I was reading through the forums today, and noticed the huge Taking the plunge thread about TranquilChaos quitting his job to play full time. I've also received a ton of email from people who want to do the same thing, so I thought it might be time to offer my humble opinion on the issue.

First of all, good luck TC, I hope you make it!

Now here is a little bit of my story... <readmore>

I started playing full time for a very specific set of reasons, and I truly believe poker may have been my salvation at the time. A little over two years ago I got divorced. My career as a Luthier (noun - one who builds stringed instruments) had recently been cut short by a serious wood allergy, which would have likely killed me if I kept working with exotic hardwoods. I had no kids, no lease, and I was driving a cab to pay the bills. The divorce was the last straw. I was depressed, something I had never dealt with before. I had very little to lose, and much to gain from embarking on a new and challenging career.

Things I didn't have to worry about (that you might want to worry about yourself) -

1. Losing my health insurance - I'm young and fairly healthy, and I had no insurance anyway. Health insurance is huge, and even if you make the kind of money some of the high ranked players make, a serious health problem could ruin you.

2. Supporting a family - I had no children and no spouse to worry about, not even a dog to feed. If you have a family you must have health insurance, and a private plan will cost you a thousand dollars a month. You also must have a steady income or a very large amount of money in the bank, because your family may need you.

3. Losing my job - I could go back to cab driving tomorrow if I wanted to, and it's not much of a job to lose. If you have a good job, you have to be sure you can get it back if you fail as a "pro", and there are very few jobs that you can be certain will immediately hire you back.

4. Having no retirement plan - I had no retirement plan anyway, though poker may soon provide me with the beginnings of one. If your job offers a 401k, then you are throwing alot of money away when you quit.

5. Problems with my friends and family - My friends were not even surprised by my decision to play poker for a living, and my family has always been very supportive of whatever I do. I hope your friends and family are the same way, but the majority of them are probably not. The responses I have gotten from the general public have been more positive than negative over the last two and a half years, but there have been quite a few people who think it's simply a terrible thing. "So you have a gambling problem?" is a common question; often it's even assumed. Very religious people, the narrow minded, traditional, and straight laced folks will not be impressed with what you do. The more money you make, the more evil they will think you are. Those people don't bother me a bit, but they may very well bother you.

6. Stress. I had never had a particularly stressful job before I started playing poker. If you have any problems handling stress, poker is not the job for you. Things can get rough when it is your only source of income, and the first time your income for the week is a negative number (try -$1200 on for size, and I play pretty small for a working pro), you'll understand what I mean by stress. I hate to think about what it costs NSXT2 or Johnny Bax when they have a rough week.

Have I scared you off yet? I hope so, it's very rarely the right choice to make. There is however an upside.

From poker I obtained a new sense of self worth. I make a living by my wits, because I'm damn good at what I do. I studied it as hard as I have ever studied anything, and I still learn things every day. I read more than the guy across the table from me, learned more discipline than the woman to my left, and I'm smarter than that guy two seats to my right. It's proven to me over a huge sample of hands, that I am good at what I do, and that I deserve the money I make. I tell everyone who asks, that I play poker for a living, and if they want to judge me for that, then they aren't my kind of people anyway. Pride in your job is something many americans lack these days, but not us poker players, we're as proud as any doctor or lawyer is, maybe more so.

I've also learned about money management, logical problem solving, and critical thinking. I've learned how to read people as well, a skill that comes in handy every day. Does that girl across the bar actually like you? Ask a poker player, we'll tell you every time. I've met some fascinating people, and made some great friends (to be honest I'd rather have a bunch of poker players at my house than any other group of people). I think those of us who are serious about the game are a very good group of people, and I have yet to meet one in person that I had a real dislike for. (I have not met Mike Matusow yet)

I set my own schedule, which is huge for me since my sleeping pattern is really screwy. I sometimes don't sleep for days, and trying to follow a schedule at a job has always been very taxing for me. I have the freedom to take time off any time I like, which is also great for me, because I love to travel, and I've seen a lot of the world for someone my age.

Poker gave me something to focus my whole being on for about 6 months after my divorce, when distractions were at a premium for me. The levels of complexity are endless, and if you like puzzles it will keep you busy forever. Learning is good for your head, and I think it's no surprise that guys like Doyle Brunson are sharp well into their seventies, while your average retired factory worker is falling apart by that age.

There is the potential to make millions of dollars. No it isn't likely, but it's a lot more likely for us than it is for a plumber. When was the last time a guy working on an oil rig became a household name and made 5 million dollars by winning the World Series of Oil Rig Guys?

Most importantly I am not the kind of guy who can leave a dream unchased. It sits in the back of my head, and I worry that I'll be 80 some day and wondering if I should have done things differently. I have the satisfaction of knowing that I have chased most of my dreams, and even the failures feel better than the few I have given up on. Poker is one of the few things that can still truly provide the American Dream. Regardless of your social status, sex, race, religion, or anything else, you can make it if you work hard enough. Those who work hard and study are rewarded, and in the long run, the lazy and stupid are punished.

There is indeed risk, as there is any time you open your own business. Most restaurants go broke within a year or two, most politicians fail to get into office, and anyone starting a business knows that it may fail. For the naysayers I found this quote on the boards, posted by Azone, though I think it is a very old quote from someone famous -

"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."

Well that's my take on things. TC or any of you other aspiring pros, feel free to email me if you run into trouble. I know many of the other pros on this site, some of whom are much more successful than I am, are happy to help you out as well, so don't be shy about asking.

And now that we've covered the pro's and cons I'll start working on a few tips to help increase your chances of success, in case you lose your mind and decide to take the plunge like I did.

See you at the final table,
Fox
pokerfox@hotmail.com
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