With the WSOP ending, I hope that any poker player who is currently struggling takes something valuable from this post.
As the lights dim on the grand stage of professional poker, it's important to reflect on the mental and physical toll this game can take on an individual.
🧵👇
Having spent seven long years as a professional poker player, I can attest to the fact that it can be a miserable journey, one that leaves scars that run deep.
At first glance, the life of a professional poker player may seem glamorous. The prospect of traveling the world, competing against the best, and potentially making a fortune can be alluring. However, behind the glitz and glamour lies a harsh reality that only those who have truly lived it can comprehend.
Mentally, playing professional poker can be an exhausting endeavor. It demands unwavering focus, discipline, and constant analysis of probabilities and human psychology. The constant pressure to make the right decisions, to stay ahead of the game, and to outwit your opponents can eat away at your peace of mind. The highs and lows of winning and losing, the constant uncertainty, and the stress of financial instability can take a toll on your mental well-being.
Physically, the toll is equally taxing. Hours upon hours are spent sitting at the poker table, hunched over, scrutinizing every move, and suppressing any signs of fatigue. The sedentary lifestyle that accompanies professional poker often leads to health issues such as back pain, weight gain, and a general decline in overall fitness. Neglecting physical well-being in pursuit of the game can have long-lasting consequences that extend far beyond the poker table.
Yet, amidst the despair and frustration, there is a silver lining. For anyone who is still playing, I implore you to consider an alternative path. Quitting poker does not mean giving up on success or abandoning the possibility of achieving greatness. On the contrary, it opens up a world of opportunities where the skills and mindset acquired through poker can be channeled into extraordinary accomplishments.
Poker players possess a unique set of skills that can be seamlessly transferred to the real world. The ability to think critically, make calculated decisions under pressure, and analyze complex situations can be immensely valuable in various professions. Entrepreneurs, stock traders, and even leaders in the corporate world have hailed their poker backgrounds as instrumental in their success. The resilience developed through countless bad beats and the ability to adapt to ever-changing circumstances are traits that can help you thrive in any competitive environment.
Quitting professional poker does not signify defeat. It signifies the beginning of a new chapter, one where your potential is not limited by the turn of a card or the whims of Lady Luck. The world beyond the green felt is vast and filled with limitless possibilities for personal growth, happiness, and fulfillment. Whether it's starting your own business, pursuing a different career, or dedicating yourself to a cause you're passionate about, the real world is waiting for you with open arms.
So, to those poker players out there who are contemplating their future, I urge you to consider life beyond the poker table. You have proven your resilience, your analytical prowess, and your unwavering determination. The skills that propelled you through the highs and lows of professional poker can be your springboard to conquer new frontiers.
If you need someone to talk to about transitioning into another phase of life. My DMs are open.
Downsides of being a Poker Pro.
- No stable income
- Friends & Family often not accepting/understanding your profession
- Fucked up Sleep Cycles (for MTTs in non NA timezones)
- Mental & Emotional Stress
- Isolation
- Legal & Regulatory Issues
- Downswings
- Downswings
- Downswings
- Dealing with Entitlement. Seeing a lot of worse players having more success than you
- Full self responsibility (I believe it is a good thing but many struggle with that and completely overestimate the level of self responsibility that is required)
- Dealing with Banks & Renting apartments
- Random plebs sharing their NL2 cent bad beat stories
- Dealing with Taxes (in countries with no regulation)
What did I miss?
Right now life is teaching me the law of detachment. ain’t nothing really yours, you gotta be comfortable with not being attached, just enjoying life for what it is & moving on when it’s time
You’re gonna lose sleep.
You’ll doubt whether it’ll work.
You’ll stress to make ends meet.
You won’t finish your to do list.
You’ll wonder if you made the right call - and have no way to know for years.
This is what ‘hard’ feels like.
And that’s okay.
Young Kings.
HOW can you have a LIFE of MEANING without PRESSURE TO PERFORM?
Yes. The odds are against me. Yes. I'm supposed to fail.
Everyone will be FURIOUS WHEN I WIN. They will DISCUSS how I did the IMPOSSIBLE.
Their ENERGY becomes MINE.
Don't buy from artists just to support their survival.
Don't wait for them to cry out in despair to take the time to listen to them and invest in them.
Support them so they can live. They deserve to experience the diversity and beauty of the World around them.
This is what deepens the richness of their art.
Fast, lift, sprint, stretch, and meditate.
Build, sell, write, create, invest, and own.
Read, reflect, love, seek truth, and ignore society.
Make these habits. Say no to everything else.
Avoid debt, jail, addiction, disgrace, shortcuts, and media Relax. Victory is assured.
@naval
Bankroll management is absolutely VITAL to you succeeding at poker long-term!
But almost no one at the low & medium stakes understands bankroll management to an acceptable level.
Let's talk about bankroll management, specifically for tournaments... 👇🧵🔥🔥
I never want to feel like I HAVE to create art again. I've made the choice to live my life and let inspiration come to me.
Creation is not a duty. It is an uncontrollable urge, like the full-term discharge of a child at the end of a pregnancy. It creates this physical, mental & emotional pressure that it MUST come out.
Is this compatible with success in a world where hyperproductivity and constant presence is a sign of merit and creativity? Honestly, I don't care.
I don't create for the sake of recognition, glory or external validation. I create because it is impossible to stop expressing a part of who I am.
How does it feel to live by your beliefs and no longer follow societal norms and expectations?
How does it feel to break the box you locked yourself in for the sake of acceptance and conformity?