Newsletter
“The Benchmarks We Choose Determine Whether We Win or Lose”
THE BENCHMARKS WE CHOOSE DETERMINE WHETHER WE WIN OR LOSE…
THE GOAT SOLUTION: Benchmark against process, not outcomes
WHAT PROBABILITIES SOUND LIKE: Illustrated by Math with Bad Drawings
WHAT PROBABILITIES FEEL LIKE: Seeing Theory, for visualizing probability
Media
Why living experimentally beats taking big bets
Excerpt: Annie Duke, author of Thinking In Bets, says that “wrapping our arms around uncertainty and giving it a big hug will help us become
ARTICLE: All The Outcomes Are Unknown
Any time we do something, we build a likelihood in our mind, consciously or sub-consciously, of whether success will be attained based on our abilities,
Annie Duke
Author, Speaker and Decision Strategist
Annie Duke is an author, and experienced corporate speaker and consultant on the behavior of decision making. In 2018, Annie’s first book for general audiences, “Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts” was released by Portfolio, an imprint of Penguin Random House. It quickly became a national bestseller. As a former professional poker player, she has won more than $4 million in tournament poker. During her career, Annie won a World Series of Poker bracelet, and is the only women to have won the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions, and the NBC National Poker Heads-Up Championship. A mom of four, she has written five books and raised more than $18 million for charities. Annie is a cofounder of HowIDecide.org, a member of the National Board of After-School All-Stars and a member of the NationSwell Council. In 2016 she joined the board of directors of the Franklin Institute, one of America’s oldest and greatest science museums. She has also won a televised championship in rock-paper-scissors.
Annie’s Timeline
Academic Foundation, 1987
Before even playing poker, Annie double-majored in English and psychology, then went on to pursue a doctorate in cognitive linguistics.
April 4, 1987Awarded a National Science Foundation Fellowship, 1998
Annie was awarded a National Science Foundation Fellowship to study Cognitive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania after graduating with a double major in English and Psychology from Columbia University.
March 28, 1988Beginner’s Luck, 1992
After being encouraged by her brother, Annie played in the Crystal Lounge in Billings, Montana before moving to Las Vegas to play professionally.
March 28, 1992Delivered first speech on strategic decision making, 2002
Spoke to the leadership of a privately-owned hedge fund, Parallax Fund, L.P.
May 3, 2002Winner of WSOP Tournament of Champions, 2004
The same year that Annie bested a field of 234 players to win her first WSOP, she also won the Tournament of Champions
March 28, 2004Won her first WSOP bracelet, 2004
Annie bested a field of 234 players to win her first WSOP bracelet
April 4, 2004Authored First Book, 2005
Annie wrote her autobiography How I Raised, Folded, Bluffed, Flirted, Cursed, and Won Millions at the World Series of Poker.
May 3, 2005Co-Founded Ante Up for Africa, 2007
Annie joined up with a friend to create charity poker tournaments that raised more than $700,000 over four years.
March 28, 2007SHOWCASED HER TRIVIA SKILLS ON 1 VS 100, 2007
Appeared on the hit NBC game show hosted by Bob Saget, where she competed against a mob of 100 other contestants
May 3, 2007Finalist on Celebrity Apprentice, 2009
Annie was the second place victor in Season 8, raising $700,000 for her selected charity, Refugees International
May 3, 2009Won NBC National Heads’-Up Poker Championship, 2010
After taking time off from poker to put her family first, Annie returned to the table and won.
May 3, 2010Appeared on hit TV Show, “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?”, 2010
Was a contestant on the hit TV Show hosted by Jeff Foxworthy
May 3, 2010First Poker Strategy Book Published, 2011
Annie wrote her first book Decide to Play Great Poker, a strategy book for no-limit hold'em, was published in June 2011.
March 28, 2011Became a Moth Storyteller, 2011
Annie took the stage for the first time to tell her story “A House Divided” in front of a live audience
May 3, 2011Became a board member for After School All-Stars, 2013
Annie joined Arnold Schwarzenegger at After School All-Stars to help provide comprehensive after-school programs that keep children safe and help them succeed in school and in life.
April 4, 2013How I Decide, 2014
Launched nonprofit to help young people develop the essential life skills of critical thinking and decision making.
March 28, 2014Joined the franklin institute board, 2016
Annie was asked to join the board of directors of the Franklin Institute, one of America’s oldest and greatest museums.
July 11, 2016Wrote First Book for General Audiences, 2018
Her new book, Thinking In Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts, teaches readers to get comfortable with uncertainty and make smarter decisions in any situation
February 6, 2018