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HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT!?
When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breath then you will be successful. Most of you say you want to be successful but you don't want it bad. You just kind of want it. You don't want it as bad as you want to party or be cool.
It all started when I joined the PNK poker office in Copenhagen nine months ago. After showing a lot of dedication one of my poker colleagues showed me a youtube video. The video was called "How Bad Do You Want It".
When I saw it I realized how bad two of my colleagues wanted it and over the months working at the office I saw the difference between being a poker pro and being a poker pro who want it real bad.
The previous month in Australia I had finished reading Jared Tendler's "The Mental Game of Poker". A book recommenced by yet another pro from the office who had struggled with tilt issues. I had taken a chapter at the time over a period of 6 months to fully integrate the strategies and I read several chapters multiple times. Jared Tendler recommends this since you can't change your mind process in a month or two. It takes years.
A month after I had seen the "How bad do you want it" video a third colleague dropped a book on my desk. He had read my blog Goals and Motivation and thought Brian Tracy's book "Goals! How to Get Everything You Want - Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible" would suit me. I have never read a self-help book nor have I ever thought I would.
These three seemingly small events became life changing events for me. I realized in Malta many years ago, that if you surround yourself with successful people you are more likely to learn new things and become successful.
How I Organize My Day
Dream note book
When I wake up I write down my dreams if they were special or memorable. Not if they were left overs from the events taken place the day before. I have a pretty unique understanding of dissecting my dreams. Read my blog "My Dissection of a Dream".
Listen to Motivation mp3
I listen to "How Bad Do You Want It" on my iPhone every single morning. Either in bed or in the shower depending how fast I am on my feet. I don't waste time if I am full of Energy. It gives me 5:51 minutes to wake up.
To-Do List
I have breakfast and write down my to-do list on my iPhone it has a very good app for this. I write my tasks in order of importance. Notice I do not write down "Lunch with sister" as it is not a choir or task nor should it ever feel that way. Meeting friends and family does not help me to achieve my goals. Being with my friends and family is a goal in itself.
Morning Poker Session
I have a morning poker session until I am hungry and need new fuel.
Exercise
I force myself to exercise during the day. I go for a walk or train on my gym-bike. A goal is to start swimming from September as my foot still does not allow me to play football, run or anything of that nature.
Work Hours
If I am working on a project I do that in the afternoon and in the evening till I can't keep my eyes open. For most parts I play poker again after dinner so it won't be interrupted by hunger. Friday & Saturday is party time for most people for me its normal work hours. I don't feel sorry for myself it is my own choice.
Two Days in One
Playing morning and evening and taking a break from poker during the day when there are no queue in the supermarket and the sun is out, gives me two working days within 24 hours. I have more energy when I play 2 x 5 hours compared to 10 hours straight. May I remind those of you who do not play online poker playing 9-12 tables takes a lot of concentration and does not compare with a regular office job.
Doing the Dishes
I always do the dishes before I go to bed. There is no point doing them in the morning when my mind is sharp and my body is fully rested. A task which requires zero brain activity should be carried out when you are tired. Do the most important thing first thing in the morning!
10 Goals
Every night before I go to sleep I write down 10 goals I wish to achieve in the coming 12 months. I repeat this exercise every day. Sometimes I forget it and that is OK. At some point I will write the same 10 goals every day and then I know what it is I really want to achieve . So far 8 out of 10 are always the same. It is important you write goals that are possible. Do not write "world peace", "become president of United States" or "marry a gay prince and settle down on the moon in a castle build of candy". Write something that is possible if you work really hard.
No Laptop in Bed
I have recently decided that I no longer can bring my laptop to my bed. If I am still awake I should be working towards achieving my goals or read a book. This is coming from a guy who have read 5 books in his life besides my fathers books. I love movies and series, I normally get bored reading so guess its about reading something you like.
No Candy or Soda
I do not keep candy or soda in the house.
No TV (my friends finds this annoying haha)
I do not have cable TV. I only allow myself to watch TV online on Mondays when Dexter, Breaking bad, Curb Your Enthusiasm and similar shows are released.
"Happiness is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal." a quote from Brian Tracy's book.
Whether you are working hard, studying hard or training hard. Always have dreams & goals. Write down short term targets. You can't hit a target you cannot see.
I would like to thank Anders Jensen and Tobias Storm for inspiration to this blog. And to Peter Hallberg & Sune Berg for giving me helpful reading material. If you read this far you deserve to watch the video. Enjoy!