Really like the last two paintings.

I still recomend 1%, by slansky... but haven't read it myself. Just heard it was good

“Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. They stay focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps they need to take to get them closer to the fulfillment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents to them.” - Jack Canfield

Sculptures from Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento





Lake Tahoe





Tribute to the Pony Express in front of Harrah's Stateline



Ducky at SLS



I was just shy of my volume goal for this mini challenge, but I did spend 5 hrs on studying for the first time since I set that target. I've been reading "Inside the Poker Mind" by John Feeney. I am about halfway through and it is pretty insightful so far and covers a variety of topics relating to poker. It was originally published in 2000 so the examples are mostly limit holdem the predominate game of the period, but many of the same concepts apply to NLHE. Some people snicker at poker literature that was not written recently but I believe there is plenty to be learned even from books written before the boom.

I am almost finished with "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand, easily the longest book I've read in a decade. The colorful characters are amusing and there is rich symbolism. I have a pile of books to dig into after it is completed.



I picked up 7 new chips for my collection bringing the total to 118, I'll run through my impressions. The Hyatt Regency in North Tahoe had a 10/20 O8 game. I very rarely play any game besides NLHE so the change of pace was interesting. Thunder Valley is an Indian Casino in Sacramento, played there once a few years ago with dhcg86 but forgot to save a chip. I also met 2+2ers Spyu and dgiharris that trip a few years ago. This time they had a few 1/3 and a 2/5 game going in the afternoon, very nice poker room overall. Capitol Casino reminded me a lot of The Oaks, they had couple 1/3 and a couple 2/5 running at night. The Limelight is a bar with 2 poker tables and the game was 1/2. Cache Creek is another Indian Casino near the west edge of the Central Valley and they had a couple 1/2 and a couple 2/4 running at night. California Grand in Pacheco looks like it recently moved into a brand new building adjacent to their old one. Seemed very clean and had a couple 1/2/3 and a 2/3/5 running in the afternoon. The Palace in Hayward is a tiny card room and had uncapped 1/2, 5 to limp and can be "killed" from any position which makes it 10 to go. I liked the structure, I only played a few hrs in the afternoon my buddy said the game gets deep and wild at night.

I enjoyed running with my dad and Ryan back in the Bay. I decided to look for some running groups on meet up. Went and did a 3 mile one and met a few other runners, will probably go again and look for more groups so I don't always have to run by myself like I had been previously.

I also want to meet some more wings to go out with from rsdnation. I have a tendency to lose motivation to go out when I am dating a girl I like regularly. This is a familiar pattern over the last few yrs. I need to go out roughly twice per mini challenge for the rest of the year, this doesn't necessarily have to be clubs I'll count any social venue where I can do a few approaches and build my social skills muscle.

I also need to organize about 2 volunteer meet ups per mini challenge to reach my yearly target. I have a dedicated thread in LVL so it all comes down to scheduling and execution. I am proud of the work we've accomplished so far and look forward to continuing.

I am over 50% of the way to my 1800 hr volume goal, this is the toughest one and I need to step it and start surpassing my 50hr/ mini challenge target while maintaining time for studying and patching leaks. No excuses. Let's go!

Here is my latest vlog-



Here is a cover of "Hells Bells" by ACDC-



Here is one of my paintings-



Thanks a lot! Painting is extremely fun to me and I will have a lot of work to show for it by the end of the year.

I'll have to check it out, maybe they have it a Barnes and Noble. All of Sklansky's stuff is solid. Ed Miller co-authored NLHE Theory and Practice as well as Professional NLHE which are 2 of my favorites.

You should post more dude, don't be a lurker haha.

Mini Challenge #22

5/5 hrs of poker study
48.5/50 hrs of poker

2015 GOALS

[920] 1800 hrs of quality volume (average 150 hrs a month)
[156] Miles Run
[22] Learn 36 new healthy recipes
[220] Paint 360 paintings
[220] Take care of at least one thing on my to do list every day
[22] Write 18 songs and learn 18 covers on guitar
[ ] Take a trip to Europe
[14] Organize 36 opportunities for poker players to volunteer in LV
[5] Go out clubbing 36 times, improve my social skills and become the best man I can be
[9] Read 36 Books

Cool painting what are its dimensions ?

Thanks! All of the paintings I've done earlier in the year are on 11x14 inch stretched canvas, the last few months including this piece are on 16x20 inch stretched canvas. I think I'll knock out a few bigger pieces before the end of the year as well.

“Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.” - Will Rogers

Motorhead playing at House of Blues



Floyd Lamb Park







I knocked out my volume goal and my study goal, feels good. I need to keep up the self-discipline to finish out the year strong.

I finished "The Fountainhead", very thought provoking and I like the theme of self reliance, ultimate purpose, independent thinking and going against the tide of society. I also finished a book called "How to Live on 24 Hours a Day" by Arnold Bennett, very practical advice about the importance self education and the budgeting of time outside of normal working hours. It reminds me of the Jim Rohn quote "Work hard on your job and you can make a living, work hard on yourself and you can make a fortune." One tip I have been trying is using the time in transit between home and work to focus and think on a particular subject, rather than being preoccupied with the news or radio. Time is infinitely more precious than money, anyone can make more money but no one is given more than 24 hrs a day, we shouldn't squander a second.

Here is my latest vlog-



Here is an original called "Indestructible Fortress"-



Here is one of my paintings-



Mini Challenge #23

5/5 hrs of poker study
64/50 hrs of poker

2015 GOALS

[984] 1800 hrs of quality volume (average 150 hrs a month)
[165] Miles Run (Run Rock n' Roll Marathon)
[23] Learn 36 new healthy recipes
[230] Paint 360 paintings
[230] Take care of at least one thing on my to do list every day
[23] Write 18 songs and learn 18 covers on guitar
[ ] Take a trip to Europe
[15] Organize 36 opportunities for poker players to volunteer in LV
[6] Go out 36 times, improve my social skills and become the best man I can be
[10] Read 36 Books

Newer paintings are awesome, especially that one. Whatever you did there, do more!

Cool stuff, pure! You mentioned wanting to get a little more professional with the video... Here's something I saw in the thread, "What's the best thing you bought recently?" (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/34...ently-1554512/)

While the video quality could be better with an actual camera, or even an iPad probably, as far as bang for the buck your best bet is a steady camera... This might help while using your phone: http://joby.com/gorillapod/magnetic

That's probably the best upgrade you can get for $50 or less.

You'd just have to use trial and error to see how far away from the cell phone you get get and still have good audio quality... Or drop another $10-$30 on a lapel mic (the little clip on ones).

If you happen to have an iPad already, get a tripod for that and a lav mic and you'll have reasonably high quality video just from that... If you have any questions with that type of stuff, feel free to hit me up - I have a broadcasting background and I'd be happy to help.

Nice playing with you last night.

Nice bunny pic!

+1 good stuff

“Impatience never commanded success.” - Edwin H. Chapin

Lamb of God



Slipknot



First Friday





I missed my volume target by about 10%, I did get in my study time though. I'm not going to make any excuses, I need to be more disciplined. It looks like I'm going to have to knock out 4 200 hr months to close out 2015 and reach my goal of 1800 hrs. I've done a few 200 hr months before and it is not easy, especially while juggling my IRL goals.

I got to see one of my favorite bands Lamb of God, they killed it and played most of the songs I wanted to hear. Slipknot was okay, I dig some of their old songs, their new stuff isn't very good.

I finished another book called "The New Psycho-Cybernetics" by Maxwell Maltz and Dan Kennedy, it's another classic self development book first published in 1960. Like "Think and Grow Rich", don't judge a book by it's cover, despite the cheesy title there are a lot of practical concepts in this book. I recognized some on the ideas from Tony Robbins and Owen Cook speeches. I think I might put together some book summaries in either type or video form so I can talk about what I learned, share with others and have a reference to review at a later date.

I'm now about 1/3 of the way into reading "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert M. Pirsig. It is interesting so far and talks about how everyone views reality very differently. Also makes me want to buy a bike and go a road trip.

Here is my latest vlog-



Here is a cover of "Seek and Destroy" by Metallica-



Here is one of my paintings-



Much appreciated! Messing around with a painting knife creates some cool interplay between colors.

Thanks for the tips, that looks nifty!

Cheers, can you teach me to win AA vs AA?

Thanks, reminds me of a chocolate easter bunny only living haha.

TY TY!

Mini Challenge #23

5/5 hrs of poker study
45.5/50 hrs of poker

2015 GOALS

[1029.5] 1800 hrs of quality volume (average 150 hrs a month)
[173] Miles Run (Run Rock n' Roll Marathon)
[24] Learn 36 new healthy recipes
[240] Paint 360 paintings
[240] Take care of at least one thing on my to do list every day
[24] Write 18 songs and learn 18 covers on guitar
[ ] Take a trip to Europe
[16] Organize 36 opportunities for poker players to volunteer in LV
[7] Go out 36 times, improve my social skills and become the best man I can be
[11] Read 36 Books

Just get it in there and let the dealer do the rest. Helps to have the A.

I can also teach you how to lose with boat under boat about 10 hands later.

Great choice with Zen. One of my all time favorite books.

+1

I know this book was very transformative to my thought process and approach to various aspects of life. I kind of picked up some David Foster Wallace tones such as this: https://youtu.be/ez64xjWt-W0

Jealous of that concert (See my LOG avatar). Totally agree with you re: slipknot.

200 hrs a month huh. Good luck bro. I think I'm going to be out there from the 6th to the 12th next month. Plan on staying with you. I'm trying to pick up my studies on poker. Need to do more reading. Painting looks sick... Have you done the purple n green clouds??

“Do not act as if thou wert going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over thee. While thou livest, while it is in thy power, be good.” - Marcus Aurelius

Mandalay Bay



Luxor



Sculpture at Aria



Oldschool Corvette



Chipmunk



I've been sick the last few days so haven't felt like playing, only accomplished half of my target volume. It's getting to be crunch time if I am going to have a shot at 1800 hrs, I'll be putting in a concerted effort to close out 2015 strong.

I have a little project I am starting to work on that should take about 3 weeks, I am going to do a video review of the 18 poker rooms on the Strip, kind of like AVP but with some footage of the actual poker room.

It's about 2 months until the Rock n' Roll Marathon so I will be ratcheting up the intensity of my training and monitoring my diet extra close.

Since I haven't felt well enough to play poker the last few days I went to Barnes and Noble and picked up a bunch more books to read. I'm going to have to complete 2 per mini challenge to reach my goal of 36 for 2015. I selected:

"Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius
This the personal journal of a Roman Emperor and Stoic Philosopher
"The Success Principles" by Jack Canfield
Another self development book
Biographies of Ben Franklin and Mark Twain
Two individuals who lived extraordinary, impactful, admirable lives
"30 Days to Social Media Success" by Gail Z. Martin
Social media marketing crash course
"Philosophy, 100 Essential Thinkers" - Philip Stokes

I completed "Friedrich Nietzsche: The Giants of Philosophy" by Richard Schacht via audiobook.

As I mentioned in my last post I think it would be fun to start doing some book summaries and sharing my take in either video or written format. Here are 3 of my favorite channels on YouTube that do an outstanding job:

Brian Johnson https://www.youtube.com/user/PhilosophersNotes/featured
He has gone through 200+ books and distills each down to pull the 5 best ideas/ concepts, very concise and hard hitting.
Fight Mediocrity https://www.youtube.com/user/phuckmediocrity
Clever animated summaries, first saw his vids on RSD forum last year when he was just starting out, checked back recently and he has over 50 vids and 100k subs.
Tai Lopez https://www.youtube.com/user/tailopezofficial
Guest speaker at RSD free tour and summit last year, reads a book a day, super smart dude. Sure flashing the sports cars and hot chicks is a little tacky but click bait marketing is what the masses respond to.

As far as written summaries:

bob_124 http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/17...r-u-s-1334833/
Great thread summarizing a plethora of poker/gambling related books

Here is my latest vlog-



Here is an original called "Epsilon Omega"-



Here is one of my paintings-



Not interested in the later :P

Always nice to get a little bit of a different perspective on life.

lml_O_lml AOTW is my fav, heavy as ****, also the lyrics really resonated with me as I was in the military at the time when I first heard it. We are invading and occupying foreign countries and I was somewhat skeptical, are we the good guys or the bad guys?

Here is my LTR cover

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...postcount=2657

Cool, cool. Thanks, ahhhh keep forgetting to start that painting for you. SMS


Last update was actually Mini Challenge #24 but I forgot to change the number so this is now #25.

Mini Challenge #25

5/5 hrs of poker study
28/50 hrs of poker

2015 GOALS

[1057.5] 1800 hrs of quality volume (average 150 hrs a month)
[185] Miles Run (Run Rock n' Roll Marathon)
[25] Learn 36 new healthy recipes
[250] Paint 360 paintings
[250] Take care of at least one thing on my to do list every day
[25] Write 18 songs and learn 18 covers on guitar
[ ] Take a trip to Europe
[17] Organize 36 opportunities for poker players to volunteer in LV
[7] Go out 36 times, improve my social skills and become the best man I can be
[12] Read 36 Books

"7 habits of highly effective people"
Stephen Covey
Book recommendation... Seems to be the kind of books your reading. It's a great book

“If you are bored with life, if you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things, you don't have enough goals.” - Lou Holtz

Sculptures along St. Rose Parkway Trail









New Stadium, NHL Expansion Team is Rumored





I think I've recovered from being sick. That kind of derailed my volume for the mini challenge but I'm ready to get back in there and slug it out. My 50hr/10 days pace was based on my yearly pace which I am behind. From here until the end of the year I need to do 72hr/10 days, so the plan is 9x 8 hr days with 1 day off.

I finished reading "Inside The Poker Mind", overall good book. It's kind of funny that he expresses the same reservations about tournament poker I have. I think both cash games and tournaments are both beatable and both require separate skill sets. As far as trying to earn a living off poker, cash games offer a little steadier opportunity for income. There is a concept called certainty equivalent which basically means an income amount that is guaranteed is worth more than a higher average income that also involves variance such as poker or investing. It has to do with risk, quick example: say you can work a salaried job for 36k/yr or play poker and earn an average of 50k/yr but you will have some yrs you earn 100k and some yrs you earn 0.

I started reading "Poker, Gaming & Life" by David Sklansky

I came across a study that was done by Dr. Stephen Kraus and Dr. Gail Matthews on goal setting that was interesting. They separated 267 people into 4 groups.

1st group was instructed to think deeply about a goal they wanted to achieve in 4 weeks
2nd group was instructed to also write down and commit to a list of actions
3rd group was instructed to also share their list with a friend
4th group was instructed to also provide weekly progress reports to this friend

Group 1 was successful 43% of the time, group 2: 56%, group 3: 64%, group 4: 76%

I think this is excellent evidence having a PG&C is clearly an advantage.

I got in a 10 mile run along St. Rose Parkway. I think this is the longest run I've ever done, felt great. I was a little bit sore after but no injuries. Looking to put in a longer run this mini challenge.

Here is my latest vlog-



Here is an As I Lay Dying cover called "94 Hours"-



Here is one of my paintings-



Yep I read it back in Feb, great book indeed. I think the most original habit I got out of it was "Seek first to understand, then to be understood" solid advice for interpersonal relationships. Another great habit is "Sharpen the saw", study time is imperative not just time at the tables.

Mini Challenge #26

5/5 hrs of poker study
31.5/50 hrs of poker

2015 GOALS

[1089] 1800 hrs of quality volume (average 150 hrs a month)
[200] Miles Run (Run Rock n' Roll Marathon)
[26] Learn 36 new healthy recipes
[260] Paint 360 paintings
[260] Take care of at least one thing on my to do list every day
[26] Write 18 songs and learn 18 covers on guitar
[ ] Take a trip to Europe
[18] Organize 36 opportunities for poker players to volunteer in LV
[7] Go out 36 times, improve my social skills and become the best man I can be
[13] Read 36 Books

Looking forward to this!

“Realize that training has a delayed-reaction effect. You don't draw your ability to run a marathon from what you run this week but from a reservoir of fitness filled weeks and months earlier.” - Joe Henderson

Lake Mead





Art In The Park, Boulder City





More Tortoise and Hare Sculptures





I managed to get in 50 hrs of volume. I think the 72 hrs will have to be an upper bound target. I would need to nail three 225 hr months to reach 1800, I am still going to shoot for it but with all my other goals I don't think it's feasible. I will just make my goal to get in at least 50 hrs per mini challenge at a minimum and 72 hrs if I can squeeze it in around my other activities.

I had a pulled muscle so had to take a few days off of running. It feels better the last couple of days so this mini challenge I am going to knock out a 15 mile run. I will peak out my training with a 20 mile run then ease off a bit till I take on the full 26.2 miles mid November.

I went to an RSD meet up, met like 8 new wings all of them seem pretty chill. A lot of them are new to town, Vegas is a very transient place not just for poker players but all occupations. We hit up XS for a bit and got in some approaches. Also met another girl on tinder and had a first date, we are planning to hike Calico at Red Rock soon.

I am thinking about going to some Toastmasters meetings to improve my communication and leadership skills.

The volunteering has been going alright, not much interest from LVL since I got back from CA. It's mostly just been me by myself. I think I should print out some fliers and put them in poker rooms to see I can find more interested individuals. Last time I went to hand out sandwiches I met a guy living on the streets who came along and helped me distribute water. I also printed out a compilation of motivational quotes to give out. We had some good conversation and it was educational to have the perspective of someone who can relate. He said a lot of people on the streets are there by choice and there is not much I will be able to do to change that if they don't desire it. It still feels good to fill a need and help others. I also need to have a consistent schedule so people can plan in advance to join.

I am still inching my way through all these books I have, I am kind of doing the shotgun method rather the linear one at a time cover to cover.

Here is my latest vlog-



Here is an original called "Solid Foundation"-



Here is one of my paintings-



Still in the works, stay tuned

Mini Challenge #27

5/5 hrs of poker study
50/50 hrs of poker

2015 GOALS

[1139] 1800 hrs of quality volume (average 150 hrs a month)
[203] Miles Run (Run Rock n' Roll Marathon)
[27] Learn 36 new healthy recipes
[270] Paint 360 paintings
[270] Take care of at least one thing on my to do list every day
[27] Write 18 songs and learn 18 covers on guitar
[ ] Take a trip to Europe
[18] Organize 36 opportunities for poker players to volunteer in LV
[8] Go out 36 times, improve my social skills and become the best man I can be
[13] Read 36 Books

More round paintings pure!!

Awesome. I'm totally stubbed. Sucks I missed so much already

Your posts are motivational and overall positive. Thanks for the steady stream of mental vitamins.