Poker + Life goals for 2011

[ILikeToParty]

Im starting this thread for basically one reason only. I, like many people in todays economy/world, arent doing that well financially. What I mean by that is basically living paycheck to paycheck, not more than $2000 in the bank account (if $200), and a pile of debts. Ive been in this boat for a few years now but wasnt doing really too bad until the last 6 months or year and the #1 problem is me, lack of effort, lack of intelligent consistent life decisions, etc etc. Nothing crazy and Im not going homeless or anything I guess the best way to sum it up is : I want more from my life than Im getting and I think effort is whats holding me, and many others of us, back so Im gonna list my serious, realistic goals for 2011 in terms of enhancing my life and getting more to a point I wanna be, and I hope in turn others can post their goals and such in here as well and maybe we can motivate each other to live better. Lets face it, and I dont mean this negative like its gonna sound, but there are a lot of people out there a lot dumber than all of us doing A LOT better in life than we are, and I feel its all effort. Im also hoping in a way this thread will keep me somewhat accountable in "keeping my foot on the gas" as far as reaching my goals.

A little background about myself, Im 33 years old, live in Southern California. I own 3 dump trucks thru my fathers trucking company that I have owned since I was 18. I worked for mt father from the time I was 18 driving trucks and about 4 years ago I just couldnt take driving an 18 wheeler in southern california traffic and I quit driving to stay home and play online poker. I had been doing well online for a year or so prior while still driving daily and finally about May 2006 I hung up the driving gloves and tried to play online. I still owned the dump trucks and had drivers driving them and thats what was/is making my mortgage payment. So I was basically needing to make my utilities and all other money for each month from online poker.

First off lemme say Im no high stakes player by any means. From the time I quit driving up until about 4 months ago Ive averaged about $550/week playing poker online, hardly baller but basically the same $ I was making being a driver so I was happy. I play 1-on-1 Heads-up matches on Fulltilt under the screenname Floppy McShove. 1-on-1 poker is what Im good at and it fits my style and personality (no patience) well lol. The last 4 months I havent played much at all as I was kinda burnt out but I need to get back to daily grinding and thats the #1 reason Im starting this thread because I know theres a lot of poker players on here. My problem is just putting hours in, I need to somehow maintain a 40 hour work week online. I have also ammassed a lot of debt, about 20K, over the last 5 years because, like i said, Im only making about $550/week, not much in socal.

So my initial goals are :

1) Play at least 35 hours week online

2) Make at least $700 week online

3) Limit my sports plays to only a few/month, if any, until my debts are paid

4) Get into better shape and eat better

5) Get a new, very nice car

6) Pay off debts

$440/week is what I need to make to pay all my utilities, food, and $20 cash in my pocket daily. If I can make minimum $700/week thats at least $260/week I can use to repay debts (credit cards, loans, etc etc) and save up to buy a car once debts are paid. Getting a car is a ways down the road tho as I need to pay off my debts first.

I currently have only $100 in my fulltilt account and I will begin playing $10 1-on-1s. Theres no way I can make $700/week playing $10 games but I need to build my bankroll back up to $500-$1000 so I can get back to my normal level of $50 games. I normally have $1000 in my account to play the $50 1-on-1s. So I will play $10 games until I get to about $160-$200 and then I will mix in some 20s until I reach about $300 and then I will play 30s until I get to $500 then I will play $30s and $50s. I can make $700/week playing 35 hours/week at the $30/$50 level. Im hoping I can get to $500 within 10 days.

I'd also like to post daily updates on my goals, along with commentary on hands played, etc etc etc

My first session will be tonite (sat) about 6pm (pacific time). Feel free to log onto fulltilt and come say hi!!!!

Also, feel free to post your goals/problems/ambitions for 2011 as well, lets stop talking about it and lets get our shit together!!!!!!!!!!!

[ILikeToParty]

In honor of Charlie hopefully we can all become BI-WINNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

[Gobbler's Knob]

Winning.

People's first reaction might be to dismiss your prospects of making a living playing poker but I have a friend who makes a living at Casino Niagara. If you can discipline yourself to treat it as a job,play tight and not "gamble" I think it is possible to grind out a living. Good luck, be smart.

[ILikeToParty]

Originally Posted by Gobbler's Knob

Winning

not just winning bud . . .. .


BI - WINNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NightCap424]

5) Get a new, very nice car

6) Pay off debts


Hard to pay off debts if you go out and get a new car....other than that I wish you the best of luck. Create a schedule and stick to it, other than that it will be difficult to stay motivated with so many outside interferences.

[cook county capper]

I play poker at Four Winds Casino a lot, not much online.
I find going to the casino is better for my poker payroll than online.
The drunks show up on the weekends and you can make $200 a night easily. Nothing big, but you can mark the crappy players easier, and usually walk out with some profit.

The only thing I see wrong is you are not considering a losing streak. What if you lose 4 weeks in a row, on average, $250? Now, you have no money coming in and your debt increases. That would worry me, and the thought of chasing could be in play.

I would move up paying debts to #1, that is the most important, imo.
#2 would be to eat better and exercise, you ARE going to be sitting, playing poker 40 hours a week, your body will feel better and be refreshed.

Getting a very nice new car would be last on my list, if steps #1-5 went well this year.

My goals are to build a better relationship with my sister and to stop making bad choices where Johnny Lawdog could come into play. My debts only came through lawyers and courts, they are gone now, but I still hang around with friends who have shady cohorts, and that's never good.

Best of luck on your goals ILTP!

[ILikeToParty]

@ nightcap

Originally Posted by ILikeToParty

5) Get a new, very nice car

6) Pay off debts

$440/week is what I need to make to pay all my utilities, food, and $20 cash in my pocket daily. If I can make minimum $700/week thats at least $260/week I can use to repay debts (credit cards, loans, etc etc) and save up to buy a car once debts are paid. Getting a car is a ways down the road tho as I need to pay off my debts first.

[cali]

The last two years I ground it out playing online poker and sports betting. I had no job and supported myself and two kids while I got my B.A. It is exactly what I said a grind. Now I have a part-time job while I go to law school because the amount of time i was spending playing poker was interfering with school. Here are some tips I learned and followed.
1) Bankroll managment- Don't risk it all. Be happy with small returns on a daily basis. Don't chase a win. I had a friend who averaged about $100 a day then one day he lost $1200 trying to post a "profit" on that day.
2) take breaks- i found I played better when I first started as opposed to after 10 hours in
3) No emotions- especially on online poker you will suffer horrible beats. Don't tilt. It happens. An 80% favorite still loses 1in 5 times.
4) Find your niche- I played 9 player sit n gos and large stud or omaha tournies and had good results. If heads up is your thing then stick to that. Also I found myself playing more and more tables at a time sometimes 12 or more and I found I do better when I play 5 or less.
Good Luck I hope you can get to where your going. Remember its a hard way to make an easy living.

[TheLink]

don't think the caps were needed ILTP. Pretty clear majority of readers thought you were ranking your goals vs just listing them

[ILikeToParty]

Originally Posted by TheLink

don't think the caps were needed ILTP. Pretty clear majority of readers thought you were ranking your goals vs just listing them

give it a rest dude

it said @nighthawk and I was highlighting the part he obv missed. Dont need the thread police in my thread so like I said, give it a rest

[ILikeToParty]

Originally Posted by cali

The last two years I ground it out playing online poker and sports betting. I had no job and supported myself and two kids while I got my B.A. It is exactly what I said a grind. Now I have a part-time job while I go to law school because the amount of time i was spending playing poker was interfering with school. Here are some tips I learned and followed.
1) Bankroll managment- Don't risk it all. Be happy with small returns on a daily basis. Don't chase a win. I had a friend who averaged about $100 a day then one day he lost $1200 trying to post a "profit" on that day.
2) take breaks- i found I played better when I first started as opposed to after 10 hours in
3) No emotions- especially on online poker you will suffer horrible beats. Don't tilt. It happens. An 80% favorite still loses 1in 5 times.
4) Find your niche- I played 9 player sit n gos and large stud or omaha tournies and had good results. If heads up is your thing then stick to that. Also I found myself playing more and more tables at a time sometimes 12 or more and I found I do better when I play 5 or less.
Good Luck I hope you can get to where your going. Remember its a hard way to make an easy living.

thx bud, you play on fulltilt?

[scr0da]

This guy sounds crazier than me when i'm drunk.

[cali]

Originally Posted by ILikeToParty

thx bud, you play on fulltilt?

Yeah and stars. i don't play much anymore. Don't really have the time and sort of got burntout.

[ILikeToParty]

Originally Posted by cali

Yeah and stars. i don't play much anymore. Don't really have the time and sort of got burntout.

Ya I got REALLY burnt out towards the end of last year after playing pretty much daily for like 3 years. I play HU too which seems to burn you out quick.

Im Floppy McShove on tilt, come on by and say hi if youre on tilt tonite

GL

[ILikeToParty]

Originally Posted by scr0da

this guy sounds crazier than me when i'm drunk.

under 25