About this episode

Chris Sparks discusses the importance of emotions in decision-making and performance, drawing from his experiences as a poker player and executive coach.

Most high performers are taught to suppress emotions to stay rational. Chris Sparks argues the opposite: emotions are signals, and learning to read them is a superpower. Drawing on insights from Buddhist philosophy, the Hoffman Process, and executive coaching, this episode teaches you to decode what your emotional reactions are really trying to tell you. Chris Sparks is an executive coach and founder of Forcing Function ( forcingfunction.com ), where he works with entrepreneurs and high performers to unlock peak productivity. A former professional poker player and turned executive coach, Chris brings a uniquely analytical yet human lens to performance and decision-making. Connect with him at chris@forcingfunction.com. KEY EPISODE POINTS Why outcome-focused thinking is a trap (and what to focus on instead) How to treat decision-making like a product you iterate over time The signals we underweight or ignore in key decisions How a process orientation makes you more resilient under pressure Playing the long game: why no single decision matters as much as you think

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