rest.

ANECDOTE

Everest Turnaround Time

On Mount Everest, climbers Hutchinson, Tasky, and Kaczynski prioritized safety over summiting by adhering to the turnaround time and lived.
Expedition leader Rob Hall, prioritizing the summit, perished, highlighting the tragic consequences of overvaluing perseverance.

INSIGHT

Perseverance and Age

While teaching children perseverance is valuable, applying the same logic to adults can be counterproductive.
Adults face different challenges than children, and blindly pushing through can lead to substantial losses.

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Superforecasting

The Art and Science of Prediction

Dan Gardner

Philip E. Tetlock

Santiago Foz (argentino)

In this book, Tetlock and Gardner present the results of the Good Judgment Project, a massive forecasting tournament that identified a small group of 'superforecasters' who are exceptionally good at predicting future events. The authors explain that good forecasting does not require powerful computers or arcane methods but involves gathering evidence from various sources, thinking probabilistically, working in teams, keeping score, and being willing to admit error and change course. The book uses stories of forecasting successes and failures, as well as interviews with high-level decision makers, to illustrate these principles and demonstrate how anyone can improve their forecasting abilities[3][4][5].

Quit

The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away

Annie Duke

Into Thin Air

A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster

Jon Krakauer

In 'Into Thin Air', Jon Krakauer recounts the true story of a 24-hour period on Mt. Everest when members of three separate expeditions were caught in a devastating storm. The book details the catastrophic events that led to the worst single-season death toll in Everest's history. Krakauer, who was on the mountain as a client of guide Rob Hall, provides a meticulously researched and emotionally charged account of the disaster, reflecting on the risks, judgments, and heroism involved in high-altitude climbing. The narrative explores the commercialization of Everest, the psychological and physical challenges faced by climbers, and the author's own struggles with survivor's guilt and mortality.

Grit

The Power of Passion and Perseverance

Angela Duckworth

In this book, Angela Duckworth presents a compelling argument that success is driven more by grit, a fusion of relentless passion and perseverance, than by talent. She explains what grit is, how to identify and develop it, and how it can be grown through stages such as developing interests, consistent practice, finding a pro-social purpose, and cultivating optimism. The book is structured in three parts: explaining what grit is and why it matters, how to grow grit from the inside out, and how to grow grit from the outside in, targeting parents, coaches, teachers, and organizational leaders. Duckworth supports her arguments with personal stories, historical insights, and interviews with high achievers from various fields.