Goals and Expectations

Posted by icemonkey9 on Jul 7, 2010 in mental game | 0 comments

One of the major concepts that I took from my session with mental game coach Jared Tendler is that I need to set real goals and perhaps more importantly, set expectations. I think setting expectations is really important for me and what goes with that exercise is managing my comparisons to those I play with and know in the game. So, I have Goals on one side of the dance floor and Expectations on the other.

Goals - meet Expectations. Expectations - meet Goals. You two will make a very happy couple if the mood is right!

So with goals come direction, so I think I need to set some very constructive and quantitative items. I'm thinking of doing something along the lines of:

• Mental Coaching Reflection exercise (daily?)
• Hand History Review (weekly?)
• Video watching (weekly?)
• Get poker coaching (weekly?)
• Pick one site to play on (Cake? PS? FTP? AP?)
• Pick one game to play (NLHE? PLO?)
• Pick one format to play (HU? 6max? FR?)
• Set my poker playing schedule a week in advance for set dedicated poker time

So I haven't been thinking about the answers to the questions about goals, so much as I have been thinking of what the questions should be before I try to start answering them.  I think that I need to think about these questions, see if there are any more that need to be asked and then start the reflection period on what the answers are going to be.

In terms of expectations, I need to really set what I expect to happen within the boundaries of a range.  I can't say, "Well I expect to set all these things in motion and then let the profits explode!" because that's stupid.  The more I think about setting expectation, the more I think it's probably about determining what NOT to expect.  The ride won't be smooth.  There will be variance, there will be -EV runs there will be periods of regression in my game.  I can't expect everything to just fall into place, it just doesn't happen that way.  So, perhaps that's a good expectation to set.

In the next few days I hope to figure out all the questions and then answer them.  I am eager to get back into the swing of cash game online poker but honestly now would be such a terrible time since I am out at the World Series of Poker and covering the Main Event.  I have some great stories to share and some pics I took with my iPhone that I hope to post.  Frankly, I am too tired to go through all that lol - so hey - you'll just have to wait for more good stuff here on the blog.

Until then my friends, I wish you good mental health!