It feels good to be back on the felt after a three week vacation hanging out with my family and friends. I hope that your Christmas break was as relaxing and recharging as mine. I must say it was much needed because I was burnt out after playing full time from September 1st to December 16th. I decided to write this article because before I left to go to the Indianapolis airport for vacation, I finished working on a very important piece of paper that it now taped to the wall right next to my computer. It included all the goals I wanted to reach by New Years Eve (my birthday) 2010. You always hear great teachers and inspirational speakers talking about how important setting goals are. I have been setting goals for many years now, but I never wrote them down until the beginning of 2009 when my brother Scott told me to. He persisted on saying you have to write them down. He never really explained why, but told me that you will understand why in the future.

I remember having a long week session at my lonely desk (did not have two poker roomates last year like I do now) and not making a dime to show for it. When I was down in the trenches and wondering why I choose to become a professional online poker player, I would get out my goal sheet inside my desk draw. It was the best way to remind myself what I am striving for and what I aspire to become. A great tournament poker player! It did not allow me to become complacent or discouraged. I knew my full potential and after looking at that small piece of paper, I told myself that I was going to reach those goals. I found out the reason for writing my goals down fairly quickly. I would look at them for inspiration when I was feeling down or thinking about taking time off just because I was running bad. I looked at that sheet at least ten times a month last year. Well, I am proud to say that the goals I wrote down on January 4th, 2009 were all reached (besides winning the Bodog 100K)! All the numbers I wanted to have in my stat summary have surpassed my goals for 2009. What a surreal feeling it was to find that paper two days ago and realize that I actually, for the first time in my life, reached a true goal.

This is a great time of year for resolutions and setting goals. If you are serious about poker, I persist, like my brother did, to write down your goals! Do not just think of them, write them down and look at them every day. Not only does it remind you of your true goals every day, but it is also a great tool for starting to learn the technique of visualization. For most, the online tournament poker grind is a journey,and for me, visualization is by far my biggest tool for my recent success in that journey. It was the hardest to learn, but I use it everyday to get though the daily grind of tournament poker. Visualizing a long term goal is a great start to building a technique that can be implemented in a professional poker players everyday life. It can not only be used for goals, but also stress release techniques mentioned in my last article above. Believe in your goals and know you are going to achieve them! Focus on your goals , set your course, and have the right attitude to reach them. Keep persuing and keep believing!

Enlarge your vision,

Steve "BODOGNUTZ" Skowronski