Turning Pro: My Dilemma

[vizer02]

Hello,

Here's my dilemma. My contract is up for renewal at the end of this month as Technology Coordinator at a K-12 school. I have been working at this job for two years, and currently am making $45,000/yr, which here in Indiana is above average. At the age of 23 I am the youngest TC in the state and am getting a great deal of experience, which makes this one hell of a job to throw away. I don't hate my job, but when I can make my entire months salary over the course of thirty-forty hours playing poker it is pretty sickening. Somehow I feel that the ease of making money at poker is destroying my view of my job's worth, even though I know I am providing a good service to the students and faculty here at the school.

With that being said, I am considering not renewing my contract this year and starting to play poker as my main source of income. If I do this I will also be going back to college full-time in the spring to study Business Admin or Entrepreneurship, which will take me ~ 2 years to complete. I am worried that poker may conflict with my schoolwork, as I am constantly thinking about poker. Also, if I start out having a losing session, a lot of times I end up playing a marathon session to end up in the green.

I feel that the pro’s and con’s are pretty well equal in this situation. Here is my list:

Pro’s of Playing Poker:
I will not have a set work schedule, so I can sleep in during the mornings
I have the possibility of making a lot more $ per year
I don’t have to work full time which makes it much easier to take classes
I can play poker outside and get a tan

Con’s of Playing Poker:
I don’t get a guaranteed check every 2 weeks, and might not make as much as I do currently
Poker might not be as fun anymore
I have no idea what the life expectancy of online poker is going to be
I might turn into a degenerate gambler

So my questions are:

1.) Do you play poker as your main source of income
2.) If yes, what level do you play
3.) Do you have money set aside as a cushion in case something goes wrong?
4.) Do you attend college full-time?
5.) If yes, do you find that poker is conflicting with your study habits and grades?
6.) Is poker still fun for you?
7.) If you were in my shoes, what would you do?

Please feel free to make any comments that you can think of that will help my decision. Mods, if this is in the wrong forum, please feel free to move it. I just posted it here because I am a FR player.

Thanks 2 + 2,

Michael ~ vizer02

[Mr_Donktastic]

It really depends on whether you want to go back to school or not, or if you would be happy staying in your current line of work and moving up the ladder.

If you think you want to go to school eventually/change careers just do it now.

Otherwise keep your dayjob and play poker on the side.

[D.L.M.]

school sucks, If you wanna go pro at poker i dont see why youd go back to school at the same time.

[vizer02]

I definately want something to fall back on in 5-10 years, and I think Bus. Admin/Entrepreneurship relate to poker a lot and give me the most flexiblity in the future to do whatever I want business-wise. If I give up my tech job now, it will be hard as hell to find another job in the field because it is still overpopulated as nearly everyone is cutting members of their IT staff.

[[Phill]]

I play for a living. For all the great advantages like setting your own schedule (today i went to bed when i was tired, woke up when i felt like it and played a few hour session and about to start another) and generally making more money than i would in pretty much all jobs i could get into there are LOTS of negatives.

The big one you need to adress is that poker might move on - the cash will *probably* be there for a fair few years, but what is your long term plan? I plan to set up a business within a year, what about you? Then there is the fact that you will struggle with things like mortgages as you would if you were self employed - plus if you are american you need to consider healthcare etc. Plus as far as jobs with a high social aspect, poker is right next to the guys who make fireworks. For instance, ive been cooped up in my flat for the last couple days now and have only socialised outside of MSN with my housemate - i need to get out and it wont be tonight because i need to make some money - maybe its just me, but when you work from home you have to work at taking time off the grind and seeing friends, especially if you're working through the night.

The fact you can make more money doesnt mean you should quit the job - the experience you seem to be getting (i dont understand what your job is though) will be really important if you want to work in a similar area over the long term. Experience at work is miles better than a degree, dont let anyone tell you differently.

If you hate the job then poker might be for you. If youre just in a slump at work then give it another month and reevaluate. If you want to develop yourself, travel, or generally do something like this in the short term then poker is probably the right choice.

Do a 1 year, 5 year and 10 year 'plan' setting out what you want to be doing and where you are financially. If poker ticks the boxes of your goals better than anything else, then all power to you. If not, you have your answer.

[[Phill]]

Also, many people can work the 9-5 and then grind for a few hours on the night/weekend without any difficulty. Think very carefully before making this move from the 9-5 world as getting back on that track can be really really hard.

[D.L.M.]

My advice is be damn sure that your hourly rate is high. or that you can play all the time and never get burned out. I have played less than 10 hours this month for pretty much no reason other than lazyness.

[jack frost]

I have noticed allot of the people here who are making it are college students/younger people with no family mortgage 2 cars....ect

I have thought about it too but I just can't see giving up a 100k a year job to play 200nl. My insurance and benefits added to my yearly income would make it very hard to give up my job right now. I think pokerboy is about the only one I know of that is doing this with a mortgage /family so maybe you could talk with him a little and make sure you factor your benefits/promotions and any other perks before giving up your job. Health insurance can be very expensive when paying out of your pocket. Good luck on your decision!

[Teddie]

[ QUOTE ]
Also, if I start out having a losing session, a lot of times I end up playing a marathon session to end up in the green.

[/ QUOTE ]


I'd sort this out before going pro. It's easier to go on marathon sessions trying to win back money knowing if you go even deeper it doesnt really matter i.e you have your job too fall back on if you lose a big amount playing poker.

But if you have nothing too fall back on and dont know when too quit a session you will sriously struggle to play as a full time pro.

I'd stick the job for another year and save alot of money so when you go "pro" you have money too fall back on.

Being a "pro" in your early 20's is a piece of piss. It when you hit your 30's and you have a family too feed and a mortage to pay that it really starts to become a job.

[Mr_Donktastic]

[ QUOTE ]
If I give up my tech job now, it will be hard as hell to find another job in the field because it is still overpopulated as nearly everyone is cutting members of their IT staff.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would keep the job for at least a year and build my poker bankroll during that time (don't cash anything out ldo).

Revisit the decision next year with your new robusto roll.