Believe it or not, but people love my 4-hour webinars where I go deep on specific topics, such as bluffing, playing in small stakes games versus amateurs, playing against overly aggressive opponents, the WSOP, etc. I haven't done one of these live webinars since the WSOP and I frequently receive emails from my followers asking when the next one will be. My followers are more than happy to pay roughly $30 per hour for group coaching where they can ask any questions they want. If you give people quality coaching, which ideally leads to good results, they are happy to pay a reasonable price. Fortunately for me, my students have had amazing results.

I am a bit unsure what part of my training sites, which have loads of free content, quantifies as a "hustle". Is it because you think some of the videos are not worth the price? Obviously money is relative. Are you aware that all of my video training products and live webinars have a 100% money back guarantee if you don't like them for any reason?

I have numerous students who happily pay me $300 per hour for private coaching. I actually have to turn down most incoming students due to high demand and lack of time. I play the high stakes live poker tournament circuit full time in addition to writing books, producing videos, producing my podcast, posting weekly blogs, writing for a poker magazine, and writing for newspapers. For my students, the coaching is worth the price because they use the knowledge they acquire to better crush their games.

While some people may not think poker training, in any of its various forms, is "worth it", lots of people do. I spent over $25,000 on poker coaching in the first few years of my poker career and it paid off well. I found all of my coaches right here on 2+2 before the Coaching forum existed. Some people would rather get knowledge from people who are better than them at specific aspects of the game rather than slowly acquiring it at the table. For me, the decision was easy. Most people who are unwilling to pay the price for poker training content simply don't understand that if their ROI goes up even a little bit, the training will pay itself off quickly.

I don't think Mason is saying anything is a hustle. He is saying some people, and not necessarily him, might view the amount of material to be a hustle.

Hi Jonathan:

I think you need to read my post again since what you wrote above has little to do with what I wrote.

Best wishes,
Mason

Hi Doc:

That's exactly right, and this is, to me anyway, clearly illustrated by the two links I gave.

I know that Jonathan wants to build brand recognition, and that's exactly what we did with Two Plus Two. But I think most everyone will agree that our approach was different.

Best wishes,
Mason

Hi Everyone:

I have now finished Chapter 01 "The Six Ingredients for a Winning Poker Strategy" by Evan Jarvis and on my 1 to 10 scale with 10 being the best, this receives a 7. I found this to be well written with the target audience being beginner type players that covers topics such as equity, position, and aggression. In fact, the chapter could have begun with a note that it could be skipped by more experienced readers, but it certainly won't hurt anyone to read it.

The reason it doesn't get a higher rating is that it contains several statistical type errors. Two examples are on page 37 it reads:

The more community cards left to come the more variable your equity will be.

Of course this isn't true since the equity of a specific hand or range in a specific situation is a constant, and there is no variance on a constant. On the other hand, the more community cards left to come the more variable your final results will be.

And on page 57 it reads:

"In the end, the luck will balance out"

And this isn't true either since it implies that if you have been doing exceptionally well or exceptionally poorly, the opposite must happen at some time in the future which is not the case.

In addition, I also felt his discussion on page 52 as to why his opponent should not have played the
64 in a tournament hand against him contradicted the discussion as to why hands like 22 and the 97 should usually be played when the stacks are fairly deep.

Best wishes,
Mason

But you will have to agree that the circumstances when you first started and now are different so a different approach to build a successful business might be necessary.

And if you think about it, the 2plus2 of today is pretty close to what Jonathan is doing. It offers traditional books, ebooks, coaching (though not directly) and podcasts.

This is coming from someone that has 4 of your books but I think it's a hustle. Nothing wrong with that but it's just how I see it.

Since June 2011 you've released 21 books on Amazon. Most of them appear to just be HH's ( I haven't read the small stakes tournament series) which if true I find pretty lol. You think so highly of yourself that you put out 14 books of your own HH's? Idk man seems a bit much to me. I'm sure you're gonna say "but my readers buy them" blah blah blah but to me that is irrelevant because your readers/followers will be biased. Look at someone like Dr Oz...he has a bunch of followers that buy his products but that doesn't mean he's putting out good products. People like to be followers and if someone that they think is important or a person of authority says something they feel it must be true.

I also feel like the SOPTP series was an attempt to stretch 1 book into 3 but 1 book wouldn't make as much money so I'm not surprised. I'm also a bit confused as why it took 2 years to put out that series but your other series of 14 books only took 3-4 months.

To me your website is set up just like a marketing site and as soon as I arrive I can tell you're trying to sell me something. The very first thing I see is a "sign up now, not much time remands" banner with a "It's usually $99 to sign up but today it's only $9.99". That is typical marketing strategy, put the original price sky high and only charge a fraction of it so people think they are really getting a good deal. In all reality if I had to guess you never charge $99 to sign up and it's always $9.99 but I've never looked before so I could be wrong.

The overall message I get from you whether it be from looking at your website, amazon page, watching twitch or seeing you in person is "Hi I'm J. Little. I won 2 WPT's a long time ago so you should buy my stuff."

I also find it funny when I see you patched up with blue shark optics but you aren't wearing them. Way to represent the product!!!


You're a marketer that plays poker on the side, at least that's how I see it.

I still think everyone should grab a copy of Excelling at NL Holdem though. Good book from what I've read.

I is interesting to me that a few of you are hating on the 14-volume series Crushing Small Stakes Poker Tournament series. I certainly do not count these in "books" I have written and I do not consider myself a 21-time author. I make it very clear on the Amazon page that this is a series of hand histories that should be used to help you figure out how to play almost every standard preflop spot you will find. They are to be used as flash cards. Unfortunately, Amazon doesn't let me sell digital flash cards.

The reason this series is chopped up into 14 volumes is because of Amazon's digiatal shipping fees. Each hand history is an image, which are expensive to digitally ship. I actually make almost no money from the sale of these books. You have also probably noticed that I do not actively promote them because they are for a very small market of people. For someone who is looking for an additional way to learn to play the situations covered, they are a good fit, but they are certainly not for everyone, just like Strategies for Beating Small Stakes Poker Tournaments and Fundamentals of Craps aren't for everyone. Just because something exists does not mean you have to buy it or that is was written with you in mind.

As for Secrets of Professional Tournament Poker being 3 volumes instead of 1, my publisher didn't think it made sense to publish an 800 page book. If you have a product and you don't market it, it means that you don't like money, you don't want to share your product, or you don't think your product can help people. I like money, I want to share my product, and I know my products help people. As for me not being a poker player, I have been in the top 100 tournament players according to the Global Poker Index since it started. Maybe you just think I am a top 25 marketer? Thanks!

Hi Doc:

Yes, but the approach couldn't be more different. Specifically, and you'll probably have trouble believing this, making money was never our goal. Our approach was to put out a top notch product and we felt that the profit would take care of itself, and we ended up being far more successful than we ever thought possible (and of course the great poker boom did help).

One result of this is that we paid royalty rates that were literally unheard of in our industry, and this helped 2+2 attract the best books. I even remember a meeting years ago with our attorney who advised us to lower our royalty rates (for future books) where he questioned if it would even be possible for us to be profitable doing what we were doing. But it all worked out and our authors made four to five times as much as they would have made with our chief cometitor at that time.

Another result is that we published a few books which we think are excellent but which we knew ahead of time would not sell much. A recent example are the Philip Newall books. Since limit poker is currently out of favor, we knew their sales would be minimal, but the quality of the material was just too good for us to pass on.

We also turned down a few books which we thought would be good sellers but which could damage our reputation for high quality. Two examples were the original Lee Jones manuscript which became Winning Low Limit Hold 'em -- I only saw a book proposal -- and a high stakes limit hold 'em book (when limit hold 'em was still popular) that included Ray Zee as a co-author.

And since you mentioned it, you're probably not aware that our podcast with Adam and Terrence (who replaced Mike Johnson after he retired) is also completely accidental. A bunch of years ago *TT* brought Adam by our office for lunch so we could meet him, and I found the meeting so positive that when lunch was over I said to Adam "Why don't you bring your Rounders Podcast into 2+2." And from that day forward their show became the Two Plus Two Pokercast which I believe is by far the best and most successful show of its type. (Talk about getting lucky and running good.)

Best wishes,
Mason

Hi Everyone:

I have now finished Chapter 02 "Lower Buy-In Tournament Strategies" by Chris Moneymaker, and on my 1 to 10 scale with 10 being the best, this receives a 9. In fact, it was surprising as to how good this chapter was since I can't remember ever reading anything written by Moneymaker before and didn't expect much. (My apologies to Chris for thinking this way.)

The discussion is really about how players who regularly play small buy-in tournaments differ from those who play in larger buy-in tournaments, how to profile them, and understanding how their play changes as the tournament progresses. Specifically, and Moneymaker's comments are much more in depth than this, players at the smaller tournaments tend to start off playing too loose but then tighten up, while the tougher regulars in the bigger tournaments frequently do the opposite.

The only criticism I have is with the chapter title. Something like "How Your Opponents Differ Depending on the Tournament and what Adjustments to Make” would have been better.

Best wishes,
Mason

Actually, I said that I felt Jonathan wanted to be successful and that doesn't necessarily mean monetarily.

In regards to the podcast, I know it was a happy accident.

The small buy-in tournament I played last night seems to have been proof of that. It was only my second time playing this particular night, but a lot of the people at my table evidently knew each other due to being regulars and it was quite loose at the start.

Just to reiterate my stance on him primarily being a marketer/salesman and not a poker player I would like to share the following experience......

I purchased Excelling at NL Holdem about 2 months and have read most of the chapters. I've always noticed the bits about the free webinars coming late 2015 / early 2016 and again I noticed it last night while I was doing some reading so I went to sign up for it. It doesn't mention anything about buying anything.

I completed the form or whatever on the website and was sent the following email

I obviously click on the link because I may want to attend some of the webinars. Well upon clicking on the link I was taken to a landing page (a landing page is a marketing tactic trying to get people to buy something) asking me if I wanted to purchase some recorded webinars or something. I only clicked the link for the free stuff because in the book it said it was free (which afaik, it still is free). I didn't want to buy anything, I've already spent more than $100 on your books so no webinars for me. After scrolling past all the marketing/sales pitches etc I finally was able to find the link about the free webinars. Great!!!! Until I click the link and am taken to another landing page trying to get me to buy more stuff. Like seriously? Finally after I scroll through more bs marketing pitches I finally find another link saying take me to sign up for the webinars. I clicked the link and finally it says I'm signed up for the webinars. It's really sad when I already paid $30 for the book and then try to sign up for something "free" and I'm blasted with numerous landing pages trying to get me to spend MORE money.


That's not necessarily true. If you have a good product it usually sells itself w/ minimal marketing/advertisement (for instance I've recommended your book to numerous people, even on this forum). That's why most of the marketers out there are selling **** products or just rehashing other peoples information and calling it their own.

As for being a poker player I've already said I'm sure you still play poker and I don't want to get in a discussion about your relativity in today's game as I'm sure you're still plenty good. I would just think that a top 100 gpi player would being playing in some 100k's or something if they were really that good. My apologies if you do play 100k's but I just didn't see any cashes on Hendon and you would think if a top 100 GPI'er were playing the 100k's they would have cashed at some point. (No I don't play 100k's either but I don't market myself as a top tournament pro, making reference to the GPI)

As far as being a marketer I think you're a ****ty marketer because you rely on things that happened ages ago to make yourself seem credible/relevant. I don't care that you won a tournament 8 years ago, it's irrelevant in today's game. You're also a ****ty marketer or just an idiot because you are using a picture from 2007 on your front webpage. You would think a top 100 GPI'er could do better than that old withered picture from 2007. Or perhaps that was your publishers decision.


Your quote from above.....
From your about section on your website.....
It clearly says you spend most of your time writing poker books and that so far you have authored 6 books and 14 ebooks.

Really though I couldn't care less about what you do or how you operate your business as you're probably really successful. I've definitely learned from your books in the past but for me the way you operate now, especially after my latest experience trying to sign up for the webinars, has turned me off and I will no longer buy your books or recommend them to anyone. I'm sure you don't care and will offer a condescending post but I thought I'd share my opinion on the matter.

As Salsberg would say

This may be the only part that I agree with the post above. The bottom line is that many players (including myself) will find something of value with the books, podcasts, videos, articles and other training materials of Jonathan Little. I don't see anything wrong with trying to be a good businessman or marketeer when you have something that your target demographic will find of some value.

Hi donk:

Perhaps I shouldn't but I'm going to try to answer this. During the summer Little dropped by our office for a visit and lunch with me and Mat Sklansky and we were highly impressed with this young man and his desire to build a brand. But I do agree that much of his stuff is exactly as you describe.

Here's what I think is happening. Book sales have collapsed from where they were during the height of the poker boom. And while I know very little about his publisher, my guest is that he probably gets about $3 per book sale and that would be in line with what a typical publisher pays.

So it means that if Little wants to make lots of money, and there's certainly nothing wrong with that, he needs to branch out into other areas of the poker publishing field and this can include stuff like videos, training sites, seminars, webinars, etc. However, I do agree that Little has messed up in the way much of his stuff is presented and some of the alliances he has formed (and this has nothing to do with his book publisher), and I also think that this will hurt him as an individual in the long run and I question as to how successful his brand will become. However, I think there's time for him to make fixes and if that happens many of your complaints will go away.

Best wishes,
Mason

Didn't you post something similar before?

This book came out in July and it already has 81 reviews on Amazon, with 93% of them 5 star. Hmmmm.

If you are implying the reviews are not on the up and up, I would be more suspicious of middle of the road reviews as generally the most passionate , either positively or negatively, about a product are motivated enough to post a review.

People who read my books enjoy them. Unfortunately, only 93% of them gave 5 stars. I will work harder to get closer to that magical 100% mark next time.

You will have a tough time finding many publishers who will publish an 800 page book for $30. Paper is expensive.

Each author involved with Excelling will host two webinars. Half will be free and the other half will be paid. I am sorry you had difficulty getting through the short sign up process.

I have actually authored 9 books. I spend roughly half of my time playing the high stakes tournament circuit and the other half of the time writing books/coaching students/producing training courses/etc. It doesn't take me long to write a book once I figure out the rough outline. For example, that 800 page 3-part series took six weeks.

I look to play poker when I have an edge, not to boost my ego. The player pool in the $100,000 buy-in events is roughly 50 world-class players and a few amateurs. I do not have the requisite bankroll for those events and I have no desire to sell action. My goal as a professional poker player is not to play as large as possible all the time. To try to gain your admiration, the largest event I have played was a $160,000 buy-in in London, which I bubbled when my AA lost to 55. The only reason I played that event was because it was a small field consisting of 30% businesses men with $160,000 added to the prize pool.

You seem to not understand how the Global Poker Index works. Take a look at the results of the top 25 players to see what I mean.

If you don't like my books or marketing practices, please realize that I am not trying to please everyone. I do not care to help those who are close minded, impatient, and love to complain. It seems like I am not a good fit for you to learn from.

Good luck finding your path.

Did you consider flat calling with your KQss and then c/r all in if you connected with the flop?

On my bustout hand where I took 25th in the Borgata WPT today, Maurice, a difficult to play against LAG, made it 75k at 12k/24k-4k from the button. I had 760k in the small blind. I elected to go all-in, which most of my friends agree was the right play. I think calling would also be fine, especially if my table was weak or my opponent had numerous leaks. I am not check-raising all-in when I connect because that will force Maurice to play well.

Thank you for replying. I seem to recall you got it in at the last 3 tables a few years back in a similar situation, only that you had the other guy(s)? dominated , but you got sucked out on. Hang in there.

Just bought this book. Having read the 3-part MTT series, I'm expecting good things from it. I need to go back and re-read the MTT books but I'm just so burned out on MTT's. No desire to play them for a good while. Expecting the book to be worth it when I get to it, price was pretty nice. Thanks JLittle.

I'm have the ebook version. I'd like the hard copy so if anyone out there is looking to off load it let me know. Thanks.