Just the initial stuff that I'll be hammering out in further detail over the next few days:
1) Have all of my current debts paid by 12/31/10
2) Purchase a new motherboard/processor/video card for my computer by 1/15/11
3) Learn enough to beat 100NL at 5bb/100 by 3/31/11
4) Remove all unhealthy foods from my regular diet by 12/31/10
5) Complete the first Pimsleur Japanese series by 12/15/10
6) Have my apartment cleaned by 11/30/10
Obviously, some of these are actually sub-goals of a larger objective (which I should spell out), and all of them need action steps put into place for their achievement. All of them are doable with some dedication and effort.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Notes: Shuffle and Flow #4
Shuffle and Flow #4
---------
Goal Setting
** The reason most people never reach their goals is that they never really define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable.
Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them. **
-----
The Goal Setting Process -
(Sample goal - I want to get in shape)
The problem with this goal is that it is far too vague to have any actual direction. You won't know where to place your effort and what steps to take.
Define further - (I want to lose fat)
This is an improvement, in that we now know what types of resources to seek out, but...
Define further - (I want to lose 20 pounds of fat in 8 weeks)
Now we know how much we want to lose and how quickly we want to do it. We can now measure our progress, which is important. The more specific we are, the better we can define how close we are to our goals.
All goals should be:
Specific
Measurable
have a Deadline
If we fail to achieve a goal, we know that either:
Our goal was unrealistic, or
Our strategy was ineffective.
Next Stage - (I want to lose 20 pounds of fat in 8 weeks by reducing my calorie intake and increasing the intensity and duration of my regular exercise. I'll be doing cardio 4x a week and engaging in resistance training after each session. I'll be following a program laid out for me by a qualified professional.)
Now we've begun the process of breaking a long-term goal down into shorter term goals - losing 20 pounds of fat/8weeks turns into 4 cardio/weight sessions.
Break your goals down into smaller, actionable steps - as far as is necessary to fit them into the everyday routine of the To Do list.
-----
Task-based goals -
Require yourself to do a certain amount of studying, discussion, etcetera...
-----
Surround yourself with other poker players who are as ambitious as you are.
-----
Homework - Diet for an average day - Log three days of food
---------
Goal Setting
** The reason most people never reach their goals is that they never really define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable.
Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them. **
-----
The Goal Setting Process -
(Sample goal - I want to get in shape)
The problem with this goal is that it is far too vague to have any actual direction. You won't know where to place your effort and what steps to take.
Define further - (I want to lose fat)
This is an improvement, in that we now know what types of resources to seek out, but...
Define further - (I want to lose 20 pounds of fat in 8 weeks)
Now we know how much we want to lose and how quickly we want to do it. We can now measure our progress, which is important. The more specific we are, the better we can define how close we are to our goals.
All goals should be:
Specific
Measurable
have a Deadline
If we fail to achieve a goal, we know that either:
Our goal was unrealistic, or
Our strategy was ineffective.
Next Stage - (I want to lose 20 pounds of fat in 8 weeks by reducing my calorie intake and increasing the intensity and duration of my regular exercise. I'll be doing cardio 4x a week and engaging in resistance training after each session. I'll be following a program laid out for me by a qualified professional.)
Now we've begun the process of breaking a long-term goal down into shorter term goals - losing 20 pounds of fat/8weeks turns into 4 cardio/weight sessions.
Break your goals down into smaller, actionable steps - as far as is necessary to fit them into the everyday routine of the To Do list.
-----
Task-based goals -
Require yourself to do a certain amount of studying, discussion, etcetera...
-----
Surround yourself with other poker players who are as ambitious as you are.
-----
Homework - Diet for an average day - Log three days of food
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Notes: Shuffle and Flow #3
Shuffle and Flow ep 3
-----
Time management -
** Time = Life.
Therefore, you have two choices: Waste your time and waste your life, or master your time and master your life. **
** Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of. One man gets only a week's value out of a year, while another man gets a full year's value out of a week. **
Most people underestimate how much time and effort goes into being an elite level competitor - they put in more effort and take in more information in a day than most do in a week or a month.
He who manages his time best, wins.
To be the best, you have to outwork the rest.
When you manage your time better, you will be able to relax more in the downtime - because you'll know you've dealt with what you needed to deal with.
To Do List Template -
Include even the most obvious things on your list - meals, work, shower, study time, poker sessions, blog posting.
By including tasks from a wide section of life, it makes it easier to check things off through the day and making it psychologically easier to do things on the list.
If you fail to complete a task, circle it at the end of the day and mark it down on the list for the next day.
Assign priorities to your tasks - 1,2,3,4... - and attempt to complete them in that order.
Homework::
Write down your goals for your life about anything - a minimum of five. Take some time and think about each goal before adding it to the list.
-----
Time management -
** Time = Life.
Therefore, you have two choices: Waste your time and waste your life, or master your time and master your life. **
** Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of. One man gets only a week's value out of a year, while another man gets a full year's value out of a week. **
Most people underestimate how much time and effort goes into being an elite level competitor - they put in more effort and take in more information in a day than most do in a week or a month.
He who manages his time best, wins.
To be the best, you have to outwork the rest.
When you manage your time better, you will be able to relax more in the downtime - because you'll know you've dealt with what you needed to deal with.
To Do List Template -
Include even the most obvious things on your list - meals, work, shower, study time, poker sessions, blog posting.
By including tasks from a wide section of life, it makes it easier to check things off through the day and making it psychologically easier to do things on the list.
If you fail to complete a task, circle it at the end of the day and mark it down on the list for the next day.
Assign priorities to your tasks - 1,2,3,4... - and attempt to complete them in that order.
Homework::
Write down your goals for your life about anything - a minimum of five. Take some time and think about each goal before adding it to the list.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Notes: Shuffle and Flow #2
Shuffle and Flow #2
-----
** The first step is admitting that you have a problem **
Game Film -
The ability to effectively analyze "game film" (videos, sweat sessions, critiques, talking about hands) is one of the most crucial skills, because it helps you to outline a path to improvement.
This includes analyzing yourself, analyze more skilled players, and breaking down your stronger opponents to find their weaknesses.
When watching a video or having a sweat session done - take notes, rewind and review important sections. Try to figure out what they are actually thinking. Review the notes a day or two later and make a list of things this tells you that you need to improve.
Keep a notepad at the computer to remind you of the leaks you're addressing.
Study with the intention of learning, not with the intention of receiving validation.
Go deep into any hand you need to analyze, including those that appear standard. Including those hands that turn out well for us - Just because we win the hand or the result is positive does not mean that we played well or optimally.
Pokertainment is not studying. Studying without a plan for retaining the information is not studying.
At my current level, I need to be both player and coach - I need to outline my own path to improvement, I need to gather the information. I need to discipline myself to following that path.
(This series is about building that path)
-----
Exercise and Assessment
What does poker mean to me? - Poker is a means to being my own boss and to financial independence. I dislike the concept of relying on a job or another person's evaluation of my worth or ability to pay me to determine my income. Poker is a harsh meritocracy, and that is a positive thing.
Why do I play? - To improve, and ultimately to be one of the best in the game.
What is my goal? - I want to be able to support myself in comfort without burning myself out on the game.
-----
Everybody wants to become better. What are you doing to become better?
Am I willing to make sacrifices to improve? WHAT SACRIFICES?
-----
Being aware of your leaks is the first step - identifying how you can close off these leaks is the next step.
-----
Homework assignment (27:00) -
In order to become the best player you can be, you need to optimize the use of each hour you have to work with.
** Write a daily to-do list for improvement.
** What does this do for you?
** How does it make you feel?
-----
** The first step is admitting that you have a problem **
Game Film -
The ability to effectively analyze "game film" (videos, sweat sessions, critiques, talking about hands) is one of the most crucial skills, because it helps you to outline a path to improvement.
This includes analyzing yourself, analyze more skilled players, and breaking down your stronger opponents to find their weaknesses.
When watching a video or having a sweat session done - take notes, rewind and review important sections. Try to figure out what they are actually thinking. Review the notes a day or two later and make a list of things this tells you that you need to improve.
Keep a notepad at the computer to remind you of the leaks you're addressing.
Study with the intention of learning, not with the intention of receiving validation.
Go deep into any hand you need to analyze, including those that appear standard. Including those hands that turn out well for us - Just because we win the hand or the result is positive does not mean that we played well or optimally.
Pokertainment is not studying. Studying without a plan for retaining the information is not studying.
At my current level, I need to be both player and coach - I need to outline my own path to improvement, I need to gather the information. I need to discipline myself to following that path.
(This series is about building that path)
-----
Exercise and Assessment
What does poker mean to me? - Poker is a means to being my own boss and to financial independence. I dislike the concept of relying on a job or another person's evaluation of my worth or ability to pay me to determine my income. Poker is a harsh meritocracy, and that is a positive thing.
Why do I play? - To improve, and ultimately to be one of the best in the game.
What is my goal? - I want to be able to support myself in comfort without burning myself out on the game.
-----
Everybody wants to become better. What are you doing to become better?
Am I willing to make sacrifices to improve? WHAT SACRIFICES?
-----
Being aware of your leaks is the first step - identifying how you can close off these leaks is the next step.
-----
Homework assignment (27:00) -
In order to become the best player you can be, you need to optimize the use of each hour you have to work with.
** Write a daily to-do list for improvement.
** What does this do for you?
** How does it make you feel?
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Notes: Shuffle and Flow #1
Time to start getting serious again. I'm once again employed, the finances will resolve themselves in a little over a month... so now I can get back to my studies.
Appropriately, one of the new series at DC is about success.
** The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare **
1) What do you do every day to prepare for poker
- Currently? Nothing. At my peak I was watching two videos a day and taking notes. Very little of my current focus is on what I need to be doing to be a successful poker player. That's about to change.
1a) How much time do you commit?
- About five hours a week, though it's a very unfocused stretch.
1b) What things are you doing exactly?
I'm watching videos in conjunction with the Mt. Robusto project and doing the occasional bit of analysis away from the table.
2a) What things could you be doing more of that you aren't doing enough of?
Huge laundry list
- playing poker
- watching and studying videos
- analyzing my results
- planning away from the table
- getting my mindset right and positive (I get frustrated too easily)
- being involved in conversations about the game in forums and on Skype
- getting Nan to watch me play ;-)
2b) What things should you be doing that you aren't doing at all?
- Watching others play live and having them do the same for me
2c) What are you doing that you should not be doing?
- Wasting time. I quite literally throw away the hour+ of time I spend to and from work, mostly on negative thoughts. I watch too much Youtube trash, read forums for games I don't even play any more... all of this doesn't even qualify as recreation. Just waste.
- Killing my own mindset. Negative thoughts, bitching about work and family. This can only have a bad impact on me.
Appropriately, one of the new series at DC is about success.
** The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare **
1) What do you do every day to prepare for poker
- Currently? Nothing. At my peak I was watching two videos a day and taking notes. Very little of my current focus is on what I need to be doing to be a successful poker player. That's about to change.
1a) How much time do you commit?
- About five hours a week, though it's a very unfocused stretch.
1b) What things are you doing exactly?
I'm watching videos in conjunction with the Mt. Robusto project and doing the occasional bit of analysis away from the table.
2a) What things could you be doing more of that you aren't doing enough of?
Huge laundry list
- playing poker
- watching and studying videos
- analyzing my results
- planning away from the table
- getting my mindset right and positive (I get frustrated too easily)
- being involved in conversations about the game in forums and on Skype
- getting Nan to watch me play ;-)
2b) What things should you be doing that you aren't doing at all?
- Watching others play live and having them do the same for me
2c) What are you doing that you should not be doing?
- Wasting time. I quite literally throw away the hour+ of time I spend to and from work, mostly on negative thoughts. I watch too much Youtube trash, read forums for games I don't even play any more... all of this doesn't even qualify as recreation. Just waste.
- Killing my own mindset. Negative thoughts, bitching about work and family. This can only have a bad impact on me.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Bungee poker
If I ever make a public blog, that'll be the name.
Yes, Variance is still kicking me in the ass. Down four buyins in an hour, KK into AA, JJ into KK BvB, QQ losing to the mighty 86s all in preflop...
Ah well, at least I had a strong run breaking up the continuous losing, so I'm in the black so far this month in spite of the losses. Will get back to it in a little bit, once I've let the emotions drain.
I'm actually happy with the progress I'm making on picking up on the hands of players. Still needs work and consistency, but the effort is in place.
Yes, Variance is still kicking me in the ass. Down four buyins in an hour, KK into AA, JJ into KK BvB, QQ losing to the mighty 86s all in preflop...
Ah well, at least I had a strong run breaking up the continuous losing, so I'm in the black so far this month in spite of the losses. Will get back to it in a little bit, once I've let the emotions drain.
I'm actually happy with the progress I'm making on picking up on the hands of players. Still needs work and consistency, but the effort is in place.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
An end to frustration
Need to get that post off the top of my screen.
Things recovered fairly well in the second half of last month - after bottoming out, I turned on a heater and peaked out at +30 buy-ins for the month
And then the next crash came. Still in it. Down about fifteen buy-ins since the peak as we come into August.
It's frustrating, yes. Can't win a race. People chasing bad draws and hitting without anything approaching the correct odds. Spike my set at the same time they spike their gutshot that didn't have the odds to call even if I didn't have two of his cards in my hand.
But I need my confidence now, more than ever. I've beaten these limits. I've beaten them badly. I can chip up just fine - I'm just losing when the big money goes in the middle.
And that turns around.
Hopefully soon.
Things recovered fairly well in the second half of last month - after bottoming out, I turned on a heater and peaked out at +30 buy-ins for the month
And then the next crash came. Still in it. Down about fifteen buy-ins since the peak as we come into August.
It's frustrating, yes. Can't win a race. People chasing bad draws and hitting without anything approaching the correct odds. Spike my set at the same time they spike their gutshot that didn't have the odds to call even if I didn't have two of his cards in my hand.
But I need my confidence now, more than ever. I've beaten these limits. I've beaten them badly. I can chip up just fine - I'm just losing when the big money goes in the middle.
And that turns around.
Hopefully soon.
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