Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg

Poker and Productivity (with Chris Sparks)

Mar 24, 2021

Chris Sparks, a professional poker player and the founder of Forcing Function, shares fascinating insights into the world of poker and productivity. He discusses the OODA loop and its role in refining decision-making strategies, helping listeners understand human behavior in competitive environments. Sparks emphasizes the significance of a 'premortem' analysis to improve judgment and how creating personal forcing functions can enhance productivity. Through practical examples, he redefines productivity as an ongoing process rooted in action and feedback.

01:26:41

Creator website

Episode guests

Chris Sparks

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

5min

Mastering Strategy: The OODA Loop and Human Behavior

16min

Psychology of Risk and Decision-Making in Poker

2min

Mastering Decision-Making in Poker

16min

Mastering Games: Strategies for Success

13min

The Crucial Role of Slack in Opportunity and Adaptability

3min

Redefining Productivity

19min

Harnessing Forcing Functions for Productivity

13min

Read the full transcript here.

What can people learn from playing poker? What makes someone good at playing games? What is the OODA loop? What is a "premortem" analysis of decision-making? How should we think about decisions that aren't easily (or even possibly) reversible? What do people get wrong when they're trying to be more productive? What is a "forcing function"? How can people create their own forcing functions?

Chris Sparks is a professional poker player and the founder and CEO of Forcing Function. You can find his full bio here, follow him on Twitter at @SparksRemarks, or find more of his work via these links:

Further reading

OODA Loop

Staff

Spencer Greenberg — Host / Director
Josh Castle — Producer
Ryan Kessler — Audio Engineer
Uri Bram — Factotum
Jennifer Vanderhoof — Transcriptionist

Music

Affiliates

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