Here’s what I think is the best perspective you can have in regards to planning:

You want to achieve something and you have a plan? You’ve increased your odds of success.

You want to achieve something and you don’t have a plan? You’ve increased your odds of failure.

Our whole life is based on probability, in everything we try to achieve (also in our poker career) we’re dealing with odds. How likely is it that we’ll achieve what we want? How likely is it that we will fail?

Now, although the perspective of probability is what I want you to take away from this reflection, planning my goals has given me the benefits of less stress, way more clarity and structure in my daily life, as well as getting that dopamine shot of seeing progress!

I can go on with other benefits but I’ll stick to the ones I believe will get your attention.

Check this out:

This is a law that I’ve seen work in my life in several ways and different occasions, specifically for the following phrase: “By planning to the end you will not be overwhelmed by circumstances and you will know when to stop”.

Another principle that works like a slap in the face for me, quoting directly from the book: “It’s not the activity that disturbs people, but false conceptions of things that drive them mad”.

Now, let me give you some life examples for this, following up on these books as an example:

- My poker career: I can guarantee you of two things, first, if I had not planned, it would have been very easy to be overwhelmed by the obstacles. Therefore, if I didn’t have that clear end goal of being a high stakes poker player, the steps to achieving it could’ve easily taken me down and kept me there. Second, planning made me see things from a holistic perspective, therefore, kept me sharp in terms of understanding who I was and who I needed to be, that is gold for any professional (your skill gap is the path!);

- Initiating a company: Jesus, this one was like I was inside the octagon with a UFC fighter. Having a plan was what made me survive this far, exactly as the book says “it’s not the activity that disturbs people”, however, not understanding the purpose of my activities and clarifying my intentions nearly drove me crazy!

Speaking in an obvious way: Don’t you feel much safer when you’re walking on a path that you can clearly see where you’re headed?

Now, turn off the lights and make everything dark, how likely is it that you’ll get to where you’re going? That’s the importance of a plan, shed some light in your path!

Need help with planning your poker career? Reach out, we’re here to help, that’s my plan for Poker Ambition: to give you what you want and need to excel as a professional.

Rene Kuhlman - TheWakko