Sometimes the best way to sharpen your mind is to step away from the normal routine and challenge yourself in a completely different environment.

That’s exactly what I did this week.

I was fortunate enough to spend several days playing in the WSOP Circuit Event at Hard Rock Tulsa, competing in multiple tournaments and spending time with some incredibly interesting people along the way.

For many people, poker looks like a simple card game built around luck.

And yes, the luck of the draw certainly plays a role.

But what I enjoy most about poker is the strategic thinking behind every decision.

Understanding the odds.

Taking calculated risks.

Reading people.

And sometimes, knowing when the best move is simply to wait.

Strategic Thinking Poker Players Understand

One thing poker teaches you very quickly is that the game is about far more than the cards you hold.

It’s about people.

Building trust at a poker table might seem unlikely, but it happens in subtle ways. Players observe each other. They remember past hands. They study how someone reacts under pressure.

Sound familiar?

It should.

Because the same thing happens in Survivor.

When someone shows you how they play the game, you decide whether you trust them or not. In poker and in Survivor, people bluff. They hide intentions. They try to influence decisions.

The challenge is figuring out when someone is being genuine and when they’re making a move.

Break Time at Carvers on 19

One of the highlights of the week happened away from the poker table.

During a break in the tournament schedule, several of us met up at Carvers on 19, the steakhouse inside Hard Rock Tulsa.

It wasn’t a strategy meeting.

Nobody was talking poker hands.

Instead, we talked about life.

We broke bread together and shared stories from different parts of the country and different stages of life. Conversations bounced around the table in multiple directions. The kind of conversation where three discussions are happening at once, and somehow everyone is still part of it.

Some were surprised to learn that I’m putting the finishing touches on my upcoming book, Leap of Faith.

A few friends have read snippets.

Others have heard me tell the story over the years about a teenager and his brush with death.

But until it’s finished, the full story will have to wait.

The Risk and Reward Question

There’s something I often ask myself when I’m playing a big hand in a tournament.

“Is this going to kill me?”

Now I don’t mean literally.

I’m talking about my life in the tournament.

Every decision comes down to risk versus reward.

If the potential reward isn’t strong enough, sometimes the best decision is to wait for a better opportunity.

The same way I’ve watched some of the greatest players on Survivor operate.

They wait.

They observe.

And when the moment is right, they make their move.

What Amber Says About My Approach

Sometimes the people around you see your personality more clearly than you see it yourself.

Amber, a bartender at Hard Rock Tulsa, shared a quick thought about how I tend to react to situations and conversations.

You can watch that moment here:

She cuts right to the point.

The Importance of Reflection

When I wasn’t sitting at the poker table, I spent some time journaling.

And no — it’s not a diary.

It’s something a little different.

I like to record interactions between people. What was said. How people reacted. How decisions were made.

It gives me an opportunity to reflect on how we played the game, how we communicated, and, more importantly, how people interact in real life.

Poker is a game.

But the lessons behind it often apply far beyond the table.

Over the past few years, I’ve filled several journals with notes about conversations, observations, and moments that stand out.

Some of those notes come from travel.
Some come from business.
Some come from sitting across the poker table from someone trying to bluff me.

And sometimes those reflections remind me that the greatest lessons aren’t always found in books — they’re found in watching people.

Final Thought

This week wasn’t just about poker tournaments.

It was about strategic thinking, calculated risk, and learning from people.

Whether you’re playing cards, building a business, competing on Survivor, or simply navigating life, the same principles apply.

Pay attention.

Study people.

Take risks when the reward is worth it.

And never stop learning from the people sitting across the table.

Learn more about Donnie’s story and upcoming book here:
https://donnieweddle.com/book/

Watch the video featuring Amber at Hard Rock Tulsa:
https://youtu.be/-Y5EOgB_6yY

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