Making a living with STT SNGs

72 Days Study Challenge

Day 3

Just finished studying 1 more hour. That makes it total 4 and a half hours out of 72 hours set.

Some things discovered along the way as well as positive and "negative" sides

- Continued filling notepad and excel, noticing already some really good things
- I underestimated number of hours needed to master this particular edge.
- Now I know that it will take for this specific area minimum 30-40 hours to do it super properly + time for knowledge to settle and apply in games. This is both bad and good news.
- Bad news is that it takes a lot of work and it will take additional time to apply it all.
- Good news is once I go through all of it and actually master this edge, I will be one of the rare (if not the only) player who will have complete control over this edge. Another good news is that other regs are lazy so I don't expect them to work hard on this edge ever. Regardless of it all, I am just focused on doing the work daily and knowledge+confidence will keep growing!
- I am feeling like I am back in school and that childish smile and happiness is happening past 3 days while working on these edges.

Very much look forward to future hours and maintaining this daily habit of studying. It will be challenging to keep it with everything else going on but I am already tweaking my systems and simply making it priority (finding time for it).

Have a good day on and off the tables!

72 Days Study Challenge

Day 4

Riding the bus from Belgrade to Nis 3 hours long, already completed 1 hour of study! I am grateful that my cell phone has WI FI Hotspot so that I can access internet and post this update

So 1 hour completed today also which makes it total 5 and a half hours from 72 hours total.

Some observations

- I am still filling in note pad and excel tables with tons of information and ranges
- Memorizing things as I am filling them in, quizzing myself frequently
- I am still in the "basic" area of this advance area studying
- After I finish the whole basic area , I will go even more in depth to materialize on these edges for years to come
- One thing that I am certain while doing this is that I am positive this edge can be used for SNE chase easily (it gives that much confidence in ranges opponent types adjusting and readjusting yes)

I am looking forward finishing basic part of this advanced edge studying. I believe it will take me 2-3 more hours to complete it and then I would say another 5-6 hours minimum to extend this to very advanced and in depth things. This when things are really going to start to happen and some crazy new world will open up for +EV plays and exploiting opponents.

Did I mention that for 4 days I have just scratched the surface here? Yes it is that little accomplished in 5 and a half hours but it makes me very happy and satisfied because 20 hours or so invested in future study I will be ahead of the curve and competition + increase my ROI in future games.

Life related things

Went to the game last night, it was very cold and raining but around 16000 fans showed up and cheered. It was fantastic feeling to be there and give support to Partizan Belgrade team.
Besiktas is lost in Europe League and should be playing Champions League. Croatian coach Bilic has very good team and they played really well last night. They beat us 4-0 and had couple of more chances to score some more. Partizan had also couple of chances but regardless of the high score loss Besiktas deserved the win.
I look forward to the away game vs them in Turkey, checking how our team will respond mentally after this big loss. We also have some difficult away games in domestic league (Jagodina and Vojvodina both very difficult opponents) so the future weeks will make or brake Partizan in title chase.

I also went out yesterday after the game and day before. We went to this amazing Beer Shop place that sells over 100 kinds of beer!!! It is located in Zemun and I enjoyed it very much there with my brother his girlfriend, my friend Shica and two other friends. Very good times! Drank beers from Germany, Belgium and Japan! Yes that is right, Japanese beer in Belgrade - loved it!
Very much look forward going to that place again next time I visit or move to Belgrade.
Also went out to one cool coffee place where they bring you popcorn with beer without even asking you for it Meet some new and interesting people, exchange positive energy and ideas - which is always a great thing!

Overall very cool and positive experience in Belgrade again, despite my team Partizan loosing the game at home. It was very much worth it!

Plan for the rest of the day is to meet up with best friend for some coffee, set up sessions for the weekend and perhaps squeeze one more hour of study in the afternoon/evening time.
From tomorrow I plan to resume grinding and also find 30 minutes or so for CrossFit to do some explosive training with squats and push ups + if weather is nice do box jumps on bench, pull ups on football goals and running in best primary school in Serbia from my town (primary school Dusan Radovic) - pictures to come in some future update.

Enjoy your day on and off the tables!

For all the football fans out there, check this recording from last night
It felt amazing to be part of this!

Very productive day so far!

Coached 3 sessions; Worked on my game 1 hour; Meet up with best friend and another friend on separate occasions; Did laundry and ate somewhat healthy and now deciding whether or not to grind or keep working on the game. Might go out later tonight to one particular event if I don't pick working on the game nor grinding.

72 Days Study Challenge

Day 5

- Filled in 4 different scenarios in 1 hour total study time today
- It will take me another hour to finish this basic part of advanced edge
- After that I expect another 10 hours or less to complete advance part of it
- After all this is done I can consider moving to another area

So 1 hour of studying completed today which makes it 6 and half hours out of 72 hours total.

3 out of 100 coaching sessions completed by the end of the year!

I have something in mind for after the Christmas period so am studying a huge amount at the moment myself.

I take it you weren't Partizan?! ♦ That's quite a result, is your team that good then? I confess I don't know of them much.

Originally posted by gadget51
I have something in mind for after the Christmas period so am studying a huge amount at the moment myself.
I take it you weren't Partizan?! ♦ That's quite a result, is your team that good then? I confess I don't know of them much.

Tell me more about that plan please!

I am Partizan fan man come on!!! The whole point of that video is to show despite a high record 4-0 loss at home, fans stayed and sang to the players. We are crazy like that ♦
Also, IvicaIliev77, my nick here and on Poker Stars used to play for Partizan Belgrade and he took us twice to Champions League group stages (once beating Newcastle and once vs Anderlecht).

Originally posted by gadget51
That's quite a result, is your team that good then? I confess I don't know of them much.

Well, Besiktas is 68th in the 5-year UEFA rankings and Partizan is 124th, but still the result is a shocker.

The only other Serbian team that is remotely strong by European standards is Crvena Zvezda (meaning 'Red Star', pronounced 'tsr-r-rvena', with a stress on the rolling 'r', that's how the Serbian language works ), but unfortunately, it has been excluded by UEFA from the 2014/15 CL

Matches between Partizan and Crvena Zvezda are known as 'The Eternal Derby', one of the most exciting derbies in Europe, especially because the home stadiums of the teams in Belgrade are only ~400 m away from each other.

72 Days Study Challenge

Day 6

- One more hour invested in studying today and finished with basic part of one of the advanced edge studies
- Already feeling very confident with 7 and a half hours of study invested in this edge
- Look forward to future hours that will be dedicated towards advanced part of the study (even more in depth)

Coached 2 sessions also today which makes it 5 out of 100 sessions until end of the year!

So 1 hour of studying completed today which makes it 7 and half hours out of 72 hours total.

Spent most of the day relaxing, watched Jagodina Partizan (we lost 1-0, very difficult game good job for Jagodina) and will soon go for some grocery shopping.
Look forward going to bed earlier tonight as tomorrow I have CrossFit booked in the morning and it will be very difficult training.

Enjoy remaining of the weekend on and off the tables!

72 Days Study Challenge

Day 7

- Another hour of study completed!
- This hour felt longest and had difficult time figuring out some things during it
- I am happy that 95% of lay out for advanced study of the advance edge is all set
- In the future hours I will aim to fill in and pay attention to all the things that come up
- I estimate another 5 to 10 hours to fill all this advanced info and start applying it in the games
- I expect within month or so when this edge sinks to start actually materializing on it

Also coached 2 sessions today so that is 7 out of 100 sessions by the end of the year!

8 and a half hours completed out of 72 total!

I skipped CrossFit training today as I had my day full with life related activities. Tomorrow I have morning training followed by lunch with family and session. Very early I have another session scheduled. So the way things look tomorrow another 2 hours for coaching , finding one hour for studying minimum and preparing to hit back the tables to hit those 6k games until end of the year!

Things that I am thinking/obsessing every single day for which I try to find solution for :
- Automated coaching
To book and find time to do all the necessary videos and assignments along for them. Right now end of the year is coming, one of the students will try to play on his own from January. I invest a lot of hours in coaching my students and don't plan to drop those. CrossFit takes up time; my new/old daily habit for studying is taking 1 hour a day for past week; I sleep 7-8 hours a day to recover; Eating frequently takes time; Hanging with best friend for coffee takes time - Add to that grinding and its full day.

I see couple of solutions in this situation :

1) Decrease grind, use hours from my own grinding for recording videos
Short term this is -EV play but long term this would be very much +EV move cause future generations of students that would go through my program will have automated coaching and become winners at their own pace which would also give me more free time for other life activities.

2) Do less coaching, use those hours to record videos
I know my students wouldn't take this decision bad in any way since they know I have so far taught them once to twice a week on average plus am always available on Skype responding to them. Still, I don't won't to restrict any of them for sessions because investing time in people and giving back huge value to my students is what makes me happy and keeps them happy and coming for more. So this is least likely option for me.

3) No socializing with best friends, use that time for recording videos
This looked from business side could be +EV in both ways but from my personal point of view is absolutely not necessary. 2 years ago I was into fanatic mode, poker whole day and didn't spend time with my best friend then because of it. I don't need to do it ever again nor plan to. The solution would be some sort of middle ground. Meet with him every other day, use the days that we don't meet to record videos and even times we meet record videos with him (he will learn a lot of things along the way). So adjusting our hanging out seems like the most +EV decision and will look making this reality soon.

4) Sleep less (6 hours a day) and use that additional 1 or 2 hours for recording videos
Short term this is -EV for my health and work out routine. Business wise this can be very much +EV considering that these videos have to be recorded once and when that is done I can revert back to my 7-8 hours sleep a day pattern. So this seems like another option worth implementing.

The most important thing is doubt that I have in my mind.
I am in doubt if I should settle for 1 video a week or doing as many videos as possible as soon as possible !
1 video per week is doable project and I can certainly find time for it. The problem is it will take forever to fill in the whole database with those baby steps which doesn't resolve lack of hours in my day within 2-3 months but more like year from now.
2nd approach, recording as many as videos as soon as possible is +EV for automated coaching but actually makes my current time management a mess.
Something has to give and I will most likely do combination of following 3 things to maximize on current time management activities:

1) Decrease grind target and allocate additional hours for recording videos (would say like 1 hour per day extra = 30 hours per month)
2) Hanging out with best friend, use at least 50% of that time for doing video recording (15 hours per month)
3) Use time before the bed additional 30 minutes or so to prepare notes and script for the video to be recorded (15 hours total)
Combining these 3 things should give me additional 60 hours per month. November and December without day brake is 120 hours. If I do take some brake, lets say 100 hours remaining.
That is more then enough to record 50 videos professionally, prepare them before hand with all the assignments and to begin with automation project in January!

- Socializing
I have so many people in my life, not just in my town but from all over the world. I have to and want to find additional time to socialize with them both live and online. Some of them are abroad so keeping in touch via Skype frequently is something I plan to implement. Not to even mention girls

Plan is to free up time with automated coaching and use that time for future girlfriend and music. Hopefully that will work out from January !

Enjoy your week on and off the tables!

Originally posted by IvicaIliev77

Things that I am thinking/obsessing every single day for which I try to find solution for :
- Automated coaching
To book and find time to do all the necessary videos and assignments along for them.

You cram more into a day then I do in a week, so maybe I am not best one to offer advice here, but I am going to anyways...

Solutions 1 and 2 seem to make most sense to me - if you decrease grind 1 hour/day and decrease coaching 1 hour/day that gives you 10-15 hours a week to produce videos - that's about 5 videos a week... (not sure how long it takes you to produce these videos - you seem to suggest 100 hours would let you get in 50 videos so ~2 hours per video).

If your students are going through 5 videos a week - really absorbing the content, applying it, testing it, following up with you on their questions, etc... - they must be freaking geniuses... so if you can output 5 videos a week you should be ahead of the demand. You'd also be done in about 3 months - which is pretty close to your target anyways.

I would suggest avoiding solution 3. From what I can gather from your blog, you thrive as a social animal and care about maintaining close relationships - too many people sacrifice this in their lives for less worthy ambitions.

I would also avoid solution 4. Far too many people under-estimate the value of sleep and the effect it has not only on performance, focus, memory retention and recall, but also on mood, mental and physical health and relationships.

Just my view from the outside looking in - I'm confident you'll find a solution that works for you. Best of luck on this very interesting project.

Originally posted by Ramble

Originally posted by IvicaIliev77

Things that I am thinking/obsessing every single day for which I try to find solution for :
- Automated coaching
To book and find time to do all the necessary videos and assignments along for them.

You cram more into a day then I do in a week, so maybe I am not best one to offer advice here, but I am going to anyways...

Solutions 1 and 2 seem to make most sense to me - if you decrease grind 1 hour/day and decrease coaching 1 hour/day that gives you 10-15 hours a week to produce videos - that's about 5 videos a week... (not sure how long it takes you to produce these videos - you seem to suggest 100 hours would let you get in 50 videos so ~2 hours per video).

If your students are going through 5 videos a week - really absorbing the content, applying it, testing it, following up with you on their questions, etc... - they must be freaking geniuses... so if you can output 5 videos a week you should be ahead of the demand. You'd also be done in about 3 months - which is pretty close to your target anyways.

I would suggest avoiding solution 3. From what I can gather from your blog, you thrive as a social animal and care about maintaining close relationships - too many people sacrifice this in their lives for less worthy ambitions.

I would also avoid solution 4. Far too many people under-estimate the value of sleep and the effect it has not only on performance, focus, memory retention and recall, but also on mood, mental and physical health and relationships.

Just my view from the outside looking in - I'm confident you'll find a solution that works for you. Best of luck on this very interesting project.

Ramble thanks for sharing your opinion man, really appreciate it.
You have certainly brought some good points and I am already aware of them.

I have decided to do following things by the end of the year:

1) Stop CrossFit and work out at home to save 1/2 time invested in it
Instead of 6 hours a week minimum investment, 28+ hours a month, I will work out at home by January 3 times a week with more intense workouts that last shorter. This will make my workout + shower 1 hour total instead of 2 hours. So I will save 14 hours per month which will in return give me additional time to record 5-7 videos per month.

Exercises that I will do at home will consist of Burpees; Push Ups; Squats; Sit Ups; Stand Ups; Dips and some additional exercises for abs and extensions for Squats. Each training will be 15-30 minutes long with HIIT and will try to remain number of repetitions and total number of each completed. For example start with 50 of each (push ups , squats, burpess) and try within 2 months or 24 trainings to hit 70 of each etc.
I think this way I can maintain or even keep loosing weight (83kgs now) but still stay in very solid shape! I will also save along the way 50 euros by the end of the year which additional plus.

2) Use half of the time with my friend to record videos together!
Already discussed it with him today and he is all for it! So we will use time we spend even more productively creating videos and automated coaching that will hopefully change future of coming and uprising SNG professionals!

3) I will keep coaching same number of hours
My students deserve best treatment and more - it is because I treat them all with respect and care and wish them only the best. Taking away time would not be nice and don't feel good personally doing it.

4) Grind will decrease by 1 hour a day!
This will bring me additional 60 hours or so by the end of the year which will be enough for 30 or so videos!!!

So to sum things up

Sleeping and coaching will stay the same!CrossFit will turn into home work out to save 1/2 of the time in transport; Grind will decrease 1 hour and hanging with best friend 1/2 time will be used to do the videos.
These 3 things combined should bring by the end of the year 100 or so additional hours which should be more then enough to do 50 videos !

I look forward starting with this project within next 2-3 days. I will spend tonight before bed time to pick some topics and start doing script + power point for the actual video recording!

72 Days Study Challenge

Day 8

- Study habit is coming back and feeling very natural right now!
- Completed 1 and a half hour today with 2 x 45 minutes studying with brakes in between
- Completed 1 scenario for advance part of the advance edge
- Also worked on different edge to expand my knowledge in that new area also
- Feeling more confident as each day comes and look forward to every new studying session
- Hunger for knowledge and studying is back !
- Future hours will be dedicated to finish 1st this advanced part of the advance edge and then the remaining areas will just get easier after this is completed

So invested 1 and a half hour today in studying which makes it total 10 out of 72 hours!

Also taught 2 coaching sessions today which makes it 9 out of 100 session total!

Remaining part of the day will use for following activities

- Consider grinding???
- If not grind then use to do some power point for video(s) and scripting
- Prepare couple of videos for future recording
- Spend time with my brother and best friend

Enjoy your day on and off the tables!

Originally posted by IvicaIliev77
2) Use half of the time with my friend to record videos together!
Already discussed it with him today and he is all for it! So we will use time we spend even more productively creating videos and automated coaching that will hopefully change future of coming and uprising SNG professionals!

If he's not going to take any share of your future coaching revenue in return for his collaboration, then he's indeed your best friend

Originally posted by tonypmm

Originally posted by IvicaIliev77
2) Use half of the time with my friend to record videos together!
Already discussed it with him today and he is all for it! So we will use time we spend even more productively creating videos and automated coaching that will hopefully change future of coming and uprising SNG professionals!

If he's not going to take any share of your future coaching revenue in return for his collaboration, then he's indeed your best friend

Great point Tony!

He is definitely not going to take any share but I believe that within 6 months time he will be more qualified to coach micro and low stakes then anyone I know right now. And as a reminder he started from January from absolutely zero but is very hard working and developed strong habit to review study and work on his game daily. The only downside is that he has to develop even stronger mental game (don't we all?!?) and increase table count (currently plays 5-6 tables) in order to grind more games and make more $ per hour.
His progress so far has been phenomenal and he works at least 3 times more then anybody I have meet and coached so far. He is destined to make and he already has (made close to 1.5k$ within 10 months from total zero and very low grind volume).
So don't be surprised if and when I make an announcement that he became vital part of my program as coach for future crushers to be!!!

Still haven't talked to him about this all yet because I don't won't to put additional pressure on him. I predict by June next year that he will crush 7s, be super confident in his abilities and knowledge and then it will be right time to talk to him about this. Until then he has to stay on the ground, keep working on the game and increase grind + table count and I have no doubts about his future in poker.

Some great news!

Finished scripting and whole power point presentation for 1 video tonight!
My best friend was here also, watching and giving his feedback asking questions along the way. It took me less then 40 minutes to prepare whole power point and with all the slides + additional notes in note pad on 2nd monitor.
Tomorrow I will try to record a video either early morning; before grinding or before bed!
I am very happy to get started on this awesome project and simply don't want to postpone it any further. The sooner I get to scripting and recording videos, sooner it will be done and ready for all the future and current students!

Some of the things planned for tomorrow
- 2 coaching sessions until 1:30pm
- Perhaps finish recording the video 10-11am or later during the day
- Family lunch
- Study 1 hour (start filling in 2nd scenario for advanced study)
- Watch Partizan Belgrade vs OFK Belgrade 5 to 7pm
- Grind after the game 2 sessions of 50 games each or so
* Ideally squeeze in somewhere home work out of 15 minute time cap for maximum reps burpees push ups and squats. If not tomorrow , complete this workout on Thursday as one of the priorities!!!*

Originally posted by IvicaIliev77
- Watch Partizan Belgrade vs OFK Belgrade 5 to 7pm
* Ideally squeeze in somewhere home work out of 15 minute time cap for maximum reps burpees push ups and squats. If not tomorrow , complete this workout on Thursday as one of the priorities!!!*

Can't you work out during the match (esp a Superleague one )? Replays exist for this very purpose - so that people do smth else with no fear of missing a critical moment.

Originally posted by tonypmm

Originally posted by IvicaIliev77
- Watch Partizan Belgrade vs OFK Belgrade 5 to 7pm
* Ideally squeeze in somewhere home work out of 15 minute time cap for maximum reps burpees push ups and squats. If not tomorrow , complete this workout on Thursday as one of the priorities!!!*

Can't you work out during the match (esp a Superleague one )? Replays exist for this very purpose - so that people do smth else with no fear of missing a critical moment.

Absolutely not!
When I watch Partizan Belgrade I get into zone where I don't allow any outside world interference nor distractions

I could possibly do a workout during half time but then shower has to wait after 2nd half is finished

1st Automation Video Completed!!!

Video is 12 minutes long, includes theory as well as 4 types of assignments. Topics are very interesting and needed for all poker players regardless of their game type.

I look forward getting feedback from my current students on this, to see if I am on the right track with it!

Also coached 2 sessions today and will now work on my game 1 hour and then grind 1 2 hour or so session.

Have a good day on and off the tables!

P.S. Will update 72 days study challenge at the end of the day!

72 Days Study Challenge

Day 9

- Did 1 hour of study today
- Completed 2nd scenario of advance part of advance edge
- Very interesting things are starting to appear and are already helping me for future games
- In following 10 or so hours will finish with this edge and be ready to move on to new area!

11 study hours completed out of 72 hours set!

11 sessions out of 100 completed!

1 out of 50 automated coaching videos completed!

About to grind 1 session mixing 15s and 30s turbos.

Enjoy your day on and off the tables!

Rise and shine!

Just finished home work out so officially started doing CrossFit at home today!

Here are some goals I listed until the end of the year on 21th of October. I also added how much was accomplished so far!

- 11 out of 72 study hours
- 50 out of 6000 games total grind
- 11 out of 100 hours/coaching sessions
- 1 out of 30 CrossFit trainings
- 1 video for Poker Strategy
- 1 out of 10 videos for automated coaching/staking system

For the remaining of the day, 2 coaching sessions set, working on the game 1 hour, grinding minimum 2x50 games sessions. If there will be some extra time left, to script the video for next recording tomorrow.

Enjoy your day on and off the tables!