One of my favorite lines to repeat to myself in times of strife or indecision is “everybody wants to be a hero, but nobody wants to do the work.” When I was younger, I used to think ‘the work’ meant the physical labor of any given task – writing the blog, running around the block, analyzing hand-ranges – but the older I get, the more I realize that the real work is what happens on the inside.
The pursuit of poker as a career is as much about introspection and self-awareness as it is about skill development, if not more so. And while it’s important to consider “hard skills” such as game selection, 3-betting ranges, and bankroll management, let me share with you three questions that will hopefully offer insight into whether your “soft skills” are ready for going pro.
Do I flourish in uncertainty?
In the realm of professional poker, uncertainty is not an occasional challenge; it is the very essence of the game. Success in poker hinges not just on our ability to make the right calls, but on weathering the storms of variance when they inevitably strike.
Flourishing in uncertainty means being able to find calmness in moments that trigger others, to embrace the unknown with curiosity rather than fear, and to see each hand – each session – as a puzzle to be solved rather than a verdict on our worthiness or abilities. This resilience – the release of attachment to short term results – is ultimately what separates those who play the game from those who beat it.
Can I find joy in defeat?
You don’t have to enjoy losing, but you do have to find joy among it.
You have to find enough joy during defeat to take care of your body.
You have to find enough joy after a bad session to continue fostering deeper connections with friends and family.
You have to find enough joy during a downswing for things that aren’t poker – so that your world doesn’t shrink too small.
It’s in finding joy among these tests of “defeat” that we cultivate resilience and truly prepare ourselves for the sometimes-gruelling path of a life as a professional poker player.
Do I have discipline for things l don’t enjoy?
Ask yourself: Do I exercise when I don’t feel like moving? Can I still eat healthy when my body is craving nothing but the endorphins of sugar? Can I actually sit down and complete that darn form that requires filing even though it’s the last thing I want to do?
If the answer is no, that’s okay. Like everything else in life, discipline is a work in progress. Far more important than “can I complete the task?” is “can I start it?” As the book Atomic Habits outlines so profoundly:
“All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow.”
Can I review just one hand history before I rush into the thrill of the action? Can I sit out for just one orbit to give my nervous system time to reset? Can I do just one minute of cardio before starting the next marathon session?
As Atomic Habits outlines, the goal isn’t to build the habit itself, but to build the habit of building habits. So begin by attacking things you don’t enjoy with even the smallest measure of discipline – and then do it again the next day. And then the one after that.
“If you’re willing to suffer, and I mean suffer, your brain and body once connected together, can do anything.” ~ David Goggins
If I can embrace the uncertainty of a life of passion, if I can find joy within defeat, if I can build a little discipline in the face of internal resistance, then – and most likely only then given a long enough timeline – am I truly ready to give the life of a poker player my highest-equity try.
Because, at the end of the day, what else can I ask of myself?
Do good. Be good. And let the chips fall where they may.
Will Watson is a writer, amateur poker player and enthusiastic student of the human mind.
Contact me at: willwatsonpoker@gmail.com
