Hi Steve - love all the questions and that you are getting something out of my ramblings...
Originally posted by 177272
It's a bit like a back to the future scenario.
I watched that movie so much I had every word memorized, and actually wore out the VHS tape it was on!
Originally posted by 177272
So I C and P, this bit as an example:
My bankroll has dipped in to the red and I am down 42 buy-ins in less than 200 games... I am surprisingly not that phased by it... I think it's because of these 3 things:
I have been studying a lot every day (psychology, strategy, session reviews, hand-evals, etc...) I think I just need to put what I am learning together and so far haven't been able to do that in a balanced way - but I think I am getting closer.
What do you take from this now, is this situation standard now and therefore you don't even worry about sort if thing now, or did you solve these issues, or are they long forgotten
I think I realized 3 things that allowed me to start having success:
1) I stopped trying to learn too much all at once and just focused on learning one thing at a time to a reasonable level
2) I became realistic in my expectations - I am not, and will never be a professional, I just have too much invested in other areas of my life to make that happen. I can however become really good at a hobby that I enjoy if I put a lot of effort into it. When you are truly motivated by enjoyment instead of by expectations or results - you tend to approach it with a much better mind-set. This allowed me to have a much longer term view of my progress than expecting to climb the stakes really fast. I ended up climbing the stakes faster when I stopped caring about climbing stakes.
3) I surrounded myself with people that were much better players than me (i.e. my study-group and my coach) and looked at how they worked on improving their game. pauln (who isn't playing much anymore) was an amazing inspiration to me whenever we skyped because he was always analyzing a certain aspect of play in ridiculously deep detail until he knew all the ins and outs of it. I think he enjoyed that more than actually playing, but I don't know. Alex (my coach) is great at keeping me focused on learning and trying things even if it hurts my bankroll for a bit, because that makes me better in the long run.
Originally posted by 177272
I don't think I picked up where you hope to go with all this? You work, you have a family, you are not a youngster ( except to me that is smile ) , but you still put in 10 hrs a week. What are your short term, long term aims?
My short-term / long-term goals are to just keep having fun playing and getting better. When it stops being fun, there isn't much point for me. I don't really care about moving up stakes, that is just a result of getting better and wanting to test myself against stronger competition.
Originally posted by 177272
What is your general routine, i know your job has changed, but work, family, study for an hr, logon for 2 hrs at 7pm ish ? Are you still involved in a study group.
About a year ago I discovered that I need to take time for myself and do something that I enjoy - I wasn't doing that and I was becoming a grumpy old man. I have an arrangement with my wife, that she is supportive of, that when I get home from work, I play poker for an hour to relax and transition from work to home. Then I am Mr. Family-man and because I took a bit of time for myself, I am a much better husband and father. Then after putting my kid to bed for the night I might take another hour or two for poker if I feel like it and depending on what Mrs. Ramble wants to do. I am not in a study-group anymore, probably after my coaching deal is done.
Originally posted by 177272What would you advise to a mature hobbyist like myself with regards to coaching. Reading between the lines and comments from John Bell confirms it, i would almost feel embarrassed using a coach when I really don't talk the talk, if you get my drift? ( Which is a bit daft as I am effectively paying one to tell me I am a donk... like i don't know)
I don't talk the talk either (you'll notice I don't have a lot of deep analytical speak about triple-range merged gobbledygook in my blog). Keep it simple and talk/work on the basics, if someone starts talking about something you don't understand, then just ask what they mean and if you still don't get it or it sounds overwhelming - it just means you need to work on other stuff first. Accept it, there will always be others out there who are much deeper into it then you are, but they started out with the basics too at one point.
As for a coach, I would suggest you try a session with someone and if you can talk to them easily, stick with them for a period of time. Alex and I have a coaching for profit deal and yeah it'll take a big chunk of my bankroll when it is done, but it will be worth every penny because he has really helped focus my study and efforts on the things that he sees me not improving on my own. Everyone has their own take on the game so learn their take before moving on, they'll get to know your game better and be able to keep nudging you in the right direction. I think switching coaches frequently is kind of like trying to learn too much too fast.
Wooooo - I'm tired after all that typing. Thanks again for the great questions, hope I answered them.
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hope I haven't offended anyone?
