From the Casino to the Factory Floor: How to Play to Win

What does successful manufacturing leadership have in common with winning big at the casino? It’s all about being an advantage player!

What Makes an Advantage Player?

An advantage player is someone who goes beyond simply “wanting” success. They are people who are able to win big—and consistently—because they think, see, and act differently than others. They grow their mindset to see new opportunities, notice things that others don’t, and take actions that others won’t.

This definition of advantage players was coined by Joel Block, a former professional blackjack player and Wall Street venture capitalist. Joel now acts as a strategist and advisor who helps others outpace the competition and find success. He was also a recent guest on the Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast, who shares some of his favorite strategies for winning big, whether you’re at the casino or leading a team on the manufacturing floor.

Joel Block’s Tips for Winning Big

#1: Be Productive, Not Just Busy

Many manufacturing leaders fall into a trap: they spend their days being busy, but don’t actually accomplish anything productive. They may find themselves working endlessly throughout the day, but end their day without anything to show for it.

To get out of the weeds and grow your advantage player strategy, focus on what really matters. Think about what moves the needle in your organization. Don’t be afraid to schedule time to take a pause, step back, and reflect on what is truly important and productive to your organization and team.

#2: The Power of Vision

Managers manage. Leaders inspire. If you want to be an inspiring leader, you need to do more than simply manage your team. Instead of “pushing” your team to where you want them to go, try “pulling” them forward instead. You can do this by offering a sense of purpose and possibility.

To get started, think about your goals and vision. Then, find a way to articulate your big goals and bold vision in a way that will excite your team and get everyone aligned toward the same productive goal.

#3: Stay Ahead with High Limit Questions

In blackjack, a great card player sees a few steps ahead. You can take this same approach in manufacturing. By being present and having intentional interactions with your team, you’ll find new ways to strategize, connect, and set yourself and your team up for big success in the future.

One way to stay ahead is by asking “high-limit questions.” These are specific and powerful questions designed to help leaders and teams move beyond surface issues and dig deeper into the real impacts and implications of a situation. One great high limit question is “what’s the impact of that?”.

Learn More on Mindfulness Manufacturing

To hear more stories and insights from Joel Block, listen to his episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing here.

Mindfulness Manufacturing

Our show is about providing listeners with real stories that come from a place of experience, transparency, and authenticity. Most importantly it’s about what we learn from these stories and applying Mindfulness in our everyday work and personal lives.
Our intention is to create an environment where people can learn through open honest discussions on how we apply Mindfulness. Although our experiences and stories come from time in a manufacturing environment hence the title “Mindfulness Manufacturing”, we still see our discussions and topics relatable to any organization or profession.

In manufacturing, we’re all about meeting goals, staying productive, and keeping up with new and ever-changing technology and machinery. If you’re a busy manufacturing leader, it might feel impossible to balance your goals and your role in your plant with setting boundaries, prioritizing your energy, and avoiding burn-out.

But there is a way to create a sustainable path toward your goals—and you can find out more in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing with guest Kathy Oneto. Kathy is a consultant, advisor, facilitator, and executive coach, who shares powerful lessons on how professionals can avoid burn-out, align their ambitions, and design sustainable paths toward success. She’s also the author of Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work. In this episode, Kathy talks more about her book and shares actionable strategies for managing the intense pressures of manufacturing, establishing personal boundaries, maintaining energy, and finding real meaning at work.

2:43 – With the rise of modern technology, we often feel like we have to be “on” all the time, which leads to overload 4:08 – Humans can’t operate like machines 7:52 – In manufacturing, pressures like hitting targets and dealing with setbacks can quickly became unsustainable 8:36 – To find sustainability and align your ambitions, you need to make the right choices for yourself 10:00 – Just like machines, manufacturing leaders also need regular, preventative maintenance 16:06 – Language plays a key role in helping people clarify what really matters to them 17:09 Practice micro-reflections and intentional focus 19:49 – Learn to move beyond the stigma of taking breaks and allowing time for recovery

Connect with Kathy Oneto

Connect on LinkedIn Visit her website and sign up for Kathy’s newsletter Tune in to her podcast