The Courage to Take Risks: How Poker Pro Mike Maddocks Mastered Mindset, Money & Purpose

In a world where mindset meets personal growth, Mike Maddocks shines as a guide for high-achieving professionals ready to embrace risk, purpose, and transformation.

From his early career in corporate sales to becoming a certified NLP master practitioner, mindset coach, and high-stakes poker pro, Mike’s journey demonstrates the power of stepping outside your comfort zone to achieve personal and professional success.

A Journey of Purpose and Risk

Mike’s story began in his late teens with a passion for online poker. Despite thriving in the corporate world, he felt an inner pull toward his true purpose, coaching and helping others unlock their potential. By embracing calculated risks and following his passion, he shifted his career toward mindset coaching and high-performance development, proving that courage and clarity can transform a life.

Notably, Mike is someone I had the privilege of coaching at the Institute of Empowered Psychology. Working with him as a client, I witnessed firsthand his commitment to growth, and it’s this journey that shaped the mindset mastery and high-performance approach he now shares with others.

Key Insights

💡 Taking Risks to Unlock Growth

Mike emphasizes that success often comes from taking intentional risks. Whether in poker, career, or personal life, stepping into uncertainty is where opportunity lies.

💡 Mindset Shifts for Performance

Through his three-step program, Mike teaches clients how to move from emotional reactions to logical decision-making, an approach that improves both professional performance and personal wellbeing.

💡 Optimism and Discipline

Viewing challenges as opportunities, Mike highlights how optimism paired with consistent discipline generates momentum. His story illustrates that mindset mastery is a key driver of long-term success.

💡 Prioritizing What Matters

Reflecting on his 30s, Mike shares that family, relationships, and self-investment are just as important as career achievements, lessons that remind professionals to align decisions with their core values.

The Bigger Picture

Mike Maddocks’ journey is a reminder that personal growth, purpose-driven leadership, and high-performance mindset come from taking calculated risks and embracing challenges. As Fran Harper concludes, “Your best chapters are still ahead.”

Subscribe Now

For more inspiring stories and actionable insights on executive coaching, leadership development, mindset mastery, and holistic wellbeing, subscribe to “What I Wish I Knew at 30” with Fran Harper.

Listen Now