Quote:
Originally Posted by synth_floyd
He wants to save up $50k so that he can finally live the dream of grinding out a subsistence existence at the poker tables. I'm glad I gave up the "dream" years ago.
What is it that separates the successful midstakes grinders like Neeme and Owen from the low limit ones that have all failed (Trooper, BikeKing, PokerPriest, etc.). Is it just easier to earn a living at the higher stakes? Or do they have the skill and temperament that the others don't?
Good question. My thinking is that talent, introspection, skill, and temperament are absolutely baseline minimum requirements just to get in the door. It is shaped like a pyramid and at each level the % of individuals that meet all of those requirements is smaller and smaller. Also the differences between each level become more and more subtle and harder to define/discern. You see that concept born out in a number of fields (musician, movie star, professional athlete, etc); and putting your finger on precisely the difference is almost impossible.
Personally I think that alternative career options could also be a factor. For example, if your option is to be a minimum wage bus-boy, then trying your hand at being a professional poker player is an easier decision than if you have a job option in the 70k+ range.
Perhaps it is what a recent posted said on page 36: "I'm pretty sure his dream involves living out of a subcompact car while playing 10 hrs of poker a week just to cover his costs so he can dick around the rest of the time."