Lethargy
Many pro poker players use the game as a means to escape from responsibility. They don’t want to have to wake up on time, show up for work on time, and take orders from superiors. They are often victims of too much freedom. Excessive freedom causes many of them to lose sense of purpose. This is when things start to unravel.
They start hitting the snooze button on the alarm a few too many times. Running late, they skip basic hygiene practices like taking a shower and brushing their teeth. They miss tons of value by late-regging big events and skipping the smaller ones. Then they bust and ignore great cash game action in favor of drinking and partying. Months of this behavior leaves them wondering where their bankrolls went.
Compare this to my productive use of the freedom poker provides me. Today I woke up on time, made my bed, took a shower, brushed my teeth, and did my laundry. Then I made breakfast, watched a training video while I ate it, and did the dishes. This was all before I checked my email, coached two students over Skype, and sent out study assignments. Now I’m going to finish this article and film a training video before I play a cash game session tonight.
Who do you think is going to be more successful? I have a couple hundred thousand dollars worth of tournament cashes this year. I’m averaging $84/hour playing cash games this year. Check Shove Poker is in the black after its first full calendar year. My real estate investments look promising for next year. None of this occurred by accident.
In the same sense, your game will not improve by accident. Every day you wake up, it’s your responsibility to make a concerted effort to improve your game. You must replace TV with training videos. You must replace social media with poker books on Kindle. Total immersion is the only way to maximize your potential.
Every second that you spend at the poker table is a waste of time if it isn’t complemented by study materials off the table. You have to know what you’re trying to accomplish. Why are you opening with that range from the button? Why are you 3-betting with that range from the small blind? Why are you defending with that range from the big blind? Why are you c-betting on this board? Why are you checking behind on that board? Why are you too complacent to take a closer look?
If you need someone that has painstakingly sifted through all of the poker information available on the internet, and spent over 10,000 hours at the table experimenting and refining these strategies, while improving the results of dozens of students — book a session here. I will rid you of the lethargy that’s been holding you back from reaching your full potential.
