I know I'm not the only poker player on here that loved that Matt Maroon was the first person PG thought of when singling out characteristics of founders. And even better - now it makes our biweekly YC poker game actually feel productive.
I'm only half-joking. I definitely don't think it's a coincidence that I started playing the game over the same period of years that I grew the itch to join and launch startups. It can be just a fun way to blow off steam but as someone born to very non-entrepreneurial parents, it also taught me a whole bunch of lessons that I never got from school or other jobs:
* how to read people and situations
* combine gut instincts with rational analysis
* understand other people's motivations
* do it all quickly, with money on the line and while keeping the fun party atmosphere going by not being a hypercompetitive dick.
I'm only half-joking. I definitely don't think it's a coincidence that I started playing the game over the same period of years that I grew the itch to join and launch startups. It can be just a fun way to blow off steam but as someone born to very non-entrepreneurial parents, it also taught me a whole bunch of lessons that I never got from school or other jobs:
* how to read people and situations
* combine gut instincts with rational analysis
* understand other people's motivations
* do it all quickly, with money on the line and while keeping the fun party atmosphere going by not being a hypercompetitive dick.