My advice it that if you aren't addicted to gambling, don't purse playing professionally. The grind will get to you eventually.

think about it every day, hate it, but then I usually say something like.. I worked 600 hours last year, it was pretty nice to have the other 1400 off and I'm not sure I'm ready to give that up.

LOL, this is a strange and mocked idea by the "poker isnt gambling" mob.

But its absolutely accurate.

Are you a calm and funny guy Bob?

If you are, you are going to have no problems

Why would a calm and funny guy not have problems (genuine question), please explain?

No, but I'll take tips on how to make 500k in 2.5 years.

We need graphs -- right now!!!

Poker can be depressing, sure, but the benefits far outweigh the negative. Being able to make 6 figures a year (or even 50k+) for playing a game online at home is pretty sweet. My wife makes 4k a month and works more than I do and has to deal with a lot more BS than I do on a daily basis.

I think in general successful players are not thankful enough for what they do, while the losing/slightly winning ones don't work hard enough to get what they want.

And as said before balance is very important... relationships, family, physical activity, nutrition, etc are all important to the long-term success of a poker player.

amen to that. I quit to pursue rock climbing and am loving it. ha! you guys care about money. I like to climb rocks and don't need to eat a fancy meal or take a shower, for the 100th time.

I'm starting to get the impression that most of the people who write these threads lamenting the depressive and unfulfilling nature of poker would be depressed and unfulfilled no matter what they do. I think it's you, not the poker.

graphs/screen names or gtfo - NVG isnt your blog

Well, If you are calm means you accept what life has to offer you.

And by having a sense of humor, will help you when bad times come, they generally do, once in a while.

I am 38 yrs old, married, father of three and there were many times I wanted to play poker full time and I guess call it going "PRO". I was making good money playing but I basicly felt like it wasnt the right thing to do based on setting an example for my kids and just the thought of poker being my career choice. I am self employed and my business has not been doing so well the last three years thats why I thought about putting in more hours playing poker and even investing some of my own $. Ultimately I chose to just continue to run my business, play poker a couple hours a night and sometimes put in a long day playing on Sat. or Sunday. I hear of all these kids dropping out of college because they are making huge cash playing poker and spending all day staring at a monitor and clicking a mouse. In my opinion its no way to live and I can see how one can get burned out and not enjoy playing anymore. Its important to have balance in your life, family, friends, and having hobbies. Overall Im not a huge winner playing poker but just about every day I look forward to playing and the competition.

Ron, didn't you have the ultimate job for many years?...The TPMM model looks great when your 19-22 years old. as you get older it gets less and less desirable, factor kids into it and forget it completely.

+1.

What stakes/game were you playing b4 you quit? Was just talking to some1 today about turning pro but had reservations, your poker story would be nice Bob.

I m a happy lazy person. And i wouldnt want to be able to get up early.
I feel your depression is more a very personnal matter and cannot be generalized so easily....
i like to play poker all day long. I dont like to work all day long.
so why the hell would i quit.

Just because you were not able to find happiness as a pro player does not mean others cannot.

Glad you have found a good balance, and I am sure your experience as a poker player will help in many ways no matter where your life leads.

so you left this were u could do what hours u want to have a 9-5 and earn prob max$3000 a month.

if this was your best ever decision i worry for you

FOUND THE SLAVE IN YOU?

Were you playing Live cash games or online mostly?

What are you doing now? Thats better than making $10-20K a month?

Were you exercising a lot when you playing full time? Could account for your lonely and laziness if not staying healthy.

This. Every time i see one of these threads i know the dude hasnt worked full time before

Everyone hates their job but there is a support group for that .... it's called the bar.

G.C.

( ) good grades at a good school is enough to launch a career in this economy.

(x) I have brother who got diploma at a top public uni who is making 12 bucks an hr now waiting for grad school ....

(x) Father stares at screen all day for 6 figures+amazing benefits...and people think he is very fortunate to have done this most of his adult life.

2+2 19 yr olds...meet the real fkn world. You two have a lot of catching up to do....

I'm glad you are currently happy with your decision but don't you think you should wait awhile before you make this post? I mean yeah I understand that life is better when you have no stress, no job, and can socialize whenever you want with no regrets.

This post will be a lot more beneficial for people of this forum in similar position as you were once you get a job that makes you happy and have actual advice, and can weigh the pros and cons of the real world vs the poker world. When you can give real advice it might help some posters get their life on a different track, but it sounds like you are a long ways from that point still, gl though and I hope you find something that makes you happy.

you're doing it wrong it's actually one of the easier jobs: you have freedom over how many hours you work and when you work. 15hrs/week and get by while pursuing tons of other stuff, or 45hrs/week and make bank, while still having the same social life anybody else has at weeknights/weekends