When you expect to be successful competing in the online poker arena, you have to treat your time at the virtual poker table as if you were at a job you love. At the same time, you have to educate your family that you are actually going to work when you sit down in front of your computer.Have you ever found yourself deep in a tournament online poised to make some good money and realized the kids would be home shortly and you had not started dinner? Have you unexpectedly reached the final table where every second counts and had your life partner impatiently show up at the door and ask, "Are we going or not?"
In order to be effective, you have to set yourself up for success. You have to make a plan and stick to it.
1. Set your intention. This is all a part of taking your online poker seriously and preparing to succeed. When you intend simply to kill some time, you will likely throw off your money. When you intend on winning, it literally changes your focus and your commitment. The simple fact is that you have a higher probability of winning when you set your intention to win.
2. Make a schedule that works for you, and put that schedule in writing. There is something very powerful about actually writing down what you plan on doing. In the process, it serves to strengthen your intention of being a winning poker player.
3. Be realistic about your schedule. Since most people are doing poker online part time, ask yourself, "How much time can I dedicate to my poker each day?" If you determine you can allocate two hours, five days a week of uninterrupted time, make that your window of opportunity. If, however, you decide that your personal and family demands allow you to spend five hours twice a week, make that your objective.
4. Select events that fit your schedule. Pick the type of event where you have had the most success that fit within your timeline. If you don't really know where you have been the most successful, or you are just starting out, keep good records. If you can set aside 10 hours each week to your online play, you will likely start to identify the profile of your most profitable game within a month.
5. Educate your family that you are serious. When you take your game more seriously, it will be apparent to your family that this is not a passing fancy. Your actions tell your family that your poker is not just a hobby. Poker is a game of skill, and you mean business.
Until next time, remember my motto.
When you can't raise, don't call.