Monday 17 January 2011

Progress Report

Hi all,

Quick update on my goals.

Playing amazing poker. I've had the two biggest tournament cashes of my life. I've been playing pretty well in the cash games too, although last few sessions have actually been negative. Some pretty bad beats, but after a hand review I can tell I'm letting fish get it all in and calling not with the total nuts. I rarely used to do that. Still, in terms of actual poker ability, I'm more or less at my peak now, and I believe the results will come.

I'm actually playing multiple table touranments better than ever before, and better than cash games sometimes. There are nuances within them I've learnt which most players at the stakes I play don't know. I intend to play quite a few 'UK and Ireland' events at PokerStars, as there's decent value there.

However, the way I'm feeling at the moment, I'm more inclined towards a sales or at least 'influencing people' job, with poker as a part time objective. Maybe it's the bad beats. I need to keep persisting with poker though, as I know I have some big scores in me!

Reach a high overall wealth. My shares have been performing pretty well so far this year, so I'm at my peak wealth now more or less. I think there are solid gains for them to come this year too! That sphere of my wealth should increase organically, and if I can get a good value price I'd like to buy some more shares fairly soon too. Poker and a few other activites have contributed to wealth growth too, but ideally I'd like to have a well paid sales job to really motor this along.

Perform superbly in sales. I haven't really had the opportunity to perform yet, which is a bit frustrating. I'm aiming to do everything to make this happen though.

Get to know more great people. Fairly pleased with how I'm doing on this one. Early days in the year yet, but I'm pretty happy with the people I know and am chatting to. Can always do more though! I'm at @MarkHowitt on Twitter and Mark Howitt on Facebook if you want to get to know me more.

And come to think of it, this website can help me with my goals too! So I'll try and provide some quality content here, and work on the design even though I'm no web guru. All part of making things happen!

Friday 7 January 2011

Trusting Your Instincts

So... my goals are going reasonably well for 2010 so far. Shares have been performing well- yesterday I was at my total peak wealth. Poker has been going pretty well too- I'm playing fine, am at my peak winnings in cash games and have qualified for the biggest tournament of my life on Sunday. Cash nicely in that one and I'm really ready to play higher stakes. So I'll be preparing for that- my MTT game is at its peak now, so time to show and prove!

Anyway... instincts. Yeah, trust them. For all of 2011 so far I've been hyper focused on my goals- more so than ever before. I'm aiming to make all my actions bring me closer towards them. Anything which isn't is only moving me further away.

There are always challenges in achieving big goals, but that's why you set them. I think where I've stumbled in the past is on a few occassions not trusting your instincts. Two main reasons for this- of course, with thoughts that flash through your mind and just gut feeling you can't quantify immediately WHY you feel that way. You just do. Secondly, often it's socially unconventional to trust your instincts. You'll be doing something against the herd instinct, which is so strong in most people. It isn't in me but I have slipped up sometimes. I won't be doing that anymore-I'm responsible for getting my goals and I will do whatever it takes to win.

Monday 3 January 2011

2011- This Blog!

I'm going to write more on this blog in 2011 too. Keeps me accountable, and I enjoy it!

I'm being proactive so far this year and chatting to some interesting people. Hopefully this blog will allow me to contact more. Feel free to swap links or comment.

Sunday 2 January 2011

2011 GOALS

2011 GOALS

Play amazing poker. I want to play cash games at quite a lot higher level than I do now, and by this time next year I will do. Already deposited more in, tomorrow I start the gradual progression. I certainly will do this.

Reach a high overall wealth. I'm setting myself an ambitious target again, and I'm ready to put all my energy and talent into getting it. I'm ready to do this- this time next year I expect my cash and share value to be a decent figure.

Perform superbly in sales. This year in periods I've performed the best ever so far in sales. Under very challenging conditions too. Well I've learnt from that, and I'm learning every day. 2011 will be my best sales year yet!

Get to know more great people! Really pleased this year with people I've got to know. The friends I've known for years as always have been amazing. You know who you are, and I'm privileged to know you.

If you'd told me a few years ago that I'd have chatted socially to some Chess Grandmasters and other high achieving people, I wouldn't have believed you. Subconsciously I would have thought they were too high value to talk to me. I clearly know now that some of the most talented people are the most open to connecting with other potential big winners.

So in 2011 I want to push my comfort zone and meet more GREAT people. Mutual fulfillment is what it's about, so I want to learn from them and provide value to them too.