📢 PSA: Making Some Changes

Hello copynotes & Poker Confidential

I’ve been trying to figure out what this newsletter is.

My old roomie Q said it’s like a catchup letter of what I’m thinking about in life. K said it’s an honest reflection of my life that helps him reflect too. And Trung said it’s a collection of all the lessons I’ve learned conveyed in a way for everyone to understand.

I feel like that I’ve seen a lot but don’t know a lot. So my approach has been to write whatever I’m curious about and hope that you beautiful souls find value in what I have to say.

A few weeks ago, I asked my friend Harry what he’d like to see me write more about (I’m open to suggestions from you too).

He asked for more newsletters on behavioural science and advertising. But also to share stories of my poker antics. This has been a popular answer amongst the people I’ve asked – a memoir of my adventures in poker.

I’ve been apprehensive to write about my time in poker because I don’t want to promote it too much. But also, upon further introspection, I feel shame towards this part of my life.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the strategy part of poker, but I also see it as a very dark game – Where I capitalised off people’s weaknesses and made an indulgent living off their character defects. This includes, but not limited to, pride, anger, greed, envy and fear.

Just as I’m no saint, the rise to high-stakes poker was filled with scandal, dishonesty, greed and hubris. Often pushing the boundaries of my ethics and morals.

I ventured into the dark recesses of the poker underbelly and met with some unsavoury characters. To my own horror, I found it comfortable to be in. I spoke the language. I drank, partied and gambled with the people. And learned how to behave around crooks.

This experience fuels my current obsession with human nature. Specifically, how the line separating good and evil passes not through countries, social classes or political parties. But right through every human heart.

Last weekend I sat down to write a rough draft of the memoir. 5293 words came pouring out of me (that’s only part 1!). Clearly, I had a lot to say. But it wasn’t until I finished writing the first draft of my poker adventures did I realise how much it had taught me and made me who I am today. I know it’s going to take some time, but I do feel less shame towards my past self.

I had planned to release it as one piece this week, but I underestimated the length…

…So I’ve decided I’m going to change things up around here. I’ve created two more publications within Left To Write:

Copynotes – Email notes I pass to you on copywriting, behavioural science, advertising and marketing to help you sell

Poker Confidential – A former professional gambler's memoir into the underbelly of the poker world

Left To Write will still continue to be delivered to your inbox every Thursday.

How does this sound to everyone?