Raising The Stakes

We hear this term “raising the stakes” most often with gambling because you have to choose when to “raise” your bet, the more you bet, the higher your “stakes.”

I’m not a fan of gambling. Mostly because I don’t like betting on things when I feel I have little control of the outcome. Some card games have some strategy for sure, but you will never see me put money down on a roulette table or into a slot machine.

However, I am a fan of “raising the stakes” in my life.

I have little reservations about going ALL-IN on parts of my life.

Twenty years ago, I decided to go all-in on my marriage.

I went all-in on my real estate business too. And once more after my girls were born with my decision to travel overseas with them every year.

More recently, I’ve gone all-in once again, with my new venture with Amanda. As we document our journey discovering and living by what we call “Sweet Life Principles,” hence we’ve been writing, reading, learning, and exercising every day in the pursuit of that goal.

I’m not a fan of coasting. Doing something half-ass. At least not with what is most important to me. If I’m not all-in, then I don’t want to play the game.

Something I’ve been reminded of recently is when we are reluctant to go all-in on something important, either out of fear, uncertainty, etc., we can rig the game in our favor, by simply “raising the stakes.”

Have you ever thought about why having an accountability partner causes humans to show up and perform better?

It raises the stakes because your lack-luster performance is no longer impacting just you. Not fully showing up has negative consequences on others. Which, if left unchecked, says something not at all pleasing about your character and your reputation.

I find even when I don’t have accountability partner, but I surround myself with others who are pushing harder than most at their work, or their health, or at improving their relationships, it helps me up my own game because it allows me to see how I can up my game and raise my stakes so I can play on a higher level.

If we are half-assing our way through something, it may be time to raise the stakes or play a different game.

If you hate your job because it feels like you are just chasing a paycheck instead of producing meaningful work, then maybe you are playing the wrong game, or you need to double down on meaningful work outside your day job.

Either way, finding ways to raise the stakes in your life helps you go all-in, play at a higher level, and improve faster.

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