Goal Setting

This is my reflection on a Shuffle and flow series episode on DC which is all about peak performance in poker, where the approach taken is the same as towards peak sport.

The goal is achieving the 'flow' - state of body and mind where you are 100% ready and focused and you make your best decisions flawlessly without much effort.

I was a goalkeeper on a high level in floor ball and for me this basically meant clearing my mind and be in the highest possible mode of focus and alertness (as a goalkeeper in floor ball or hockey you don't thing through how to catch a ball/puck that's blasting towards you in a huge velocity, your body just does it and does it the better the closer you are to 'the flow')Previous episodes were on introduction of the flow, how you should approach your resources and the importance of time management. There is a homework after each episode.



My life goals: (homework before the episode)
+ Show Spoiler +

-Education: Finish Uni with 2:1 Minimum. Eventually get an MBA if I don't end up with poker and maybe just get it anyway if someone accepts me.
-Keep my GF, start a family eventually, make sick ballers out of my kids.
-Have a job/jobs that can support me/my family AND that I am passionate about. (Be it poker, owning a restaurant, or going into investment or sales or going back to bakery)
-Live a healthy life so I can live 80+ years and live to the fullest until my death bed.
-Regret new things I try and do rather that live a 'what if' life.

EDIT: Not very good examples

'The reason most people never reach
their goals is that they don't define
them or ever consider them as believable
or achievable.

Winners can tell you where they are going,
what they plan to do along the way and who
will be sharing the adventure with them'
-Denis Waitley


What is a goal?
Definition: 1. The result/achievement towards which effort is directed; aim; end.
In poker if you have a clear goal you can start directing efforts toward that goal.

Example from fitness
Goal: I WANT TO GET IN SHAPE
This very common goal is not a good one, because it is not specific and does not include any measures.

Refined goal: I WANT TO LOSE FAT (as a proxy for losing weight).
This is a much better goal. It gives you a specific direction and you can e.g. focus on resources for fat loss. It still lacks specificity though and doesn't give much information.

Re-refined goal: I WANT TO LOSE 20lbs in 8 WEEKS
This is a big step forward. It is a specific and measurable goal. Without measurably you will not know how much closer you are towards achieving your goal.
This goal also provides a deadline, and gives you a sense of urgency. If you fail then your goal was either
A) Unrealistic
B) Your strategy has been infective/not as effective as it should have been

Re-refined goal: I WANT TO LOSE 20LBS OF FAT IN 8 WEEKS BY DECREASING MY CALORIE INTAKE AND INCREASING THE INTENSITY AND DURATION OF MY REGULAR EXCERCISE.
I'LL BE DOING CARDIO 4X PER WEEK AND ENGAGING IN RESISTANCE TRAINING AFTER EACH SESSION. I'LL BE FOLLOWING A PROGRAM LAID BY A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL.
Here you have broken down your goal into specific and measurable targets that that you can include in your to-do list, it will be much easier to track progress and feel achievement. You have also decided to swallow your ego and set out to find professional help.
In poker this would mean Watching vids, letting Talented Tom tell you that you hate money.

You can break everything down even further, and break down your goal into steps. You can then introduce these steps into your every day routine and that way you can easily take the steps, each day, and eventually reach your goal.



Application to Poker
Setting results-oriented goals in poker in goal can backfire. Instead you should set task oriented goals.

MOVING UP AND TASK SPECIFIC GOALS
Say you play NL100. A good goal would be to e.g. read like 2 books and take notes, to have 10 coaching sessions or watch 20 videos along with BR requirement before you move up to NL200. You have to achieve these things before moving up even if you have the BR earlier.
By doing this you move up when your skill has increased, rather than when you just ran hot. If you allow your level of improvement to be independent of your bankroll you will become a better player faster.

It is important to break your goal to smaller steps like 1 chapter per day, coaching session every Tuesday or a video every 2 days.


SURROUNDED BY SUCCESS

-Means aligning yourself with people with similar goals and similar/higher level of commitment and drive to succeed.
An active group of people can hold you accountable and improve your motivation.
Although beware of getting into a group with negative attitude that might infect your mind. Try to get involved with even more ambitious and more devoted people that you are yourself.

ENDNOTE/CLIFFS
Setting goals is very important and will help you in achieving whatever you want to achieve tremendously.
Don't set goals just to set goals. Break down your goals (Make them task oriented in poker if possible) so that you can use them in your daily routine. One day at a time baby.

Don't forget to check out LP people's general goals Here and post yours. In order to break down and refine a goal, you need to have an overall general goal in the first place and that is where you can go look for some inspiration.



Source:
http://www.deucescracked.com/videos/7021-Episode-Four


Poll: Nutrition and poker from same author-would my notes be useful to you?
(Vote): Yes, post your notes after you watch it dude!
(Vote): TL,DR, whatever
(Vote): Useless

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