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You have the choice, what do you choose...Great degree, or pokers

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  1. NutInsider NutInsider is offline

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 5:48am)

    Assume you have 2 options, you have graduated from school, about one year ago.

    You have a degree in Math and Economics, so you know that can be reaped heavily in the future

    Your first job offer is about 40k gross (28-32 w tax rape)

    Do you

    A) Do the job thing at 40k

    B) Grind sit n gos, 1k a month, for 85k a year (net effect is more than a traditional job making 85k cause tax junk)

    With the real job, you have opportunity to move up, as with any job I suppose. (could make over 6 figs in the future, but not anytime soon, def not in next 5-10 years)

    With the poker, you will continuously make a bit under six figures starting immediately

    Assume you work 30 hours a week with poker, and reg 40 hours with work, with travel time thats prolly 40-50 hours.

    thanks!
  2. marc1313 marc1313 is offline

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 6:08am) in reply to NutInsider

    assuming you are really that good at sit n' go's and can handle the variance, go for it. If you love what you do, then you never work a day in your life. Follow your dream, and if it doesn't work out, you always have your degree to fall back on.
  3. DJam21 DJam21 is offline

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 6:09am) in reply to NutInsider

    There's a lot of factors to think about here. Mainly, what do you value the most? Having your own schedule, not working for The Man, working from home etc, or job stability?

    Thinking to the long run, which one will earn you more, taking into account poker is highly volatile?

    Are you overestimating how much you can regularly make with poker? Believe me, it's easy to do.

    Thinking about the fact you have a degree, how feasible is it that you try out poker now, and a few years down the line get a job?

    Can you not balance both a real job and poker? Don't forget that after a while each of them can become incredibly monotonous and boring. But with poker, you always have to play well to make a profit. You can turn up to work sick/tired and still get paid.

    Whatever you do, don't make a decision on a whim. Talk to as many people as possible who grind poker for a living. And I mean who have managed to do it successfully for years.
  4. pigalet42 pigalet42 is offline Vag Tyrant

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 7:43am) in reply to NutInsider

    C) Take the job and play poker on the side.

    Don't underestimate the benefits of having a solid career - esp when it comes to buying a house/car/etc. down the line.
  5. curiousgeorge curiousgeorge is offline baby duck hat

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 7:57am) in reply to pigalet42

     
    Originally Posted by pigalet42 View Post

    C) Take the job and play poker on the side.

    Don't underestimate the benefits of having a solid career - esp when it comes to buying a house/car/etc. down the line.

    do this. this is what i am hoping to do.
  6. Tim Lock Tim Lock is offline

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 8:53am) in reply to NutInsider

    For being 22, you're pretty wise pigalet.
  7. Bawsten Bawsten is offline

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 9:26am) in reply to NutInsider

    Pick poker everytime and twice on sundays. If you dont then you dont have a passion for it IMO.
  8. lordxixor101 lordxixor101 is offline

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 11:47am) in reply to NutInsider

    A few things:

    1) If anything, since your self employed, taxes should be worse on poker, not better. Is your plan not to pay taxes? If you do this, you are going to eventually get caught, and then spend time in jail. A very bad thing.

    2) For most people, I think keeping your job/staying in school is the right decision. But, your in that spot of your life where you can take a chance. You have the degree, you are in the lower end starting. Are you good enough? Do you have the roll? Are you willing to make the sacrifices (good luck getting a mortgage right now with a poker career)? If you are willing to ride it out, this is the best part of your life (short of after retirement), to try out the job. If it doesn't work out, you are still young, go back to work. Lot's of people do stupid things with a year or 2 out of college, so it likely won't be held against you too hard (if you try it at 40, that's a different story).

    So, if your good enough, and you have the passion, give it a shot. If you truely love it, it's unlikely you'll look back and wish you never did it. But, if you don't give it a shot, good luck trying to create a shot once you have a wife, a kid, and a mortgage.
  9. BillMueller BillMueller is offline OT President

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 11:53am) in reply to Bawsten

     
    Originally Posted by Bawsten View Post


    Pick poker everytime and twice on sundays. If you dont then you dont have a passion for it IMO.

    I am speechless

    EDIT: nevermind, still speechless, give it time it will come to me.
  10. 36crazyfists 36crazyfists is offline

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 11:57am) in reply to NutInsider

    Get a job
     
  11. Dr.GHouse Dr.GHouse is offline

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 12:11pm) in reply to NutInsider

    Hmmm, well, can we switch it so I have my medical degree??? Plz?

    Degree and regular job, no question. (Though regular job is kind of semantical and open to interpretation)
  12. Jaybone2315 Jaybone2315 is online now J.B. Grindier

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 12:23pm) in reply to NutInsider

    I should have mechanical engineering degree in about 6 weeks.

    im not really looking forward to working.
  13. TheFirm53 TheFirm53 is offline

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 12:24pm) in reply to Dr.GHouse

    Why does everyone think that if you choose to play poker as a career, you will def. make big money? What makes you so sure that you will always be ahead?

    You only read about the players that have made it but for every 1 that does, i would wager atleast 10 don't.

    And even if you do make much more than you lose, poker plays often have losing months. How will you cover your expenses during the down swings?

    I dont know you and your skill level, so don't get offended if you happen to be the next Waco Kidd but I don't see why you can't do both. Work during the day and have a steady income, where you know you can't lose 5 grand going to work and play poker at night and on the weekends to increase your income.
  14. Jaybone2315 Jaybone2315 is online now J.B. Grindier

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 12:28pm) in reply to TheFirm53

    Having a losing month may be the case with MTT's, but if you are playing 40 hrs/week and having losing months playing SNG's or cash games... you proabably wouldnt think about going pro in the first place, because you would suck.
  15. Popperhead Popperhead is offline

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 12:51pm) in reply to Jaybone2315

    take said job part time and grind 35-50k a year in sng's
  16. triggathree triggathree is offline

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 2:07pm) in reply to NutInsider

    take into account that you will kill yourself after about 6 months of griding 1k sng's a month.
     
  17. NutInsider NutInsider is offline

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 5:18pm) in reply to triggathree

    is 5k sng a good sample size?
    Thread Starter
  18. mav09 mav09 is offline

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 5:26pm) in reply to NutInsider

     
    Originally Posted by NutInsider View Post

    is 5k sng a good sample size?

    sure, if you don't really wanna know the truth.

    and not to be picky, but shouldn't the title be ".... job or poker"? sounds like you already have the degree.
  19. BigGunX BigGunX is offline Mr OT Party

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    Jul 31st, 2008 (7/31/2008 7:33pm) in reply to Bawsten

     
    Originally Posted by Bawsten View Post

    Pick poker everytime and twice on sundays. If you dont then you dont have a passion for it IMO.

    What the fuck are you talking about? Grinding SNGs is hardly having a "passion for it."

    9 out of 10 people who grind SNGs for a living say they fuckin hate poker after about a year.

    i have a day job, and I guarantee you I have more of a passion for poker than most anyone out there. The fact that I DON'T rely on it to pay the bills and give me unwanted stress is EXACTLY what makes it a passion and not a necessity.
     
  20. NutInsider NutInsider is offline

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    Aug 1st, 2008 (8/1/2008 5:36am) in reply to BigGunX

    lol i dont consider sit n gos, poker...when i play poker, ie: cash or mtt, i play totally different and i actually like it, sit n gos are not poker, sit n gos ARE NOT POKER lol

    but i think im doing this for what it affords me, not a passion for sng lol....affords me convenience, convenience, and convenience lol
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