Thoughts about poker and success (mainly for college students)

[stillbr]

Lately I have been thinking alot about my future. One year ago I would have said my plan was to become a proefssional poker player. Six months ago I would have said "I hope to get a normal job, but I doubt I can get anything that will pay me near as well as poker will, so I will most likely end up becoming a pro out of college." Three months ago I would have said "Poker is good for me, I will just try to get a nice job that I like out of college. If its low paying, thats ok becasue I can use poker as a second job to suppliment my income." Today I think somthing along the lines of this... "I really need to focus on school and other activities that will help me get a good job when I graduate college. I dont want to rely on poker at all. I would much rather it be somthing fun that I never am "forced to play". I want to continue to have poker as a hobby, but by no means do I want to rely on it for income."

I am convinced that if most of the college students on this board focused as much on school and life as much as they do poker, they could achieve great success in the business world. Think of it like this. This board has alot of the top 18-22 yr old poker players in the world. These 18-22 yearolds could achieve the same success in other areas if they shifted their focus. I also have no doubt that many of the 20 somthigns with high 5, and 6 figure bankrolls will realize 10 years down the road what kind of opportunities they had when they were younger, that now have passed them by.

This is not a flame towards the very successful young players on this board. It is just somthign to think about.

[ggbman]

This is very true. I am very confident that if i applied myself to school and studied more, and then continued to do so at my job, it would parlay me into a sucessful career in business. The problem, so much of the schoolwork we do is fluff. It either isn't neccesary, we spend to much time on it, or it's review.

It's difficult for me to muter up the same desire when the results are sooooo long term AND the matieral just doesn't interest me as much. What's more than likely is that i wll try to do what i need to get by and keep my scholarship (3.3 gpa or higher) and take the est as it comes.

Gabe

[random]

Most of them are doing something they enjoy. If they were to complete school and explore other career choices, poker would be the opportunity they shouldn't have passed up.

[edge]

I think it would be great if I could get a real job in a field I'm interested in and supplement my income with poker (hopefully it's still around in 10 years).

[jfresh]

i agree with a lot of what you said. playing poker as your primary source of income is so different from playing it for fun. i upped my hours a week for around 6 weeks this summer while i had the time, and it really burned me out. it definitely can never be my job because i would go crazy.

also, college is supposed to be one of the best times of your life, and sitting in front of your computer all day should not be a part of it. so right now i still play, but i make sure it is my lowest priority; school and friends and everything comes first.

however, i do think that playing poker now is still worthwhile. because of the poker boom, there are just so many people basically giving away their money. when else in life can you make a few hundred dollars sitting in your room, whenever you feel like it? also there are so many students working long hours for $10-15 dollars an hour. we should feel lucky we can make what we do with the hassles of a schedule and commute and dealing with customers.

[imported_CaseClosed326]

I am a sophmore in college and still trying to figure out how poker might fit in my life once I am on the outside. It seems I can make a decent income, but by no means can I do this for a living. I guess I will figure it out next summer when it becomes my summer job.

[STLantny]

I was going to post the exact same thing the OP did, now I dont gotta, thanks.

[DMBFan23]

I enjoy playing poker, though I've been playing less lately. but, I am so glad I didnt find it until I graduated college.

[stillbr]

[ QUOTE ]

however, i do think that playing poker now is still worthwhile. because of the poker boom, there are just so many people basically giving away their money. when else in life can you make a few hundred dollars sitting in your room, whenever you feel like it? also there are so many students working long hours for $10-15 dollars an hour. we should feel lucky we can make what we do with the hassles of a schedule and commute and dealing with customers.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah-- I wasnt saying poker didnt have its place. I've made more money playing a 'game' as my job while taking classes than I did while having a relitively well-paying internship every other semester while not taking classes. Poker is very very very part time for me, and the internship was 40-50 hrs a week. Poker is a good thing. Poker consuming a college kids life is a very bad thing.

[jba]

[ QUOTE ]
I think it would be great if I could get a real job in a field I'm interested in and supplement my income with poker (hopefully it's still around in 10 years).

[/ QUOTE ]

hopefully the job/field is still around, or hopefully poker is?

[FourNickel]

I agree with OP. I am in college and can relate but think that poker will help you in business. Poker has got me interested in the stock market just to invest some profits at first. Then I realized the stock market is a game very similar to poker that can be played for profit, and if your good(which im not) you can make a lot more money then poker and with a lot less grinding. Get The Poker MBA if you want a good book that relates business to poker. I think Mason did a review on it in the books forum. Good post OP.

[billyjex]

This is becoming pretty real for me myself. I graduate in Spring 06, and realisticly could make about ~$100k a year playing shorthanded limit (thats to say if the games remain as good next year.)

My major (Journalism) will never pay that well in the real life, especially for someone like me who went to crappy state college. I know when I run well the thought of playing poker for a living seems pretty cool. Also, I played in the main event this year and the glitz and glamour of making big money in tournament poker along with the limit grind is pretty appealing but possibly just a pipe dream.

I love the freedom, and I hate authority. I hate being told what to do. I in general despise the thought of the grind of a real job.

If anything, I will play full time upon graduation, while looking to intergrate poker and journalism together.

[Seether]

What limits are you playing? Im playing 20/40 and 30/60 and couldnt imagine making as much as im making from poker, i know it wont last which is why im investing. But if the poker fad wont last then why not milk it for all its worth now.

[john kane]

im in a similar boat. back in january when i had some exams at university i was close to packing in the degree to play poker.

im now so relieved i didnt. im tempted to try to not play for the first month when im back just so i can try and actually go to lectures and keep on top of my work (as well as a lot of chilling out and boozing).

im viewing it now as a hobby for when i graduated. probably a couple of nights a week ill go down the casino/poker club and play and enjoy it.

the money i could make out of online would be a decent amount, not as much as many who play the really high stakes. although going into business will be boring for a lot of the time, i'll appreciate actually putting my brain into something. online poker im finding incredibly monotonous - you know how to play almost all situations, it just gets dull, but the money is hard to resist.

ill leave it at that before i ramble anymore, but im just so relieved im getting a degree which is going to leave me with at least some options rather than the online poker.

actually, one extra id like to add, recently ive been wondering what i'd do after university, and i had been thinking about taking a year out to travel to 3/4 cities in different continents with the money ill hopefully make over the next couple of years and while i was playing during the year. just a thought. but one ive now decided not to do, and i cant pinpoint why.

[POKhER]

If i can make 100K+ at poker a year i will be taking a year out to play it none stop, this capital will be AMAZINGLY HELPFULL in my future(House purchase for exam).

Losing a year for that would be worth it. However, Right now im at college and trying to balance studying and playing poker in my spare time.

I haven't studied today though, as i wanted to play /images/graemlins/frown.gif

[Mister Z]

I graduated from college and have a "real" job now. If I was making 100K a year playing poker I'd tell my boss to lick my balls and then haul ass.