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I've decided I'm going to start w/ a quote every blog from now on. Not always motivational, not always deep, but they will generally summarize how I feel as of late. Quote 1 from Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr (Lil' Wayne):
"I swear to everything when I leave this earth, its gonna’ be on both feet never knees in the dirt"
So, for my opening blog I'm going to provide a connection between life, boxing, and poker. I've heard someone say that once you begin seriously playing poker (I'm sure it applies to many other games of skill as well though) that you use the knowledge that you gain from the game theory in all aspects of life and use all life experiences to make adjustments to your game. I agree with this 100% and think it's a win-win for anyone who studies the game.
In life, most people are what poker players consider grinders, those who work and work and work to keep a small edge on the game and slowly move up. What's wrong with that? Nothing if you think about the long haul, but the truth is, grinding is hard work. Think of a boxer who keeps moving and moving, jabbing and landing well-placed shots. He's working to the bone to keep a small edge on his competitor while many times he's up against people working less than half as hard as him. If you keep winning, what could this hurt, right? In poker, boxing, and life, the grind will wear you down and drive you crazy. If you never take a shot at a big win, swing a haymaker, or take a big risk, you're risking a lot more than you think.
Let's think on the other end of this spectrum, the power-fighters, the bombs (unpredictable hyper-aggressive poker players), or the genuine risk-takers. Although it's not a grind, the swings of this personality/lifestyle can do more than drive you crazy, it can drive you to lose everything. There are generally two types of people that fall into this category, those that thrive off of it and those who are pushed to it. For those that thrive off of it, this can translate a small edge into an incredible advantage (think Donald Trump, Mike Tyson/Kimbo Slice, or a handful of poker pros), and when they do lose, they know how to take the hit and move on. For example, Trump has filled bankruptcy more than everyone on Madoff's 'contribution' list combined. We can only hope that Kimbo can pick up and move on after that pitiful showing vs. Petruzelli. On the other hand, if you find yourself driven to this state, take note that you are a danger to everyone, including yourself and are generally hanging on by a thread because you aren't used to taking these hits. Backing yourself into a corner and finally deciding to fight out is the worst strategy no matter what your approach to life is.
Given the pitfalls of both approaches the balance is found in...well... balance. To be a true success, whether it be in boxing, poker, or life, you have to mix a high level of finesse with well-calculated aggressive moves. This mix will ensure that you don't get burned out by the grind. It allows you to survive and make progress while giving you the opportunity to take you shots on your own terms. It reduces that chances that will get backed into a corner that you have to fight out of and in the case that you do, you have some experience with the higher stakes.
So, keep grindin’, but allow yourselves to take your shots. Don't let anyone or any situation push to out of your comfort zone but step out and extend it on your own terms. Sometimes you have to step up and take the chance, swing that haymaker, push all the chips over the line. The only real risk in life is never taking a risk. I guess to summarize, there's a 'poker saying' that fits here. 'You can't win what you don't bet'.
The question is, have you risked anything today, this week, this year?
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I hope you got something out of this and as always: Good luck in everything that you attempt.
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