There is nothing like the pomp, pageantry, and largesse of Las Vegas. A special place with something for everyone. Incredible shows. Brilliant architecture. And an unparalleled nightlife that goes well into the morning. But for me, the real allure is the free-form gambling, especially at the Blackjack tables!
Hope springs eternal with every new chute. There is usually great comradery at the table, excellent rapport with the dealer, and the right mix of adrenaline and anxiety to fuel a night of incredible memories. But unfortunately, I am the type of gambler that Vegas absolutely loves. I will go on hot streaks. I will have a blast. But (let me know if this sounds familiar!) I never know when to walk away, and eventually give it all back. The house always wins! That is, until I “figured out” a system.
I had a high-end client outside of San Francisco who required a cross-country, in-person visit at least twice a month. As I researched optimal routes to the West Coast, I noticed there was a flight with a 90-minute stop in Las Vegas. Business and pleasure? Let’s do it! The layover provided a short window to grab a cab, spend 30 minutes at the blackjack table, and still make it back in time for my connection. Brilliant!
On my first excursion, I went on a mini-heater and lost track of time. I quickly pivoted, cashed out my chips, and barely made my flight. Phew. But with experience, I grew more disciplined with my approach. I knew exactly when to get the tables, and far importantly, when to leave. And a funny thing happened when I had a hard deadline and the built-in structure to exit the casino. I walked away with money in my pocket. A decent amount. And consistently.
Left on my own, I likely would have stuck around and donated all my chips back to the Vegas machine. But the structure and discipline changed my odds for success. And that is the same for all of us in our everyday lives.
Lone Wolves Go Hungry
Creativity, self-motivation, and freedom are important factors in our success. We must have enough room to explore, fail, and pivot to maximize our results. But oftentimes a disciplined approach with accountability can turbocharge our achievements. We are not always able to see our own blind spots. We don’t always have enough discipline to grind out the work on our own. We can’t always step back and appreciate a different perspective on our career. Advice and structure are critical.
We need to seek and accept outside guidance. A manager can offer guard rails and milestones to keep us on track. A mentor can provide a blueprint that keeps us focused on the bigger picture. A co-worker can offer a game-changing suggestion based on direct experience in our role. This type of advice and direction won’t always feel good. It is hard to implement a consistent routine. It takes dedication to maintain focus on a structured path. We will be humbled by our failings and lack of progress. But it will be worth it. Lone wolves often go hungry. Built-in support and structure provided by a knowledgeable and caring team is the most consistent path to success.
Stand Up and Leave the Table
But even with that structure and discipline, we will have our bad days. We will go on a losing streak. We will lose sight of our goals. We will make critical errors in judgment. No one goes through life unscathed. But that structure and discipline will provide a lifeline. When all else fails, we will have a process to tether us back to reality. We will move forward by simply following a routine. It doesn’t have to be glamorous. Our flight will still be on the runway. Sometimes, we just have to stand up and leave the table.
Resilience comes from within. We must possess the will to pick ourselves up and fight back. But when that motivation and optimism fail us, we must rely on our everyday habits and approach to life. We must stay consistent. We must stay true to our process.
There is no guarantee of success in this world. But we can significantly increase our odds by dedicating ourselves to a structure with built-in discipline. That is true in Vegas. That is true in life.