Its kinda weird I dont see many posts in this thread about starting a biz. I'll offer my 2c fwiw. Its certainly not for everyone and I'm very far from a tycoon. Im just passionate about people starting businesses as opposed to being conventional & working for the man.
Its never been easier (in terms of resources & startup $) to start a biz - many more people should be doing it these days instead of getting a job (or at least as a side line) - especially if youve grown accustomed to losing money for extended periods of time, not knowing when things will change and still being able to keep a good work ethic. Thats exactly how business is to start - however I guess you cant go from flat broke leaving poker into a biz, but theres certainly room for part time start ups/launch something on side if you dont have the savings.
I played msnl-hsnl cash for 10years purely bumhunting, when you could actually do it (hu tables, amazing euro sites etc, very long hours behind computer waiting/watching lobbies) I probably averaged £150-200k/yr with no tax. I have never been a very elite player, I didnt desire to be I just didnt want a regular job and was good enough and found a niche in seeking weaker players. When poker started to die, I couldnt fathom going to work for someone after that sort of freedom year in year out. Of course there were dire months/downswings - but in hindsight its that part of it that helps when starting a biz, if you have played poker professionally for any extended amount of time - you arent like regular folk who grind 9-5s who have no idea of breakeven stretches or downswings and what that can do to you mentally, its the same thing as starting a business and having no income/no idea when it will turn - after many years of these things happening it may well be the best mental tool you have for later life especially when delving into business. A lot of ppl have an idea for a biz and they 'wait' until they have enough savings or the perfect time, in my experience having a little gamble in you and understanding variance is very helpful when starting a business. Especially if you want to get rich, you wont get 'rich rich' being comfortable in a salary or having all the comforts of security, you need some sweat and to enjoy those periods of time where you literally dont know whats going to happen but have blind faith and understand you are likely +ev in what you're doing. Its very similar to poker in that respect. Many ppl I know who are successful as lawyers, realtors or bankers etc who have all had comfortable salaries cannot stomach the idea of having no income for 3mths (and having to use savings/bankroll), to me it was completely normal because of poker.
I have had of course a couple of failed businesses - epic fails which make losing months at poker seem redundant, in terms of £ lost/embarrassment its a hard pill to swallow. But mixing in poker again got me out of some holes and enabled me to try again at business, but understanding poker was a means to an end and not the main focus anymore was key for me - current biz is e-commerce & I own 2 stores (aswell as Amazon) that do well in a niche and I'm tenacious and extremely hungry (it also doesnt feel like work, at all, even though it is very much so) - so much of it and my attitude to it is from poker, its an invaluable asset and I owe poker an incredible amount - not just because I was fortunate to make good money from it but what it teaches you mentally is invaluable. I couldnt thinkg of anything worse than playing poker solely professionally now though. Good luck
Edit: I should actually add, business is hard, its far from easy and it sometimes doesnt work out - I didnt mean to sound like its easy. It has to be a good idea, you have to implement it properly and you have to work ****ing hard. I was just pointing out that getting a job is not the only answer, especially not for someone like me. Poker players who have treated poker as a business and are professional in what they do would be good at business in my opinion as they have an asset not many people have which is being accustomed to losing/winning lots of money day in day out and not knowing whats going to happen but knowing they were likely +ev.
Last edited by dappadan777; 02-16-2019 at 05:50 PM.