Stacking the odds: Cate Hall on agency and outlier success

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Cate Hall, CEO of Astera Institute and author of a forthcoming book on agency, to explore how individuals can systematically develop higher agency in their lives. They discuss the selection effects that draw agentic people to fields like poker and startups, the importance of being comfortable with ignorance and feedback, and practical strategies like asking "Is there a better way to do this?" ten times daily. Cate shares insights from her journey from Supreme Court lawyer to world champion poker player, including how peer groups, emergencies, and what addicts call "the gift of desperation" can trigger step-changes in personal agency. Full annotated transcript: https://www.complexsystemspodcast.com... Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) is a podcast on technology, finance, and systems thinking. Subscribe on Apple or Spotify below to find episodes with Byrne Hobart, Zvi Mowshowitz, Kelsey Piper, Casey Handmer, and solo episodes where Patrick discusses his viral essays like How to Negotiate Your Salary Package. Podcast Links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mos4VE... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Full transcripts: https://www.complexsystemspodcast.com/ – Follow on Twitter: Patrick McKenzie: @patio11 Cate Hall: @catehall – Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (02:38) Exploring the concept of agency (03:08) Selection effects in different fields (03:45) The changing demographics in tech and startups (06:52) The rise of systematization in poker and startups (17:27) The role of mental habits in developing agency (22:25) The value of feedback and continuous improvement (25:33) The power of admitting ignorance (27:29) Growth mindset and personal improvement (28:18) Using AI for creative pursuits (31:25) The value of human interaction (34:22) The unique traits of professional gamblers (39:40) Understanding and developing agency (43:41) Triggers for increased agency (51:02) Wrap