#POSITIVITY Book Summary - #POSITIVITY Book explained in key points

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#POSITIVITY summary

Name: #POSITIVITY
Rating: 4.5 (171 reviews)
Author: Phil Hellmuth Jr.

Phil Hellmuth Jr.

You Are Always In The Right Place At The Right Time

4.5 (171 ratings)

17 mins

Brief summary

#POSITIVITY presents strategies for harnessing a positive mindset, drawn from poker champion Phil Hellmuth Jr.'s life experiences. It emphasizes resilience, self-belief, and the power of optimism to overcome life's challenges.

Topics

Happy Inspiration Confidence Success Mindful Work Self-Help

Table of Contents

#POSITIVITY
Summary of 8 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 8

What’s in it for me? Unlock success through positivity by applying eight practical techniques.

What if the way you think could shape everything about your life? How would your daily thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs influence the reality you experience? These are questions that many of us might not consider deeply, yet they could hold the key to unlocking personal growth and success.

Phil Hellmuth Jr. discovered this insight early on, thanks to a simple message his mother taped to the bathroom mirror: “You are what you think; You become what you think; What you think becomes reality.” That message became the cornerstone of a mindset that fueled his remarkable achievements. Hellmuth didn't just rise to become the youngest-ever winner of the World Series of Poker; he also went on to build a career as a best-selling author, television host, and global poker icon. His philosophy of positive thinking and focused intention turned everyday challenges into milestones on the path to greatness.

In this Blink, you’ll learn about eight powerful techniques that have helped shape Hellmuth's life and success. Each method is designed to help you tap into your potential, reach your goals, and sustain success. You’ll discover how to set clear yearly objectives, master the art of forgiveness, build a personal roadmap for achievement, and much more. By the end, you’ll have the answer to whether the way you think can truly shape the life you lead.

Redefine your goals to take control of your life

One cold morning in March of 1988, Hellmuth found himself feeling restless. Despite recent success in poker, something was missing. After just an hour of playing that day, he convinced two friends to leave with him. They headed to a bar to play pool, but the feeling of dissatisfaction lingered.

As he was about to leave, Hellmuth noticed a door and opened it. Sunlight unexpectedly flooded into the room, revealing the snowy landscape outside. In that moment, he had a flash of clarity. He began questioning why he was there and what he was doing with his life. Realizing he wanted more, he left the bar, took a taxi home, and immediately sat down with a pen and paper to figure out his next steps.

He wrote down big goals, like winning the Main Event at the World Series of Poker, marrying a wonderful partner, writing a best-selling book, and achieving success in more poker tournaments. This wasn’t just a list of dreams – it became his roadmap for success. Years later, his wife found the list and pointed out how much of it he had already accomplished, demonstrating the power of writing down goals.

Now, ask yourself: What do you want to achieve? Take a moment, grab a pen, and write down your goals, whether they’re big or small. Don’t worry about getting it perfect right away – this is a draft you can revise at any time. The key is to start. Writing your goals down helps clarify what you want and sets you on the path to achieving them.

Hellmuth’s story shows that great accomplishments start with clear goals. His list helped guide him toward becoming one of the greatest poker players in history. Your own list can do the same for you and your goals. Start now, and let it lead you toward success.

Set yearly goals to stay focused on success

Hellmuth believes in setting clear goals to guide his actions. He keeps a list of yearly goals on his bathroom mirror, where it remains a constant part of his daily routine. While he doesn’t always consciously focus on the list, it still helps shape his decisions and keeps him aligned with his bigger ambitions, like becoming the greatest poker player of all time. One example is his goal to win three World Series of Poker tournaments each year, which moves him closer to his lifetime goal of collecting 24 WSOP bracelets. His goals also include spending more time with family and friends, making his autobiography a best seller, and securing major contracts.

If you’re ready to set your own goals, begin by writing them down. It doesn’t need to be perfect – just get your thoughts on paper or on your phone. Title it “Yearly Goals” and include the current year. The key is to capture what’s important to you.

Embrace gratitude to stay grounded and positive

Next to his yearly goals, Hellmuth keeps a list of blessings on his bathroom mirror. Seeing both every morning helps him stay focused on his aspirations while reminding him of what he already has, giving him a positive mindset as he starts each day.

Health is at the top of his blessings list. Although he deals with sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, Hellmuth feels lucky to live in a time where these conditions can be managed. Using a breathing machine helps him sleep well, and simple adjustments to his diet control GERD. These health issues don’t hinder him significantly, and he’s grateful for the ability to live a full life because good health allows him to enjoy everything else.

Build winning habits for lasting success

Hellmuth has developed a system he calls the Winning Pyramid to map out the skills he needed to become a top poker player. The pyramid is made up of ten blocks, arranged from the easiest to the most challenging, each representing a key area of improvement. It served as his blueprint for success.

At the base, he focused on eliminating distractions, such as gambling, excessive drinking, or other bad habits that could drain his time and energy. Next came health, with regular exercise, a balanced diet, and enough rest to keep him sharp. Above that, emotional control was key, helping him stay calm and patient under pressure. At the top was money management, ensuring he could always take advantage of opportunities by managing his finances carefully.

Believe in your worth to achieve your goals

Have you ever wondered why some people fall apart just as success is within reach?

In 2001, Hellmuth was on the verge of making poker history. After years of hard work, he was just a few hands away from tying the all-time World Series of Poker bracelet record. Calm on the surface, he began to lose focus as his mind wandered. Doubts crept in. Did he really deserve this win? Could he measure up to legends like Doyle Brunson? These questions threw him off his game – and he lost.

Act on opportunities and open new doors

Success is often attributed to being in the right place at the right time, but many people don’t recognize the opportunities around them because they get caught up in daily distractions. It’s easy to let a great idea fade away when the trivial moments of life take over.

Consider Bill, for example. Like many, he has an idea – a dream to open a sports bar. But unlike those who let their ideas slip away, Bill decides to take action. The next day, he steps into his favorite sports bar and talks to the owner. This small step is the beginning of something bigger.

Release hate and practice forgiveness

Hate is a powerful emotion, but it often hurts the person holding onto it more than the one it’s directed at. When you carry hate, you’re the one feeling the negativity, stress, and emotional pain. The person you’re angry with might not even be aware of your feelings, yet that resentment continues to affect your life. Every time you think about them, the anger resurfaces, making it hard to focus on anything else.

To let go of hate, there’s a simple three-step process. First, put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Consider why they might have wronged you. Understanding their perspective doesn’t excuse their behavior, but it can reduce your anger. Second, look for something good in them. This can be difficult, but even one positive trait – a sense of humor, kindness, or loyalty – can shift your feelings. Finally, take a quiet moment to send love to the person. While it may feel unnatural, sending love helps dissolve the negative emotions over time. It’s hard to stay angry when you’re actively wishing them well.

Manage success with grace and humility

At the start of his poker career, Hellmuth experienced repeated losses but stayed determined. He believed success would feel incredible. But when it finally came, it left him feeling uneasy and almost sick. He struggled with the unexpected challenge of handling praise and recognition. Initially, when people complimented him, he deflected it with self-deprecating comments, making the situation awkward. Eventually, he learned that simply saying, “Thank you, I appreciate it,” was a more respectful way to handle praise without letting it affect his ego.

One moment stands out, though: after briefly meeting Michael Jordan and hearing that President Obama had asked about him, his ego inflated. For weeks, he felt invincible and wanted to tell everyone about these encounters. But this ego trip cost him – he lost focus during an important poker series and missed a milestone achievement.

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What is #POSITIVITY about?

#Positivity (2018) offers practical strategies for achieving success by overcoming negativity and focusing on personal goals. It presents easy-to-follow techniques for shifting your mindset and building a foundation for lasting success in all areas of life.

Who should read #POSITIVITY?

Goal-oriented people looking for clear strategies to succeed
Professionals aiming to balance ambition with gratitude and humility
Individuals seeking personal growth through positive mindset practices

About the Author

Phil Hellmuth is a world-class poker player known for his record-breaking 16 World Series of Poker titles. Known as the “Poker Brat” for his competitive edge and bold personality, he’s amassed over $23 million in live tournament winnings. He’s also the best-selling author of Play Poker Like the Pros and Poker Brat. Outside of poker, Hellmuth is deeply involved in philanthropy, supporting charities such as Heifer International and the Starkey Hearing Foundation, and has helped raise millions through charity poker events.

Categories with #POSITIVITY

Motivation & Inspiration Personal Development

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