Dan "Jungleman" Cates "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.
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
PINNED COMMENT
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