tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5834507208618294785.post343660075129966727..comments2024-01-08T00:42:27.477-08:00Comments on Taking a Shot: 180jesse8888http://www.blogger.com/profile/04372291760946904904noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5834507208618294785.post-35032065428493675272012-02-07T11:36:30.194-08:002012-02-07T11:36:30.194-08:00I was hoping to respond to all of the comments her...I was hoping to respond to all of the comments here individually, but there are just too many that are too good for me to write about right now. Thanks to everyone for the words of advice and encouragement. Day 1 of "don't play poker when I don't have to" is going pretty well so far.jesse8888https://www.blogger.com/profile/04372291760946904904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5834507208618294785.post-85699912565282675752012-02-06T23:19:30.641-08:002012-02-06T23:19:30.641-08:00You've been struggling and struggling. Now you...You've been struggling and struggling. Now you are successful -- and suddenly you are struggling again, with success!<br /><br />I, too, respect BBB's judgment. At the same time, I'm wondering whether there is a part of you that is trying to sabotage your success. (I'm wondering this because I've got such a part of me, and don't we all assume everyone else is like ourselves, at least as a starting point? ;-) )<br /><br />I think you're doing a smart thing. To be honest, the times I've come down to Commerce and found you playing there after your shift at the B-- err, your "place of employment" led me to wonder whether you were taking proper care of yourself.<br /><br />You're smart, and you have your share of wisdom to go along with that. You have what it takes to find your way through the doubts to a way of life that is worthwhile for you.Pokershamanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13014303300052668176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5834507208618294785.post-23056028751560298362012-02-06T20:14:10.735-08:002012-02-06T20:14:10.735-08:00I think your moment of existential crisis will pas...I think your moment of existential crisis will pass; but you have hit a small wall. And that wall is...success. You have made it as a poker pro. How many people make 100k in a year playing mid-limit? About 1/10 of those who claim it...Now that you have climbed the mountain, you need a new challenge...drop back to part time live, and find a new project...a new direction. You may come to appreciate the poker more...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5834507208618294785.post-10492216979374613902012-02-06T10:12:09.645-08:002012-02-06T10:12:09.645-08:00Why would you go to "Google" (this is th...Why would you go to "Google" (this is the company you mentioned, insert random computer company name instead there if you like) as you mentioned in your blog? To make money? To get "a job"? <br /><br />IMO, I know this sounds all touchy and feely, but do what you love and do that right. The rest will take care of itself. If you love building stuff, build stuff. If you love programming stuff, program stuff. Remind yourself of the time when somebody asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up, the excitement of being grown up and finally getting to do it.<br /><br />If you love poker, but don't like how the people in the game affect you, you can<br />a) work on that - be as zen as you need to be. See the game for what it is and get rid of the cynicism.<br />b) Spend less time in the casino, but still doing poker stuff. Write about it (for money, get in touch with poker writers). Program a 2-7TD Pokertracker :P (been on my mind forever, haha) - sell it, yes the money won't even make a difference, but you'll be doing something you love. Coach, talk to horses, think about strategy. Eventually online will come back...<br />c) Spend less time doing degen stuff. More friends outside casino! A LOT. See Phil Galfond's blog: http://www.philgalfond.com/it-always-comes-back-to-balance-doesnt-it/<br /><br />I was very glad when last year somebody told me: "You're a damn good astronomer and it would be a pity if science lost you!". Well, I do think you are a damn good poker player... :)bellatrix78https://www.blogger.com/profile/17286560853976919039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5834507208618294785.post-15501274526743302662012-02-06T01:18:11.705-08:002012-02-06T01:18:11.705-08:00I've been a professional poker player in Los A...I've been a professional poker player in Los Angeles for over five years. I can see -- have seen the game destroy people, pros and amateurs alike. The ups and downs make them bitter, angry, and resentful.<br /><br />In contrast, poker has made me a better person. I have to be a better person to cope with the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune inherent in the game. I have to maintain a broader perspective to not tilt over a given hand. Or session. Or week.<br /><br />I have to develop an interest in my fellow human beings in order to develop maximally exploitive strategies. (This is something Course 6 never prepared me for, and is currently my biggest challenge.)<br /><br />Financially, the last five years have been a bust. I might make as much this year as I made five years ago when I was employed.<br /><br />But I have made such great leaps as a human being over the past five years it is well worth it.<br /><br />My situation is a little different than yours. I play no-limit instead of limit. I've never been a prop. I play a max of 30 hours a week spread over three days. (I've tried, but more than that is too mentally exhausting to be sustainable. Even at this pace I end up spending a fourth day laid out on the couch drinking beer.) Your mileage may vary.<br /><br />But I wanted to let you know it could go either way.ExMemberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02937409741397055710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5834507208618294785.post-73582825880305180762012-02-05T14:29:47.454-08:002012-02-05T14:29:47.454-08:00I don't have experience being a poker pro. I ...I don't have experience being a poker pro. I do have experience being happy.<br /><br />Relax.<br /><br />You're in a better place than literally 75% of people in this country, and 99% of people in the world. You have your health, you have your family, you aren't struggling to make ends meet day to day, you haven't make any long term investment to anything that you can't drop in a heartbeat if you want. Your life may not be perfect, but you're fine. You're fine. Just relax.<br /><br />Remember that the past is the past. You are "taking your shot". Who cares whether it went on 6 weeks or 24 months or however long you want it to go. At the end of that time, you're still going to be smart, you're still going to have skills, and you're still going to be able to do other things if you want. You have options open to you that most people can only dream of.<br /><br />Stop fretting about the choices you made. You can't change them, and it doesn't sound like they were that bad to begin with.<br /><br />Take your time, figure out what you want to do next, then do it. No regrets.<br /><br />Much like poker, life is a long journey. You're going to have plenty more experiences. Stop fixating on what is ultimately just a small sliver of your total, and start looking ahead.Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09009740610949858879noreply@blogger.com