He's going to be painting while running the marathon.

"Persistance is to the character of man as carbon is to steel." - Napoleon Hill

101 Poker Chips in My Collection So Far



2015 is off the a great start. Moving forward, I want to focus this thread more on living a balanced fulfilling life as well as playing the best poker I can.

I skimmed through the 2014 portion of this thread, wow what a ride such a killer year! I pushed myself pretty hard and things slowly started to come together in poker and in life. I copy/pasted all the quotes and posted them for my Pooh-Bah Post It is practically impossible to not feel motivated after reading through some of those.

Here is the thread where I am keeping track of my charitable endeavors, if you happen to be in Vegas we would love your help.

Good Karma

I bought a new laptop because my old one died. I may give wsop.com and bovada a try soon.

I am heading to Drai's tonight to celebrate a solid start to the year.

Here is my latest vlog-



I plan to upload songs alternating originals with covers

Let's start off with an original-



I'll also share some of my artwork-



I can understand why you would doubt my ability to achieve these tough goals given my past record. But it is a new year and I have made a new commitment to do whatever I set my mind to. I've been reading some awesome books and watching vids on YouTube so I am fired up. Nothing will stand in my way.

When shooting for really tough goals it is all about entropy. Objects in motion tend to stay in motion, objects at rest tend to stay at rest unless acted on by and outside force. Beginning is the hardest part.

I actually knocked out 125 paintings last year and I have a lot of momentum on that front.

I was consistent about working out and running all through 2014 as well but only 2 miles tops for the running. I just bought some new kicks and I am ready to gradually ratchet up the distance.

You may be right but I hope to prove you wrong my friend

I have to say I have taken notice to some of the jokes you've been sprinkling all over 2+2, I vote you official class clown. Keep it up brother!

Mini Challenge #1

53.5/50 hrs of poker

2015 GOALS

[53.5] 1800 hrs of quality volume (average 150 hrs a month)
[8] Miles Run
[1] Learn 36 new healthy recipes
[10] Paint 360 paintings
[10] Take care of at least one thing on my to do list every day
[1] Write 18 songs and learn 18 covers on guitar
[ ] Take a trip to Europe
[1] Organize 36 opportunities for poker players to volunteer in LV
[1] Go out clubing 36 times, improve my social skills and become the best man I can be

I am glad I am finally getting some recognition for my contributions.

Awesome start on your goals!

PM sent

Work on your knifing skills or you're going to play poker without fingers very soon.

Good luck man

PA, wrt to paintings (i have a background in fine art) wouldn't you say quality would be more important than quantity? That's a lot paintings that you are planning on churning out and I'd rather see a few major pieces developed over more time and thought.

Your paintings are super sick dude, nice work!

Awesome post of the vids and paintings! Thanks for sharing your life balance aspect of the grind. Pretty awesome stuff! "Duke0424" tells me you will be in Phx on Thursday and Friday. Looking forward to meeting and hanging out if so!

"In the depth of winter I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer." - Albert Camus

Talking Stick Resort



I knocked out my 2nd mini challenge on the year, feels great to make incremental progress on multiple fronts.

I'm down in Phoenix this week chilling with PG&C heros Duke and Illiterate. Also met Mike, super easy going grinder.

I turned 26 a couple days ago, I'll be running a 26 miler this year!

I want to come up with 36 new healthy meals I can make over the course of this year. I am always going to chose brown rice over white rice and whole grain bread over white bread from now on. I'll be doing some more research on this topic.

Here is my latest vlog-



Here is a cover of "Cowboys From Hell" by Pantera-



One of my paintings-



Well deserved sir!

Thanks a lot, looking forward to saying what's up next time you are in LV!

I actually did slice my thumb open a few months ago, I'll try to be more careful. Counterintuitively sharp knives are safer than dull knives.

TY!

I don’t think those two are mutually exclusive, though improving the quality will take a larger time commitment than in the past. It may be a little weird but I am considering my legacy and I have a desire to be prolific. I don't have and formal art training outside of a few semesters of art class in high school. My art has mostly been personal and I haven't judged myself much though I do think some or my paintings are better than others. I have mostly been caught up in the act of painting and usually I don't plan or put conscious thought into my painting I just select a few colors and go. I would like to progress and experiment with new styles, mediums and techniques. The majority of my work is chaotic and focused on movement. I would like to paint some pieces with more precision and intricate detail. I'd appreciate it if you would consider critiquing a couple of my paintings since you have education in fine art.

A few of my main influences are Jackson Pollock, M. C. Escher, Salvador Dali, and H. R. Giger. All of their work is incredible!

Right on dude, thanks!

Great kickin it with you man!

Mini Challenge #2

52.5/50 hrs of poker

2015 GOALS

[106] 1800 hrs of quality volume (average 150 hrs a month)
[15] Miles Run
[2] Learn 36 new healthy recipes
[20] Paint 360 paintings
[20] Take care of at least one thing on my to do list every day
[2] Write 18 songs and learn 18 covers on guitar
[ ] Take a trip to Europe
[2] Organize 36 opportunities for poker players to volunteer in LV
[2] Go out clubing 36 times, improve my social skills and become the best man I can be

Carl,

I've been catching up on your thread after being Mia for a minute. My opinion of you continues to be the same. You're quite an inspiration man. You're positivity and hard work are to be commended. Such a consistent, good guy. Your discipline on & off the felt, living the life you want, making it from the ground up. Nice job buddy

Ryan

Killing it with your goals so far man, keep it up!

belated happy birthday.

i am interested in your findings on the bread. lol.

I tried making the switch from white bread to brown bread a few years ago. Stuck it out for a few months, until I realized I absolutely *dreaded* lunch (I pack a sandwich lunch every day for work) to the point I literally couldn't even force myself to eat it. Now back on the white stuff.

Good luck with your goals pure!

Gwhitebread4ever,imoG

gl with your journey. big fan

I've been following your thread (and a few other poker player's threads) and I have a question :

Why do you guys have life goals laid out every year? I guess what I mean is do you have these goals because of the main job being poker? So, should a person with a regular 9-5 job have these goals also?

It just struck me that I have no goals other than work and family and friends. So, in my off time from all of those things, I either go hang out at the bar and drink, maybe go to a movie, do some household chores, cook extra food for the week, read a book, or anything else I consider "normal". But I don't have goals like "paint 300 paintings", and I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong?

lol

^^^^

I'm guessing that as you get older with more responsibilities / etc. it's less about setting / accomplishing goals and instead just about surviving / squeezing out some fun when time permits.

GoldmanG

Not to derail this thread too much, but I'm 45 with a "regular 9-5" job, am married and have children, and I still set goals to achieve each year (e.g. work out 130 hours, read 30 books, cook one meal per week, etc.). They keep me focused on what I consider important, and help me stay organized. I'm a big believer in goal-setting and, while I think pure aggression's are very ambitious, I think it's excellent that he has them.

If you really want to try a bread that is good for you try Julian Bakery Paleo Bread. The Almond is my favorite (and closest tasting to normal nut type breads) but I usually go with Coconut because it's 30 calories less per sandwich. The Cinnamon Raisin is awesome for Almond Nut Butter and Fruit Spread sandwiches in the morning. You won't like the price ($9/loaf on their site + shipping, I pay $12/loaf locally) but it is way better for you. It is all natural and GMO/Gluten free so I buy it frozen from the health food market and keep it in the fridge so it doesn't go bad before I can finish a loaf.

PGC's are all about the derail lol. Re goals, if you don't know where you're going, how are you going to get there? Or something like that.

Hey thanks for the very kind words Ryan! I'm no where near perfect but I am trying to get a little better everyday and be the best influence I can on the people around me.


Thanks man, I will!


I appreciate the Bday wishes.

I was referring to nutrition and healthy foods in general not just bread haha.


One thing I have realized is I'm not too picky about food, there are very few things I don't enjoy eating.

I think I've been conditioned by the extensive marketing of cheap unhealthy food since birth. Fastfood chains spend millions on advertising. I need to reevaluate my diet and weed out anything that isn't beneficial.


TY


I think it's a cultural thing, I've spent a lot of time the last few years focusing primarily on poker and this subforum is all about setting goals, I believe it has helped my poker game tremendously and there is no reason it wouldn't work in other areas in life. I've been reading a lot of books and watching videos on self development and success from guys like Jim Rohn, Tony Robbins, Napoleon Hill, Brian Tracy, Owen Cook and the RSD folks. The common theme among all of them is an emphasis on goal setting.

If you are content with your life it probably isn't that critical. Personally my life was on a ****ed up trajectory and I knew I needed to implement some change.


I would agree, much tougher to make drastic changes once your overall situation is less flexible and you have more people depending on you. But it's not impossible either.


Good for you hope you knock em out this year!

Goals don't have to be huge or daunting either just jotting down a couple small things you want to accomplish over certain period of time can't hurt.


Thanks for the recommendation, much appreciated.


True on both counts

Would this be something that would interest you at some stage over the next few months?

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/29...nd-up-1506941/

From reading all that you are doing I think it could make for an interesting interview

Xx

Sure I'm down

Cool man...I arrive in Vegas tomorrow...i'll drop you a message at some stage during the week on this

"Seek not, my soul the life of the immortals; but enjoy to the full the resources that are within thy reach." - Pindar

Casino Del Sol



Sedona, AZ





Adam Carolla



I got to see one of my favorite comedians a couple weeks ago, Adam Carolla is hilarious. I love comedy I will make it a habit to see more shows, I might even take an improv class myself one of these days.

The trip to AZ was a really fun time! Hangin with poker buddies, hiking, hittin up Old town Scottsdale which has a really sick cluster of bars and went to a strip club for the first time since my Army days. I also got to visit the girl a spent the summer chilling with out in her tiny town southeast of Phoenix, drove back home through Tucson and Sedona.

It feels good to be back in LV for a bit, cranking out some volume to stay on pace. I'm planning to hit up NOLA and Miami later this month, flying not driving this time.

The charity thing is going pretty good, made a few new friends who are willing to help out and we are making a positive impact. I hope to expand this effort throughout the year.

Here is my latest vlog-



Here is another original "Equilibrium" -



One of my paintings-




Mini Challenge #3

50.5/50 hrs of poker

2015 GOALS

[156.5] 1800 hrs of quality volume (average 150 hrs a month)
[24.5] Miles Run
[3] Learn 36 new healthy recipes
[30] Paint 360 paintings
[30] Take care of at least one thing on my to do list every day
[3] Write 18 songs and learn 18 covers on guitar
[ ] Take a trip to Europe
[3] Organize 36 opportunities for poker players to volunteer in LV
[3] Go out clubing 36 times, improve my social skills and become the best man I can be