So, a bit belated but I have finally decided to set some goals for 2014. I will set goals for both poker as well as life in general, in hope that I can become that 'well-oiled machine' we all strive to be.
Poker: Goals will be ranked in order of importance#1 - Improve - A friend just asked me why I am not yet playing on my own money and still being backed for MTTs online as I can now afford to go solo; not at the ABI I currently am, however enough to make a reasonable hourly. It took me a few minutes to think about it, but I gave him the honest answer - that I still don't feel that I'm where I want to be in the game - and in order to speed up the learning process I need to play at a higher buy-in level (which I can do backed). At present, I feel I'm at about 80% the way to where I want to be when going on my own.
#2 - 6 figure score (closest to date: $58.8k) - It only seems fitting I have this as my 2nd most important goal, seeing as though a five figure score was my 2nd most important goal for 2013 (and was one which I managed to achieve 4 times!). The bigger scores have really seemed to be eluding me in the sense of the amounts of sweats I have in comparison to the amount of conversions I make. This year I plan to change that!
#3 - $250k profits (Sharkscope) by 31st December 2014 - My tracked player group currently stands at:
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Total game count is now 6.5k due to my SS being unlocked (I was ~+$5k over 2k games at the time of locking on stars), have lost a similar amount to that since the turn of the year to compensate therefore profit figure is correct. #4 - Top 100 Worldwide / Top 10 UK on Pocketfives - This will be a super hard goal to achieve as it will require not only dedication to the grind, but a big % of the time; me playing my A game and as well as improving a fair to great deal. My all time high is 624th Worldwide. I'm currently ranked 667th Worldwide and 64th in the UK. (I'm also looking for people to lay me odds on me making this in 2014 so hit me up with them guys).
#5 - Win a major live tournament - My definition of 'major live tournament' is probably different to other peoples, but basically I want to win a tournament with a prizepool which exceeds £50k. If this happens I will consider this goal a success!
#6 - Play an EPT - The WSOP is well out of reach for me at the minute due to the immense cost / time... ect. Therefore the EPT will have to do. Since I gained an interest in poker, I've always viewed the EPT as one of the most prestigious tournaments out there, it would be an honour to play one.
#7 - Travel to at least 3 countries to play poker - This is a really strange goal for me to set as, as a child, I was never one to enjoy travelling / holidaying. I was content in my life and happy where I was. However as I've got older, I've learned to love exploring; seeing different parts of the world / other cultures. I now find it fascinating, therefore my goal to travel to at least 3 different countries to play poker is very exciting to me! (I currently already planning to attend the 'Irish Open 2014' due to winning a satellite via the Titan Poker skin on iPoker - so 1 down 2 to go!).
Moving on...
Life:Again; goals to be ranked in order of importance.#1 - Be happy - This is as simple as it gets. I want to be happy; in my relationship, in what I do (poker), in myself. The second I'm unhappy in any of these, I'll reassess and from whatever happens from then on, happens!
#2 - Get fit (again) - Throughout my life, I've always been one of those people who do things to excess and possibly obsession (which probably isn't a good thing but not one I'd change about myself as it allows me to focus on what is important to me at the time). I've just this second hopped on and off the bathroom scales and if correct; I weigh in at 12 st 7 lbs. Not too bad but not great either. Throughout my childhood I was always in and out of fitness (the majority the former), and up until my mid / early late teens was playing football to quite a high standard (for Nottingham Forrest Academy). I've now decided to get back into football (although in a more fun environment over serious) as me and some friends have just created a 6-a-side football team - which should help with the fitness. I plan to get to the gym 6 days a week, as well as going on runs after my MTT grind (something I used to always do when I first started playing MTTs full time.
#3 - Have money put away / Have investments outside of Poker - The year will tell how successful I have been at achieving this goal. I'm not going to put a public figure on the amount I want saved / in investments (although I know myself) however come the end of the year I will be totally to whether I have achieved this or not.
That's about it. It seems very strange to have 7 goals for Poker and only 3 for Life, but that's just the way it is!
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