Poker and life have a number of similar traits. The biggest one is that everyone wants to win in poker and life. Nobody wants failure. However, success also has its perils as winning can make the individual complacent and open the door to bad habits that derail their success.
The Perils of Success
Winning can sometimes turn out to be a bad experience especially if we are unaware of the risks that come with it. It’s quite easy to get lost in the moment, especially if you’re in a favorable position. Just take a look at some of the biggest lottery winners and you will see how many of them have gone bust after winning millions.
When we know we’re winning in life or in a game of poker, we become prone to making the wrong decisions, and when we win consistently, we quickly come to the conclusion that we are good at what we do. It blinds us to the fact that no matter how good we are at something, there’s always someone better out there. It’s quite tricky dealing with success, and if you don’t realize the risks sooner, the effects are more dangerous.
Here’s what you need to remember every time you win in poker:
Shun Complacency
You won’t always win. This is why it’s hugely important that you continue to learn and hone your skills. This requires consistent evaluation of your plays.
Don’t get too fixated on your good performances. Instead, focus on areas of your play that need improvement. Figure out where you’ve gone wrong, because definitely there will always be leaks, no matter how small they may be. Work on them. You can’t be complacent.
Don’t Get Fooled By the Wrong Lessons
Winning sometimes fools you into believing you’ve done the right thing. An initial wrong move will sometimes work in your favor, leading to your victory, but that doesn’t mean you must stick to that bad judgment when in similar situations. The only reason why you won despite that poor play was because you just got lucky.
If you apply those wrong lessons in your future sessions, you will most likely lose.
Overconfidence is Dangerous
It’s inevitable to get overconfident especially when you’re on the winning end, but remember, it will only do you more harm than good. This is one thing you must avoid especially if you are new to poker.  Overconfidence leads to bad decisions and turns potential success into failure.
This usually happens when you are initially successful in your plays. When you’re so sure of yourself, you become super aggressive. You stick to your strategy, not minding that your opponents are silently observing your patterns. When they finally figure it out, they adjust their play accordingly, and then exploit your aggression to their advantage.
Instead of slowing down, you decide to be more aggressive because you think you can’t go wrong. And that’s when things begin to blow up. You end up losing all of your stack.
Avoiding Risks
To manage poker success, you must prevent yourself from getting caught up in the moment. Instead of going over your positive results, focus more on improving your weak spots. Review your decisions, interact with fellow players and try to have a discussion with them with regards to the hands that you’ve played.
Be aware that there will always be better players than you. That’s why you must not stop learning even if you win consistently. The world’s most successful poker pros still study the game even if they’re already at the peak of their careers. The more they win, the more they’re motivated to level up their game.
Learn to set limits both on your wins and the time you spend playing. Take a step back from the poker tables every now and then. Learn to leave when it’s time to leave. Prioritize your health and wellbeing over money. It will benefit you in the long run.