In our search for success in real-life or in poker, we often stray from the path because of little annoyances or unfair happenings. Life’s road will be a mite bumpy at times, but it’s how you react that determines success or failure. Do you moan and complain about life’s complexities or do you meet the challenges head-on with a positive attitude?
 
You shouldn’t allow an incompetent restaurant server, one that puts a lemon on your glass of tea when you specifically requested “no lemon,” to determine the outcome of your day any more than you should allow a poker dealer’s mistake to prompt poor decisions on future hands.
 
Poker applications. When an opponent holds cards over you, it’s natural to feel upset. But it isn’t profitable to change your tactics in order to get even with someone. Your goal at the table is to make the best decisions and to reap the rewards. You aren’t seeking revenge on someone who bested you previously. You want to win the money from this point on, and it doesn’t matter which opponents provide it.
 
Jealousy and envy are energy-consuming feelings that can hinder your thinking and actions. They can alter your positive frame of mind into a thundercloud of negative emotions. Mike teaches that you should cheer for your friends, family members, and enemies too. That’s right! You want them to win! And poker is no exception.
 
When your friends or family members achieve success, you, too, can profit. New paths can open up to you. Perhaps, you’ll be invited to a business meeting or exclusive poker game by an associate or friend, which can prove profitable for you. Success can filter down to you.
 
Better games. If you have a friend who has experienced sizeable poker victories, you should cheer for him, not resent the fact that he’s doing better than you are. Maybe he’s participating in more profitable games that you’re unaware of and your compliments could lead him to enlighten you where to find those games.
 
If your enemies do well, you don’t profit. Occasionally a victorious enemy may gloat and preen, quite full of himself. You should tread carefully, not allowing his success to undermine you. He possesses the ability to wreck emotional havoc on you, if you allow it. You could practice what Mike does and tell him that you were cheering for him all along. This may prevent him from attacking you in the future.
 
If you currently aren’t doing well in a business venture, a family matter, or in poker, go into defense mode. Don’t attempt aggressiveness at this time; instead resort to a mellow, aloof, and inconspicuous approach, biding your time until your situation improves.
 
Commanding presence. If you’re experiencing a lousy day at the table, leave your fancy moves behind. You’re going to fail miserably when trying to impress someone. The best strategy is to cease being aggressive and intimidating. Instead, be subdued and play tighter. Be unobtrusive, so as not to draw attention. The time will come when you can be a commanding presence once again.
 
When you’re losing at poker, those around you won’t fear you. If you are considering value betting a hand, rethink your action. That hand isn’t going to hold the same potential for you as it did when your opponents were leery of you. Value bets are dangerous in the best of times, but when you’re losing, they can be your downfall.
 
When you aren’t the commander anymore, it’s best to sit passively until the poker gods smile down upon you or until the table acquires new participants who aren’t aware of your misfortunes. It’s difficult to be threatening when everyone knows that you’re
losing.
 
Don’t waste time and energy on envy and jealousy. Practice patience when the road grows bumpy. When the time is right, the possibilities for success are endless.
 
Diane McHaffie is Director of Operations at Mike Caro University of Poker, Gaming, and Life Strategy. She has traveled the world coordinating events and seminars in the interest of honest poker. You can write her online at diane@caro.com.