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Change - Are You Ready and Willing? A number
of years ago my wife ran across a definition of insanity that I just love. It goes like this: Insanity is doing the same
thing over and over, again and again, and
expecting different results. I wonder, does that mean there are a lot of insane gamblers
out there? Perhaps. Most of
us are resistant to change. Change requires
decisions AND actions. If we decide we want
to lose 10 pounds, it WILL require action ... action that some of are unwilling to take. We go
through life with others making many of our decisions for us. It starts with parents and teachers and continues
with bosses and yes, even spouses. Tell me
youve never done anything you didnt want to do because someone else asked. We all have! Change
can be painful, if not physically, then mentally. We
resist it and we fight it, sometimes every step of the way.
We like ourselves the way WE ARE and are quick to point out to others that
WE dont need to change. If people
dont like us the way we are, then tough, get over it! If we are
a bit overweight we can always find someone else to point to that is heavier than we are,
or grumpier, or lazier, or _________, you can fill in the blank. The point is, most of know that there are areas of
our life that could use a little overhaul, were just reluctant to make the DECISION
to make the CHANGE. So, what
the hell does this have to do with precision shooting and craps? Good question! Most of
us probably envy The Mad Professor and the life style he lives and wish we could emulate
him, or at least come close to it. But are we
(you) willing to make the changes necessary, over a period of time, to achieve his kind of
results? Im
not simply talking about spending more time practicing our sets and throwing, but about
all of the other things that go into
achieving consistent positive results at the tables.
I believe precision shooting is only part of
it. How many
of us have ever had an alcoholic drink while we were playing? Count me in the chorus of yeses I hear. Can I handle my drinking? Yes. Has it ever cost me at the tables? Of course it has.
Am I willing to change this to improve my results? I am, are you? If
youre like me I used to tell people it didnt bother me to drink at the tables,
I could handle it. Lest you think
of me as a tea totaler. My idea
of an afternoon snack is a cold beer and some cookies!
Jack Daniels and water while playing was enjoyable, relaxing
. and
costly. Violate the rules and pay the price. Take a
look at your past play. Have you ever played
at a table where you were uncomfortable, where you couldnt shoot from your favorite
position, where the person next to you bothered you, where the dealers were unfriendly,
the tables too long, too short, or too crowded. Have
you ever stayed at a table too long betting on other random rollers without charting the
table first, and ended up losing more than if youd left? Have you
ever been determined to play only at $5 tables and ended up playing at $10 tables because
that was all that was available (open) at the time. Have you
ever played when your energy level was down, when you were tired, uncomfortable,
discouraged or angry? I can
answer yes to a lot of them. Can you? Do they affect our play? Of course they do! Heres
a project for you. Take a look at your last
trip and be honest with yourself. If you
answer yes to any of the above questions perhaps its time to make some changes. Change
requires the individual realization that change is required, a plan of action and the
actual execution of the plan. Is it easy? No! Is
it worth it? Yes! Make the decision to make any necessary changes today and reap the rewards tomorrow ... insanity is the easy way out ... the way the casinos would like you to stay. Until
next time, remember, any win is better than any loss, any day. Paul
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