Little fish growing up

Nikola good luck crushing, its been pleasure knowing you keep up the good work!

OK, so something about my ambitions and goals, both in poker and life.

POKER:
My long term goal (when I finish my 1st year of coaching program) is to be able to earn at least 800e in a month. That is way more than the average salary here, and I would be more than satisfied to achieve that.
At this moment, I can't say that I'm dreaming about going to Vegas and dominating there, or that my life wish is to bluff Phil Ivey or Daniel Negreanu... No, I just want to learn as much as I can and play as much as I can so that I can constantly progress. So, two long term goals for now:
1.Be able to earn 800e+ in a month after I am through the 1st year of program
2.Be concentrated on constant progress, not on daydreaming

And now, some short term goals, that is - THE CHALLENGES:
Learn some ranges my coach has given me for homework
Go through some filtered hands in PT4, write thinking processes for problematic ones, mark confusing situations for the next session to be reviewed (also homework)
watch one poker video, take notes and apply what I learned
play at least 4,5 hours a day

deadline: 12.7.2013

comments: are very achiveable, the only problem might be because I'm not sure whether I'll have the time because of my other non-poker obligations. Maybe I'll just choose a shorter video.♠_biggrin:

LIFE:
OK, this is a bit tougher than poker. My long term life goal... To put it short - to be the best version of myself. I believe that we are limitless. The only thing that stops us from progressing are ourselves. Our fears, our laziness, lack of will, etc. We are afraid to step out of our daily routine, out of our 'comfort zone' and to make a change... We are afraid that we will fail. So, many of us will stick to that false security and never try to change something, never try to improve themselves. I'm not that kind of a guy. I don't say that I'm not afraid, sometimes I am. But I will continue despite the fear, believe in myself, and ultimately conquer it. Success guaranteed.

And now some life challenges:
go to bed at 1 am, get up at 9 am
do the morning 10 minute jogging/rope skipping/easy cardio (in case of the bed weather) to pump up my energy levels
study at least an hour (preferably hour and a half)

comments: TO DO every day for a month (in order to make some good habits ♦ ). There are some more things I would like to work on and some more habits I'd like to obtain, but in order not to push myself too hard and to be realistic I'll stick to these 3 for the first month. Small but certain steps are the way to go. ♦

Also, I recommend to all of you guys to read Schnitzelfisch's (in case you don't know, he is a productivity coach here) ' The Quick Guide to Skyrocketing Your Poker and Life Productivity'. I have read only a part of it, and I've found it most useful. His advice will help you progress both in poker and in life, provided that you really apply what he says.:) Here is the link - The Quick Guide to Skyrocketing Your Poker and Life Productivity [10 Great Tips for Surviving Exams] IMO this is a MUST READ if you want to live a healthy, balanced life of a successful poker player.:)

That's all folks! ♦
Pozdrav!

Originally posted by IvicaIliev77
Nikola good luck crushing, its been pleasure knowing you keep up the good work!

Thanks for the support coach, means a lot! ♦

Quick update

POKER:
Learn some ranges my coach has given me for homework (done)

Go through some filtered hands in PT4, write thinking processes for problematic ones, mark confusing situations for the next session to be reviewed (also homework) (done)

:diamond:watch one poker video, take notes and apply what I learned (not done yet)

play at least 4,5 hours a day (so far so good)

Been playing more than 4,5h a day, more like 5h, so I'm more than satisfied. Homework is done, cause I have a session with coach tomorow and I will probably watch the video in 2 days, so I will complete all my challenges.

LIFE:

go to bed at 1 am, get up at 9 am - this has been the most problematic thing; even if I go to bed at 1am, I can't fall asleep until 2 at least. But I think that I will be able to fix that soon because after 12.7. I will have much more time for physical activities, which means getting tired and sleeping better. ♦ But still, never slept more than 8,5h so I am partially satisfied.:)

do the morning 10 minute jogging/rope skipping/easy cardio (in case of the bed weather) to pump up my energy levels (so far so good)

study at least an hour (preferably hour and a half) - that's also OK ♦

Still playing on the same limit, getting better every day, learning when to fold and how to slow down (my biggest leaks for now, I always think that I am being bluffed ). Had a small upswing, so with rb, I have around 100e which means i have made 50e and that makes me happy.:)

I have some problems posting my graph image, so here's the link.

That's all for now

POKER CHALLENGES UPDATE

watch one poker video, take notes and apply what I learned - done. this was the video i watched: how to play against lags I chose this video because this type of players presented the biggest problem to me. On the level I'm currently playing there are no really good LAGs who know what they are doing, just very agressive 'players' who bet like crazy and don't even choose good spots for that but just bet randomly; however they still put a lot of pressure to you. So i was constantly under pressure when playing against them, and didn't really know what to do. I hope that I'm gonna get some edge on them after applying what I have learned from this video.♦

play at least 4,5 hours a day - 2 days ago I didn't play at all because yesterday I had an exam and it was very important to prepare it well, so I learned the whole day. And night.xD Yesterday I played for about 3h, devided in 2 sessions. The first session was terrible, I was playing my C game, I was in a very very bad mood due to the sleepless night, and lost around 9,10 buy ins. Second session came after watching the video, what brought my mood up, I played much better and won some money.:)

NEW POKER CHALLENGES

Play at least 6 hours a day. No more exams until September so a lot less non-poker obligations and more time for playing.

Create bubble shoving table (BTN and SB) and calling table (BB) (9 different scenarios) - this is my homework and I have to finish it until 19.7. I had a session with my coach today and he found a ton of leaks in these situations, so I am looking forward to making these tables and improving my game even further.♦

Dedicate at least an hour a day to learning theory/ reviewing hands. - Always very important and always brigns my mood up (especially theory).

LIFE CHALLENGES UPDATE

go to bed at 1 am, get up at 9 am - complete fail during the last couple of days due to the exam I had. But it was worth it because I prepared it pretty well and I'm hoping for some fine results.:) Will work on this from now on.

do the morning 10 minute jogging/rope skipping/easy cardio (in case of the bed weather) to pump up my energy levels - 15 minute stretching is much more effective in waking me up so I switched to that.:) that was the whole point of this morning activity.

study at least an hour (preferably hour and a half) - been learning A LOT more than this the previous days.xD

I will add some kind of workout routine to my life challenges, but I will have to choose first and then I'll update.:) Probably basic bodyweight exercises like push ups, squats, chin ups are what I will go for, and only later will I switch to lifting weights.

To mention some things in my life - I'm coming back to my hometown tomorrow, I'm both happy and not so happy because of that. I'm happy because I will hang out with my brother, play some tennis with him, reconnect with some friends of mine etc. Summer = no school, so that's always +ev. ♦ On the other side, I'm not so happy because my girlfriend is here in Nis, and I will be seeing her less than I'm used to. Also, my parents don't know about my poker decision yet, so I expect some arguing to happen. 'MY SON IS A GAMBLER!' 'PEOPLE LOSE HOUSES ON POKER!' 'HOW WILL YOU FINISH YOUR FACULTY?' and standard stuff like that..xD It will certainly affect my mood, but that has to happen sometimes. Maybe I'll be able to avoid that, I'll see.

Aaand, that would be all for now. ♦ Pozdrav!

Good luck! Especially with the life goals - something I am somewhat of a lazy fish in. Super-original pun of the day: when you exercise, you decide when you run good!

Excellent goals and challenges Nikola. Keep on working hard and grinding, you will improve very fast and beat micros very soon - I have no doubt about your path.
When it comes to telling parents about poker, it all depends what they will be like. If they won't be supportive or will bring you down, I would personally not tell them about it, too much stress around it (after all the poker stress downswings studying and grinding - do you need family who have no way to understand poker to whine and give you shit about it?!). Its just my two cents on that. If they are going to be like, " You will be able to earn 1500 euro after one year of program? Wow awesome, go for it son" then its whole other story tell them sooner then later.
I am personally waiting to finish my deal by the end of the year, have enough money not to worry about life, investments, bankroll and then I will seat down explain why I choose this path vs music or moving abroad again or playing on a ship etc and what I expect it to bring me in the future - this way parents will be more supportive, realizing that you made a living out of poker for a year, you didn't ask them for single dime, you became more responsible and treat this as a job (which it is bottom line regardless how much we all love this game) and on top of all this is your calling which has so much room to improve (1500 euro is just start, with constant improvement you can reach 4k+ $ a month and then you are the king
Best of luck and will follow your blog of course

Originally posted by LedZayats
Good luck! Especially with the life goals - something I am somewhat of a lazy fish in. Super-original pun of the day: when you exercise, you decide when you run good!

Thanks mate! Life goals will always be harder to accomplish.xD What are you playing, are you writting a blog maybe?:) Where are you from?

Originally posted by IvicaIliev77
Excellent goals and challenges Nikola. Keep on working hard and grinding, you will improve very fast and beat micros very soon - I have no doubt about your path.
When it comes to telling parents about poker, it all depends what they will be like. If they won't be supportive or will bring you down, I would personally not tell them about it, too much stress around it (after all the poker stress downswings studying and grinding - do you need family who have no way to understand poker to whine and give you shit about it?!). Its just my two cents on that. If they are going to be like, " You will be able to earn 1500 euro after one year of program? Wow awesome, go for it son" then its whole other story tell them sooner then later.
I am personally waiting to finish my deal by the end of the year, have enough money not to worry about life, investments, bankroll and then I will seat down explain why I choose this path vs music or moving abroad again or playing on a ship etc and what I expect it to bring me in the future - this way parents will be more supportive, realizing that you made a living out of poker for a year, you didn't ask them for single dime, you became more responsible and treat this as a job (which it is bottom line regardless how much we all love this game) and on top of all this is your calling which has so much room to improve (1500 euro is just start, with constant improvement you can reach 4k+ $ a month and then you are the king
Best of luck and will follow your blog of course

I was thinking about doing that too. Probably the best way, cause they wouldn't be supportive at all. Just have to find the way to hide it from them for another 10 days, then they'll go to the seaside for 15 days and when they come back I am returning to Nis and I'm free again.xD
Thanks for the advice and support, that always helps.:) Especially because you have already been in a similar situation and have the experience.
P.S. say hello to the asian chick from the poker stars (nemoj da lazes ljude, za onakav roi bila ciganka 100% ) ♦

Originally posted by bugashin

Originally posted by LedZayats
Good luck! Especially with the life goals - something I am somewhat of a lazy fish in. Super-original pun of the day: when you exercise, you decide when you run good!

Thanks mate! Life goals will always be harder to accomplish.xD What are you playing, are you writting a blog maybe?:) Where are you from?

Well, I've got something of a blog (Privet, comrades! Have you money for vodka?), actually it's the introductory post I made last year which I now made the start of a blog... if I feel like it. I'm 100% only a recreational player (but a winning one), so I might just not play for a long while if I don't feel like it and forget about the blog. I used to play nl2/nl5, but recently I've gone over into PLO and am currently playing zoom PLO10, and I'm purely a cash game player and I play by intuition, so it's kind of the opposite of your approach of playing tourneys and studying.

Originally posted by LedZayats

Originally posted by bugashin

Originally posted by LedZayats
Good luck! Especially with the life goals - something I am somewhat of a lazy fish in. Super-original pun of the day: when you exercise, you decide when you run good!

Thanks mate! Life goals will always be harder to accomplish.xD What are you playing, are you writting a blog maybe?:) Where are you from?

Well, I've got something of a blog (Privet, comrades! Have you money for vodka?), actually it's the introductory post I made last year which I now made the start of a blog... if I feel like it. I'm 100% only a recreational player (but a winning one), so I might just not play for a long while if I don't feel like it and forget about the blog. I used to play nl2/nl5, but recently I've gone over into PLO and am currently playing zoom PLO10, and I'm purely a cash game player and I play by intuition, so it's kind of the opposite of your approach of playing tourneys and studying.

Lucky you, you're a natural, the rest of us have to study.:P I'll check out your blog, don't have much time now, grinding the whole day.:)

QUICK UPDATE:

POKER

Play at least 6 hours a day. - OK

Create bubble shoving table (BTN and SB) and calling table (BB) (9 different scenarios). - DONE

Dedicate at least an hour a day to learning theory/ reviewing hands. - Skipped that today due to the major headache which has lasted the whole day, but yesterday I spent between 1,5h and 2h on that, so it's ok.:)

LIFE

go to bed at 1 am, get up at 9 am - getting better every day. Got up earlier today bcs I went to play tennis with my brother (he kicked my ass btw )

do the morning 15 minute stretching or any 'wake up activity' - as I said, went to play tennis this morning, that was more than enough generally OK

study at least an hour (preferably hour and a half) - FAIL! starting it seriously in two days, too many obligations tomorrow to do it

P.S. My parents somehow figured out that I'm playing poker, it's not official yet, but I'm almost sure they know. And as I can see they are ok with it.xD A BIG SURPRISE!!! If this is true, and I'm not tripping, they RULE! Hope it is so.

Had a little DS these 2,3 days, -30 BI, but my last session today was a good one, so I'm around -20BI now. I did not tilt, never went down to my C game, mostly played B game and the last session was A-, and that makes me satisfied. My graph.

General thoughts/feelings: I'm mostly satisfied with how things are developing, working hard every day, seeing progress -> makes me happy. I'm filled with positive energy, have a ton of motivation, enjoying my free time more than ever. ♦

That's all for now, CIAO!

hello again, long time no uptade.:) that's because I failed all of my challenges and got totally unorganised, so i didn't want to write about that.xD I'm back at Nish, preparing for exams, getting organsied again, playing some poker.:)

so, challenges will look like this:

study for exams at least 2 hours a day - very important because I have like 25 days or so to prepare 2 exams, both Greek language, and failing them means failing the whole year. Fuckin' Greek...

spend at least 5h playng poker + spend some more on analysing or hhr - I'm still playing 1.10 6 max on microgaming, but as soon as traffic comes back to normal I will start mixing 1.10 and 2.25, and eventually play just 2.25.♦

train 5-6 days a week - have to get stronger and healthier, been feeling very weak and slow lately, I have to change that!

That's it for now - bye bye!:)

Hope you will make the goals you set and maintain your work effort with dedication you have.