Also, be careful that your Rules are actually not getting in the way of you winning. Sometimes players set rules and processes that actually get in the way of their performance when it comes to winning events. Your rule might be to make the money a high % of time, but that certainly doesnt bode well for you FTing a lot of events and having a chance to WIN!

I also think you have to be careful to not get in your own way, sometime's we just have to DO instead of thinking about what to DO. This is where instinct is a powerful tool in the game, even if it goes against one of your Rules. The right thing sometimes can be the wrong thing when looking at your rules, so think about that a little as well:)

Not sure about the Joe thing, will have to ask him about it.

Cheers

OK to answer your question it is prity simple: I need to do X to achieve Y.
The trick is the application. Some times when I need to apply X.1, I'll apply
X.2 or worse not think of X.1 when I need to.

To put it in a practical application, I love my starting chart, I love my
hud. I like rules.

I have been on a downswing lately and during the past couple
of weeks, I've put thought into why. What I came up with was, I was veering to
far away from my starting charts. I am now playing again and using them and
instead of being knocked out because of bad play, I was sucked out and like I said
before that is OK as I get it in the best.

The other interesting thing I noticed is not a killer instinct as in
Bigdog's article. I find once I get a couple of hours in, my play does change
and I think I've gotten this far and I don't want to push because I've spent so
much time getting here. I usually get to the middle stages with good stacks
around or above average. I achieve this by when I think I'm the best, I bet my
hand. That backs up a little after around three hours in and I find myself
nitting it up a little.

Go figure....

As for the second part what I want of my games

Make good plays.

To explain, to me, the ant's pants would be to constantly be able to accurately
put the "villain" on a range of hands and play according, knowing
when I can push him off a hand and when to effectively value bet. This comes
down to effectively using the tools I have and basing plays according. Lets say
a guy is raising 30% from the button and has me covered while I am in the BB, I
know I can push the top 15% profitably. Now I may be able to push wider based
on my hand and pot already, pot odds and how the hand stands up against that
range = rules. Or of course fold equity, harder rules but rules.

and

to play push/fold better both as the aggressor and the caller. Rules.

I imagine everyone reading this goes 'Me to'.

They are the reasons I bought SNG Wiz (For the quiz) and am studying math.
To learn the rules.

Whereas the ultimate reason for playing is to win, both to win and the prize
money. To me it is secondary, well perhaps not secondary but not as important
as part one, because if I get part one right the 'Glory' and the prizes will
come.

Thanks for doing this although it is starting to feel like couch therapy but
is is good to ask those questions of my self.

For something completely different...

After listening to the pod cast (excellent by the way)
and finding out you still have access to Joe Hachem. Could you ask his thoughts
on being arseholed on his coaching/advice session in the Crown Mahogany Salon
to the group of poker players about 15 months ago? I WILL tell the story but
I've had enough typing for now.
 

I think there maybe a few beleif systems issues, no more than anyone else, that might be clouding your judgement and decisions at times.

I also want you to go back to your response to defining success on a Macro level, I want you to create specific processes or behavours that you need to make in all situations that will align with your definition of defining success on a Macro Level.

Once you have come up with them, I want to ask you whether you think these are clear and focused on when running deep in torunaments?

Or make sure these are written down in front of you for when you are deep next time, I think you might find it will make a difference 🙂

them.

Do I believe I am worthy of Success?

I have put in a lot time thinking about this question and

the answer is I don’t know!!!

I think it comes down the 2^nd question about

putting in the work. There have been a few key moments in my life where I have

had learn or work at something to move forward in my life. I end up studying or

observing to find that I have studied the wrong thing or freeze at a key moment

and end up disappointed. I do have another go at it but if I fail a couple of

times, I find the effort of doing and more so the disappointment of failing

just makes me quit altogether.

That is short answer of the deep down stuff, which, from experience, says No

I am not worthy of success.

My will says otherwise;

I will use poker as the example because that is what I am

into at the moment and have been for a while.

I spend a couple hours most days watching vids, reading

forums, look at my own hand histories and so forth and I can see the different

thinking I am doing now as to what I was, even from a few months ago. So my wii says I do want to succeed. 

Although just rereading that I am not very focused on one

particular area.

That aside, I still come up with the answer: I don’t know.

And I just want to put out there that I am not a loser because what I just read does not read very well. When it comes to the really big thinks, I do quite well. I have a happy marriage, 3 great kids and I own my house, well the bank does but you know what I mean. So the really big things I go alright.

As for defining success, for me on a macro level, it is

knowing that I have become very good at what I have worked towards. That leads

to results, if the knowledge/work base is sound, you will get the results you

are looking for.

To bring it back to poker.

On a micro level, I find that if I make a good decision for

all my chips and lose, it's OK, no problem move on the next game as long as I

have made a good decision. Variance sucks but it is part of the game.

Now if I make a bad decision that is when I tilt because I

say to myself I know better than make that move or call that bet. Get pissed

off with myself, go outside and knock over a chair or something.

Comes down to knowledge..

I hope this answers the questions you pose although they

have also give me an insight into my thinking and that can’t be bad.

Look forward to your response.

I see this alot with the elite golfers I work with, and it revolves around a few different areas.

Expectations is a big one. You put all this work in and you EXPECT to get results from it. Unfortunately, being controlled by expectations means that you unconsciously focus too much on results, and not the processes YOU need to make. This will enevitably get in the way of you pulling the trigger, which is you making the RIGHT move RIGHT NOW!!

Fear of Success & Failure are other areas that play into this behavour.

Do you believe you are worthy of Success?

Are you scared to put all this work in and still not Succeed?

Define Success for me please, in your mind.

Look forward to hearing your response;)

the theory videos on MTT math and the way it effects short stack play.

I know this has been a deficiency in my game for a long time and being a member of this and

a another site, I watch videos on it, try and take in as much as I can and have

bought Sit n Go Wizard to help. I click buttons without really knowing what I

am doing.

These MTT math vids will be prefect for my game and will improve my game by at least a couple

of levels.

However, in the shower today I was thinking what I was going to study as I have to house to

myself and I am on a three week thaw out from playing. Which I do every change

of season. Just to let me know that I am in control and not poker.

Anyway, I had downloaded a different theory video when it occurred to me that I should be

studying the Math. I felt a slight sense of panic come over me not very big but

deep down and it was a fear of being good. This is not the first time this has happened and usally happens just before I take a decent step

Really I should know every word of the three videos and I’ve watched one once.

So….

Am I scared to be successful and am I alone????

The reason I put this is because I used to work with a bloke who played the Aussie pro

golf tour. This guy was good. I first meet him about 2 years after quitting the

tour and was still off scratch. I talking to him about his experiences and

asked why he quit. He gave this answer: It’s funny I would practice more than

most and could hit the ball but when I played, I couldn’t put that practice on

the course. Or words to that effect.

I could think of about 3-4 other stories the same that I have heard over the years,

some from some of the very best in their chosen field.

Back to me now…

Am I scared to be successful and how do I change it?

Now I am aware of this I can force my self to do the study that I require, but is there

anyway to change this feeling, no probably not change but control it?

Or am I just a screw up?