When the chicks fly the nest

It is always with a little trepidation when one of my students gets back to me with news of just how they are doing after having coaching from me. This week one of my earlier students got in touch for the very first time since he went it alone early in 2005. I always worry that some of them will not fully take on board my methods or through personal indiscipline blow their life’s savings and end up in some horrible downward spiral ending in divorce and all round sadness.

The guy in question seemed to struggle with what I was trying to teach him but when he got back to me and said a big thank you after winning over $100,000 in the past 18 months then I was made up. The guy had done so well that I was actually picking HIS brains and asking him stuff like where had he been playing and at what levels and what were the players like and such.

I almost considered changing sites. I have heard it said many times that “those who can’t do it….teach or write a book”…..well what a load of rubbish that statement is. Some of the greatest names in poker also teach or have taught at some stage and have also written books. People like Doyle Brunson, Phil Helmuth, Johnny Chan, Daniel Negreanu, TJ Cloutier, Barry Greenstein to name but a few.

When people (mainly through jealousy) say things like this then what they fail to take on board is the sheer pleasure that is derived through not only imparting knowledge but also seeing your knowledge making other people happy and successful. Another student from Salford who was with me recently told me that he was nearly $8000 ahead playing small stakes NL after only a few short weeks. Another story that gives me immense pleasure.

Before I undertook to go into coaching I never realised just how fulfilling and rewarding it can actually be. It just goes to show you that you can actually enjoy poker in numerous ways without taking someone’s money and making them miserable….for once I am doing something ethical and rewarding in my life.

For more information about my coaching, please visit the Poker Coaching page.