Suggestions & Advice Wanted
I quit my current stance of employment as a millwright (industrial mechanic) at the local power plant from being burnt out on not being solely sure if it was my calling. I don't want to wear by body out at a prime age. I do currently have about a 400 hour correspondance course in which I would like to finish in the next 3-4 months. Also keep in mind before I terminated my employment I made sure I was financially stable for a 6+ month period.
Here's the kick. I recently had a small heater in cash games in Janruary and am unsure which direction to head. Do I take the bankroll and move up in strive for healthier profit or take the money and run. I didn't put in a ton of volume, but around 60 hours in Janruary. I know the games in which I'm comfortable playing and feel I can sustain a stable income. Yes the money would be more comforting in my bank account to feel. But yet I've never actually had the chance to log mega hours and kind of want to.
So I guess a couple questions come to mind. How do you guys find a comfortable balance between poker/school/and life? And two is the stress of poker worth it in the long run? I would like if people could share some insight... recommendations... stories... about going about the balance. Thank You very much.
Here's the kick. I recently had a small heater in cash games in Janruary and am unsure which direction to head. Do I take the bankroll and move up in strive for healthier profit or take the money and run. I didn't put in a ton of volume, but around 60 hours in Janruary. I know the games in which I'm comfortable playing and feel I can sustain a stable income. Yes the money would be more comforting in my bank account to feel. But yet I've never actually had the chance to log mega hours and kind of want to.
So I guess a couple questions come to mind. How do you guys find a comfortable balance between poker/school/and life? And two is the stress of poker worth it in the long run? I would like if people could share some insight... recommendations... stories... about going about the balance. Thank You very much.
Comments
First off, you are asking a mostly biased audience how they strive for balance in their poker playing, while most don't. Anyone that plays poker more than once or twice a week has a gambling problem, IMO. If you want balance in your life, minimize your poker playing to 1-2 times per week tops.
If you think you can seriously earn a living playing poker, you are an idiot (no offence). You have a marketable skill as a millwright so find another job that you will enjoy more or continue towards improving your education. If there is another related trade that interests you, pursue it. Poker is a hard way to make an easy living. Better to keep it as a hobby that you can enjoy when time allows, and you can afford to lose the money needed to play. It is extremely difficult to earn a consistent profit playing poker.
At some point in time, the media created this image that poker is a valid career path. I think it is commonly known that only about 10% of poker players breakeven or make money long term. What happens to the other 90%? If you are single and have minimal financial obligations (no rent, other expenses), then maybe you can take a shot at it. Personally, I get pretty bored sitting in a casino day after day playing cards shooting the shit with a bunch of strangers. I can do it for a couple days, but the novelty wears off pretty quick. I don't really find that to be a satisfying career. Online I find even more difficult to stomach for a couple hours.
In any case, good luck with whatever you choose to do. No harm in giving it a shot for a couple weeks and see how it goes. You can always look for work if it doesn't work out as planned or the lifestyle is not for you.
You need to KNOW that you are a consistent winner, over tens of thousands of hands. And that you can put in thousands of hands per day.
Just read this....
http://www.pokerforum.ca/f8/anyone-else-24529/
If he is still around if anyone knows, he can probably give you good advice if he is still playing for a living.
To be honest, I think I still have the poker night live episode where he talks about him turning pro.
Considering that Lou rarely posts here anymore, I did run into him a little while ago, and he'd gone back to a more "traditional" job. He grew tired of the grind, and didn't enjoy playing anymore IIRC.
Mark
Correct....
Grinding at the same local casino, would get pretty boring, pretty quick. If you happen to live in a city that has a few casinos to choose from, it might be a little more tolerable. Imagine going to 'work' and having to wait 3-4 hours to start.
fyp +1
It's not worth it. Even if you become an expert of the game, know exactly what to do in all situations, you end up just mashing buttons.
Having poker as a career sucks balls.
I did it when I was laid off from work. Played 1/2 at the casino. Calculated my winrate, $/hr etc. I ended up making between 10-15 an hour, playing 40hrs/week. My health went straight down the tube after sitting for 10 hours from smoking and eating greasy casino food. Had fights with my g/f regarding my gambling problem, and I would have fun for about 5mins per 8 hrs when i make a huge hand.
If you're bored of your job, go to Africa or south asia and build houses. If you enjoy that you can make a career of it. I know my friend's sister has a permanent position in south africa with homes for humanity.
I think we should all go back to University.
Ya, There's some great poker games there.
Missed sarcasm??
I was trying to be funny. Guess I missed.
Guess dj has a gambling problem.
So if I play 1 96hr session, I guess I don't have a gambling problem.
Excuse me, I have no problem gambling. I turn my computer on, log into Full Tilt, no problem.