Hi all,
Quick update on my goals.
Playing amazing poker. I've had the two biggest tournament cashes of my life. I've been playing pretty well in the cash games too, although last few sessions have actually been negative. Some pretty bad beats, but after a hand review I can tell I'm letting fish get it all in and calling not with the total nuts. I rarely used to do that. Still, in terms of actual poker ability, I'm more or less at my peak now, and I believe the results will come.
I'm actually playing multiple table touranments better than ever before, and better than cash games sometimes. There are nuances within them I've learnt which most players at the stakes I play don't know. I intend to play quite a few 'UK and Ireland' events at PokerStars, as there's decent value there.
However, the way I'm feeling at the moment, I'm more inclined towards a sales or at least 'influencing people' job, with poker as a part time objective. Maybe it's the bad beats. I need to keep persisting with poker though, as I know I have some big scores in me!
Reach a high overall wealth. My shares have been performing pretty well so far this year, so I'm at my peak wealth now more or less. I think there are solid gains for them to come this year too! That sphere of my wealth should increase organically, and if I can get a good value price I'd like to buy some more shares fairly soon too. Poker and a few other activites have contributed to wealth growth too, but ideally I'd like to have a well paid sales job to really motor this along.
Perform superbly in sales. I haven't really had the opportunity to perform yet, which is a bit frustrating. I'm aiming to do everything to make this happen though.
Get to know more great people. Fairly pleased with how I'm doing on this one. Early days in the year yet, but I'm pretty happy with the people I know and am chatting to. Can always do more though! I'm at @MarkHowitt on Twitter and Mark Howitt on Facebook if you want to get to know me more.
And come to think of it, this website can help me with my goals too! So I'll try and provide some quality content here, and work on the design even though I'm no web guru. All part of making things happen!
Monday, 17 January 2011
Friday, 7 January 2011
Trusting Your Instincts
So... my goals are going reasonably well for 2010 so far. Shares have been performing well- yesterday I was at my total peak wealth. Poker has been going pretty well too- I'm playing fine, am at my peak winnings in cash games and have qualified for the biggest tournament of my life on Sunday. Cash nicely in that one and I'm really ready to play higher stakes. So I'll be preparing for that- my MTT game is at its peak now, so time to show and prove!
Anyway... instincts. Yeah, trust them. For all of 2011 so far I've been hyper focused on my goals- more so than ever before. I'm aiming to make all my actions bring me closer towards them. Anything which isn't is only moving me further away.
There are always challenges in achieving big goals, but that's why you set them. I think where I've stumbled in the past is on a few occassions not trusting your instincts. Two main reasons for this- of course, with thoughts that flash through your mind and just gut feeling you can't quantify immediately WHY you feel that way. You just do. Secondly, often it's socially unconventional to trust your instincts. You'll be doing something against the herd instinct, which is so strong in most people. It isn't in me but I have slipped up sometimes. I won't be doing that anymore-I'm responsible for getting my goals and I will do whatever it takes to win.
Anyway... instincts. Yeah, trust them. For all of 2011 so far I've been hyper focused on my goals- more so than ever before. I'm aiming to make all my actions bring me closer towards them. Anything which isn't is only moving me further away.
There are always challenges in achieving big goals, but that's why you set them. I think where I've stumbled in the past is on a few occassions not trusting your instincts. Two main reasons for this- of course, with thoughts that flash through your mind and just gut feeling you can't quantify immediately WHY you feel that way. You just do. Secondly, often it's socially unconventional to trust your instincts. You'll be doing something against the herd instinct, which is so strong in most people. It isn't in me but I have slipped up sometimes. I won't be doing that anymore-I'm responsible for getting my goals and I will do whatever it takes to win.
Monday, 3 January 2011
2011- This Blog!
I'm going to write more on this blog in 2011 too. Keeps me accountable, and I enjoy it!
I'm being proactive so far this year and chatting to some interesting people. Hopefully this blog will allow me to contact more. Feel free to swap links or comment.
I'm being proactive so far this year and chatting to some interesting people. Hopefully this blog will allow me to contact more. Feel free to swap links or comment.
Sunday, 2 January 2011
2011 GOALS
2011 GOALS
Play amazing poker. I want to play cash games at quite a lot higher level than I do now, and by this time next year I will do. Already deposited more in, tomorrow I start the gradual progression. I certainly will do this.
Reach a high overall wealth. I'm setting myself an ambitious target again, and I'm ready to put all my energy and talent into getting it. I'm ready to do this- this time next year I expect my cash and share value to be a decent figure.
Perform superbly in sales. This year in periods I've performed the best ever so far in sales. Under very challenging conditions too. Well I've learnt from that, and I'm learning every day. 2011 will be my best sales year yet!
Get to know more great people! Really pleased this year with people I've got to know. The friends I've known for years as always have been amazing. You know who you are, and I'm privileged to know you.
If you'd told me a few years ago that I'd have chatted socially to some Chess Grandmasters and other high achieving people, I wouldn't have believed you. Subconsciously I would have thought they were too high value to talk to me. I clearly know now that some of the most talented people are the most open to connecting with other potential big winners.
So in 2011 I want to push my comfort zone and meet more GREAT people. Mutual fulfillment is what it's about, so I want to learn from them and provide value to them too.
Play amazing poker. I want to play cash games at quite a lot higher level than I do now, and by this time next year I will do. Already deposited more in, tomorrow I start the gradual progression. I certainly will do this.
Reach a high overall wealth. I'm setting myself an ambitious target again, and I'm ready to put all my energy and talent into getting it. I'm ready to do this- this time next year I expect my cash and share value to be a decent figure.
Perform superbly in sales. This year in periods I've performed the best ever so far in sales. Under very challenging conditions too. Well I've learnt from that, and I'm learning every day. 2011 will be my best sales year yet!
Get to know more great people! Really pleased this year with people I've got to know. The friends I've known for years as always have been amazing. You know who you are, and I'm privileged to know you.
If you'd told me a few years ago that I'd have chatted socially to some Chess Grandmasters and other high achieving people, I wouldn't have believed you. Subconsciously I would have thought they were too high value to talk to me. I clearly know now that some of the most talented people are the most open to connecting with other potential big winners.
So in 2011 I want to push my comfort zone and meet more GREAT people. Mutual fulfillment is what it's about, so I want to learn from them and provide value to them too.
Sunday, 19 September 2010
England's chances in Chess Olympiad
Although I don't play much over the board chess any more, I still follow chess. Here's a post on my take for England's chances!
England are seeded 12th in this years Olympiad.
http://www.chess-results.com/tnr36795.aspx?art=0&lan=1&flag=30&m=-1&wi=1000
I've had a look and a ponder about the teams- I reckon this is the best chance we've had for years at an Olympiad- think I read we got 4th in Moscow 1994 when we should have got 3rd but the Russians fixed the tiebreak- terrible conditions in that one too.
First time I can really remember since 'following' chess Olympiads (starting from 1998 really) that are players all seem to be near the peak of their form all at the same time. We've probably got our strongest available team out there at the moment, and for England it's quite a young team. I think all of the players in there can show good will to win- in fact I'd say overall from what I've seen boards 2-4 in any combination like to press to a win very hard if they're near the peak of their form. When Adams gets into form he has great results too in team comps- I really hope he does continue his good form, although he will have some tough matches. I just hope he doesn't give away easy draws- I want everyone to be fighting for the full point! I personally believe too that how well we do depends to some extent on how much we can get our top four players to play. I'd play Gawain against some of the weaker teams but not against players ranked too far above 2600 if I could help it.
And looking at the teams, a lot of teams have crucial players out. Germany have all their best players out, Romania aren't playing, Azerbaijan have Gashimov out, France have Bacrot out, Lautier too if you count him as 'active', Netherlands have Tiviakov out, Poland have Krasenkow out, India have Anand out, Denmark have Nielsen out... and these are just ones from top of my head!
Depending on how English chess goes, this might actually be the best chance we have for years.
Ratings are one thing, but how England prepare and the conditions they have are crucial. That's why I'm eager to know about them in this Olympiad- another plus this time seems to me is we have a team captain who works hard and likes to communicate with the chess players who help subsdise his team, so I really hope Loz can provide a few updates we can't get from other sources during the Olympiad!
England are seeded 12th in this years Olympiad.
http://www.chess-results.com/tnr36795.aspx?art=0&lan=1&flag=30&m=-1&wi=1000
I've had a look and a ponder about the teams- I reckon this is the best chance we've had for years at an Olympiad- think I read we got 4th in Moscow 1994 when we should have got 3rd but the Russians fixed the tiebreak- terrible conditions in that one too.
First time I can really remember since 'following' chess Olympiads (starting from 1998 really) that are players all seem to be near the peak of their form all at the same time. We've probably got our strongest available team out there at the moment, and for England it's quite a young team. I think all of the players in there can show good will to win- in fact I'd say overall from what I've seen boards 2-4 in any combination like to press to a win very hard if they're near the peak of their form. When Adams gets into form he has great results too in team comps- I really hope he does continue his good form, although he will have some tough matches. I just hope he doesn't give away easy draws- I want everyone to be fighting for the full point! I personally believe too that how well we do depends to some extent on how much we can get our top four players to play. I'd play Gawain against some of the weaker teams but not against players ranked too far above 2600 if I could help it.
And looking at the teams, a lot of teams have crucial players out. Germany have all their best players out, Romania aren't playing, Azerbaijan have Gashimov out, France have Bacrot out, Lautier too if you count him as 'active', Netherlands have Tiviakov out, Poland have Krasenkow out, India have Anand out, Denmark have Nielsen out... and these are just ones from top of my head!
Depending on how English chess goes, this might actually be the best chance we have for years.
Ratings are one thing, but how England prepare and the conditions they have are crucial. That's why I'm eager to know about them in this Olympiad- another plus this time seems to me is we have a team captain who works hard and likes to communicate with the chess players who help subsdise his team, so I really hope Loz can provide a few updates we can't get from other sources during the Olympiad!
Pithy sayings!
"Try to win it one pot at a time." Chan in World Series of Poker.
Ilyumzhinov (chess boss!): "If Karpov didn’t exist you’d have to invent him. He has no program, no ideas, while 170 countries around the world is no joke! You don’t sit at the controls of a jet, or in a dentist’s chair, knowing that instead of a doctor there’s Vasya the plumber. Therefore I consider his competition frivolous."
Ilyumzhinov (chess boss!): "If Karpov didn’t exist you’d have to invent him. He has no program, no ideas, while 170 countries around the world is no joke! You don’t sit at the controls of a jet, or in a dentist’s chair, knowing that instead of a doctor there’s Vasya the plumber. Therefore I consider his competition frivolous."
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Sales
Hi all,
I've just decided that I want to become excellent at buying, negotiating and sales. So you can consider this a formal declaration of my goal which you can keep me accountable to!
Already kicked it off today with a negotiation of £50 worth of free products in one minute. And when I say 'free products' I don't mean I actually went out to buy something to get something 'free'. Was simple phone call that I recieved on behalf of an order- (placed by someone else!)
I think the main thing in sales is to be non need and non outcome dependent. I was almost disinterested in my negotiation because the product was of no interest to me. I was pretty assertive and asked direct questions. I made the conversation short because I have other phone calls that are more important.
Having this attitude (although not as direct or assertive in certain situations) is pretty key I believe.
I've just decided that I want to become excellent at buying, negotiating and sales. So you can consider this a formal declaration of my goal which you can keep me accountable to!
Already kicked it off today with a negotiation of £50 worth of free products in one minute. And when I say 'free products' I don't mean I actually went out to buy something to get something 'free'. Was simple phone call that I recieved on behalf of an order- (placed by someone else!)
I think the main thing in sales is to be non need and non outcome dependent. I was almost disinterested in my negotiation because the product was of no interest to me. I was pretty assertive and asked direct questions. I made the conversation short because I have other phone calls that are more important.
Having this attitude (although not as direct or assertive in certain situations) is pretty key I believe.
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