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THE BEST OF THE BEST
I get asked, a lot, why did I leave my regional director's position at Stars. Even with all the craziness that has been the last two weeks, Stars is still the best poker company out there hands down. If there was any doubt, just look at the fact that Stars is doing the US cash outs and they even brought up the issue of the FPPs with the DOJ. Truth be told, I was concerned for the company when 'it' all happened, but once they were able to secure their dot com name again, I knew they had made it through.
BECOMING GOOD
Before I was at Stars I was with PricewaterhouseCoopers as a senior consultant and also with a Korean gov't agency as senior analyst. I have always been on the strategy side of things and while I moonlighted as a fashion brand license negotiator, my own enjoyment of working on competitive strategy is just euphoric for me. But the problem with all 'strategy guys' is that they are never held accountable to execute the strategy. Sure, they know who they need and what roles, but could they themselves really do what they state 'needs to happen'. While, there is a divide between strategy and operations at a middle manager or analyst level, at the executive board level, there isn't. You must be a proven operator and strategist or else you won't have the real chops to compete with the big boys, cause while the pimple faced stock analysts think they know what are the key success factors, they ain't no way they could ever lead or direct a company into a market leader.
What my point is, when I got into Stars, I was an exceptionally hard worker, but besides strategy, my hands were relatively soft for operations. But when I was an immigrant kid, I worked regularly in my father's variety store, and I freaking hated it. I hated the mindlessness of it all, the fake smiles when the customer tells you off because your candy bars are five cents more expensive than the store 3 blocks away or when the stock comes in during the busiest time and you're watching out for shoplifters on top of that. And trying to study or do anything productive is just impossible as you keep reading the same 2 times 10 times over cause of random nature of the transactions. I hated it, but I did it cause my family needed me to work there because my older brother refused, my younger brother wasn't the multi-tasking type and my parents knew I took whatever I did very seriously, cause I wanted to make things better always. I felt, 'hell, if I'm gonna be here, then I'm gonna do it right.' From how to pack the bags quicker, to prepping coffee filters or making friends with the caught shoplifters and getting them to monitor the store while I gave them free cigarettes, I ensured that my parents chained me to that damn variety store for all my high school existence. But it was never my forte, I would be exhausted from trying to apply everything I thought should be right, I was born a strategy guy who just wants to see thing work out.
HAVE TO GIVE RESPECT
So when I was at Stars, I didn't start entirely as a strategy guy, I started with my main profession as a business negotiator. Now I won't get much into it, but of course, understanding strategy plays a major in negotiating because if you really want to score a big partnership, it's not a joint venture made through bargaining, but creating a competitive value between the two companies that can give them an edge that they couldn't have otherwise. That seems straightforward enough, but usually its not the case as usually its more like, 'you have this that I want, and I can give you this that you may want and if it makes sense as a fair exchange, then lets do it.' Now in Asia, you go in with just trying to make a fair exchange or try to pull a fast one, you're in for a rude awakening, cause this ain't the 1970's anymore and the people you want to do business with Asia aren't hurting for anyone's business, especially in gaming. But after closing out some tough contracts and making some hard executive decisions that worked out for the company, I got my shot at being regional director. It was gracious of them to give me that chance, was I the most qualified for it? Yes, but with or without me or the success of the Asia market, Stars is still Stars, made on the hard work and fortitude of those who founded it.
IT'S ALWAY BEEN ABOUT BEING A BOUTIQUE
It's one thing working for a market leader and its an entirely different thing in starting and growing a company into a market leader. And unfortunately my experience with poker is a bit strange. I was introduced to poker by Elky as we lived together and most of the players I know are either pros or online grinding machines. Also, when working in Asia and introducing poker to players for the first time, I was always dealing with convincing baccarat players that while there are two cards, it wasn't about luck but skill or new players who wanted to learn in a classroom like setting. But for me, the average poker player was a Pro, online 18 table grinder or a newly converted high stakes baccarat player who loves to shove all-in in any position preflop if he liked the cards. But when I officially joined Stars in 2007, I can remember the obsession of Elky when Super Nova was announced the year or so before and he decided he was going to go for it and be the first one and he just killed it. By 2010, Super Nova had evolved to into additional tiers and now there was a class called 'Super Nova Elite'. At first this was such a small handful of players and for good reason, it's a hardcore commitment of focus and time. But soon this group of SNE became a significant part of Stars and are a really valued member of Stars and I probably have had a disproportionate amount of exposure to them.
Thing is, whether it was the card room in Macau, the tournaments across Asia or these SNE, I think my player interaction at Stars was always to see every player as high value. I mean you have a satellite qualifier coming to Seoul or Macau for the first time and they may have never had a passport even previous to the trip, its a big deal to show them a good time and provide that experience that will last a life time. In that respect, I think at the higher echelon of players, Stars really does act as a boutique site. I never really thought about as much as I do now as Stars has started the payouts to the US players and show what kind of company they really are. Simply the best out there, regardless how you may think they can improve, relative to the market, I think it's a fact.
SNE FOR ALL
In many respects, what I decided when I took on this role was to do the exact opposite, but I'm finding myself doing the same thing except for me, every player on my site is a high valued player, regardless if they play micro stakes or grind 1/2. I put myself out there so that I can know as many players that sign up and I will continue to do so because it really is the only thing I can directly control. You have no idea how much more critical I am than the players who point out all the short comings of the client and service. But just like Merge agreed to take on Hero, Hero agreed to represent Merge because we both see the potential of each other. In Merge's team I see a more socially nerdy version of what was at Stars. When SC2 just came out, and I was visiting their offices, the CTO organized a lan event for me after work as they were interested in playing an average Korean SC2 player, and even though I rocked their world and crushed their hope to live (sick brag!), it was uber comfortable to know them on that level. What people don't realize about real money poker software is that there are two major issues that create a great level of complexity, security and scalability which is further compounded by multi-tabling and the main focus is simply 1 thing, 'smooth stability and consistency' in the context of meeting the conditions of security and scalability and it's is an extreme rough job when the client is live. That being said, I have 100% confidence in Merge, and I'm saying that as former Stars executive; they have everything it takes to be great and it isn't a coincidence that its Merge that is growing over others at this point.
ONE TIME FOR ALL TIME
When I left Stars, I wanted another challenge and I was burned out. Stars graciously offered me time to recover and come back to the role, but I thought, 'I'm in my mid-30's now, and do I want to settle now and rest on my laurels? I mean the next few years will be the years when I can still do something really great in business, where I have that optimal balance of energy/stamina/experience. And whether foolish or not, I decided to move on without 100% securing my next position. I'd say there absolutely no one who I spoke with that said I was doing the right thing, most responses were a blank look of 'why?'. And now I'm here, while its been a rough road to get here, I do things exactly as my mind sees them and I reckon/think and I think I've become 3 times the business professional that I was in just a year.
THE BOLD WANT IT
May 2011 marks the start of our promotions at Hero, it's where I all the planning and preparation comes to bear and where I take of the kids gloves and start playing for real. The events of April have forced me to consider many more issues that I thought were far into the future. But fortune favours the bold, not because the bold are foolish and reckless, but because the bold reach out and clearly say, they want this, they will have it.
I want this with all my heart, devotion, mind, focus and passion that Hero can be a site among sites as the truest boutique site for all our players. I hope you can be bold with me and that we can go all the way together, as we will never be Stars, but what we'll do, we'll do as Heroes. We will do it.
Sincere Regards,
David
Hero Poker CEO
SUMMARY:
-Stars is the best hands down
-While I came into Stars with a good strategic background, I learned really about what VIP service is all about more than anything else
-In that respect, I've always seen Stars as a boutique VIP service
-But for Hero, it's not about being Super Nova Elite, its a boutique site for all our players from direct assess to me to our valuing of each player as a VIP
-Merge as a network is very good, I say that with no bs and I say that back with my own professional experience, and we are good for each other Hero and Merge.
-It wanted a real challenge and now I have it with Hero
-I hope you will share this with me, while we will never be Stars, we can be F-ing Heroes.
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vlseph United States. May 05 2011 00:23. Posts 3026 | | |
I think this is like the only blog I read here, it's really good stuff and inspiring. |
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| The only hands a nit balances in his range are the nuts, the second nuts, and the third nuts. | |
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NewbSaibot United States. May 05 2011 00:32. Posts 4946 | | |
I like your attitude to be as good as stars, yet be your own site at the same time. I think things like the US only tournament can really help set your site apart and build that user loyalty that you're seeking. As we all know there are a sea of poker sites out there, and the only thing driving them over the others is player count. I heard PlayersOnly had the largest player base accepting American players but I decided to look at Hero precisely because of the US tourney, because I thought it was neat, and I appreciated the loyalty you were extending towards me. The fact that hero actually appreciates their players and treats them as a customer rather than exploit their players as an ATM machine really helps you stand out. I get the impression every single other poker site right now doesnt really give a damn about their playerbase, they just want rake. Hero on the other hand actually wants to build something great. Instead of being reactive, adjusting your promotions and based on competition, you are proactive, trying to innovate new ways to attract and keep players. Keep this up, and people will take notice. |
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| bye now | Last edit: 05/05/2011 00:45 |
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chris United States. May 05 2011 00:58. Posts 5503 | | |
<3 you are the hero of hero poker david |
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| 5 minute showers are my 8 minute abs. - Neilly | |
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Highcard Canada. May 05 2011 01:12. Posts 5428 | | |
Very good read as per usual, you are killing the poker business scene with quality stuff |
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| I have learned from poker that being at the table is not a grind, the grind is living and poker is how I pass the time | |
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GoTuNk Chile. May 05 2011 01:57. Posts 2860 | | |
getting props at lp is really hard so congrats |
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good blog title and very interesting read, thank you. |
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| there are no facts only interpretations | Last edit: 05/05/2011 11:05 |
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how have u not posted anything on your freeroll coming up? its very sweet imo
A new age has begun, an age of freedom. And all will know that 300 Spartans gave their last breath to defend it.” Spartan King Leonidas
And on that day of April 15 such was the devastation that we called it 'Black Friday', but on May 15 Hero Poker answered with our 300...
THE 30,000 USD + 30,000 USD FREEROLL HEROPOKER 300: May 15, 4:30 US Eastern
NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED TO PLAY
The top 300 US players will get paid out $100 instant cash with an additional $100 play through cash bonus.
No withdraw restrictions on the $100 or
Keep it and claim your additional $100 cash bonus and do what you were born to do,
Play poker as one of Hero Poker’s 300.
THE BATTLE GROUNDS
Date: Sunday 15th May 2011 @ 4:30pm US Eastern
Game: Texas Holdem No Limit 6 Handed
Tab Location: Tournaments/Scheduled / Special (priority listing)
Blinds: 15 minutes starting at 10 / 20 (10% antes after level 7)
Prize Payout: Top 300 places
Payout : $30,000 cash plus $30,000 bonus ($100 + $100 per player)
Starting Chips: 3,000 chips
Break for 5 minutes every 60 minutes
Late Registration: Ends after 60 minutes
Eligibility: US players + Password
Time Bank: 30 Seconds with 1 Second Earned Every 1 Hand |
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Thanks, for that,
what I like about this promotion is that the player doesn't have to deposit, and I think the potential $100 plus $100 is enough to get the US players who have been traumatized a pause to consider to play.
But its gone through my marketing networks so lets see what happens.
Cheers,
David |
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whats the 100 + 100 mean? |
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NewbSaibot United States. May 05 2011 13:18. Posts 4946 | | |
| | On May 05 2011 12:05 Gsr_01_integ wrote:
whats the 100 + 100 mean? |
Sounds like you get $100 for placing, and then a $100 bonus that you must play to achieve, just like a deposit bonus. So $200 by the time you finish the FPP bonus. |
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Yup, unusual I know, but again, thought about it a lot. |
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xdrb United States. May 05 2011 13:58. Posts 184 | | |
Thanks Dave.
Hopefully I place so I can start grinding a decent BR. |
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Zalfor United States. May 05 2011 21:40. Posts 2236 | | |
so legit... i think i might just deposit without bothering with the tourney lol |
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my respects after reading this blog went up considerably, good job man. |
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