Setting the Bar: Quest for Supernova (3/4/2010)
Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 12:49PM 
I have decided to make a huge push to go for Supernova Status during the upcoming months on Stars. I basically already decided this over a week ago, but writing it down makes it more official. I completely underestimated how difficult it would be at first. At first I was making the goal to hit Supernova before I quit my 9-5 job (latest end of May). But I was confusing FPPs with VPPs. You need 100,000 VPPs to hit Supernova which are a lot tougher to earn than the FPPs. VPPs are not multiplied based on status. However, my FPP boast going forward will still help overall (3.5x FPP every 1VPP earned). I'll be able to purchase up a $600 bonus (using FPPs) if I'm slipping without having to deposit out of my bank account. Though my plan is to put off using ANY FPPs until I get Supernova. You get more for your money using FPPs with Supernova Status. But I'm not setting anything in stone. If I drop a grand in a week I would obviously feel pressured to pick up the $600 bonus.
Last month I earned over 15,000 VPPs. This month I want to pick up at least 20,000. For much of the month of February I was sticking to 4 tables, so I expect to be able to hit around 20,000 this month with the increase in tables. If I earn 20k this month (35k total), (20k April), and 20k May that would put me at 75k VPPs. Then after I quit I could pick up the remaining 25k in two weeks. So my goal going forward is to get as CLOSE AS POSSIBLE to 100k VPP by the time I quit.
Hell I might be able to even hit Supernova by the time I quit (if things go incredibly well which they never do). But I’m really not sure yet. I have to feel the situation out as I progress. I understand achieving this status is extremely important to my goals this summer. With this status I would be able to play break-even poker and earn what I make at my day job. This equates to a SMOOTH transition.
This is quite a mountain to climb and I’m not sure how close I will be. Based on the past month I think it is very possible. It’s going to take a huge sacrifice, but I don’t see much of a choice right now. This is going to be my lowest point “social life wise” in the last 15 years of my life. Actually the last 20 years. Even in first fucking grade I hung out with friends a lot. Sadly this is how I can reach a smooth transition out of corporate.
I will let most of my friends know and try not to vanish off the face of the earth without explanation (even know that’s what I’ve already been doing the last month). I’m not going to be secretive with the friends I am close to anymore. I’m just going to tell them what I’m doing and explain exactly why I can’t hang out much (like it or not). I will also tell them if I stick to my goals the next 3 months that this summer will be different. The sacrifice now should give me more of a social life during the summer. I want my summer and life back. I want freedom. I want to be able to flex my schedule where I want. I WANT the majority of my time going towards what I’m passionate about (poker not corporate). I NEED NATURAL SUNLIGHT.
That being said I know I’m getting a little ahead of myself here. The number 1 priority still needs to be putting myself in the best position to make profit, every single session. Sometimes this is going to mean cutting back on tables. I understand this, but the VPPs are also a way to measure the volume I am putting in. If I don’t put at least 20 hours in each week it won’t be possible to hit my goals. I am damn aware of this going forward.
This week I only played 3 hours on Tuesday. I was up +$100. The start of this month has been slow mostly due to hardware issues. I spent all of Sunday fixing my primary computer. Then I had to reinstall EVERYTHING. Tons of time going into re-setting everything up. Even my hold em manager set-up was wiped. When I started Poker-Stars most of the sounds were broke. OPPONENT’S CHECKS WERE SILENT; IT WAS TERRIFYING.
Anyways now everything is good to go again. Last night I took a nap from 8-9 p.m. I was going to get up and put in a session, but instead I slept the entire night. I slept 12 effing hours; it was amazing. I decided I will hit the gym after work today for my goal of TWO TIMES IN A WEEK BABY. From there on out the next few nights are going to involve a lot of turning off my phone and playing poker. Health wise I’m still feeling great only going to the gym 2 nights this week. I always eat well, and now I’m going out and drinking a maximum of once per week. This week I’m not even planning to go out and drink which is crazy for me. I’d consider a glass of wine during the Saturday session, but that’s just going to end up with me throwing the glass against the wall when I take a few bad beats. I see where that would lead.
Cheers to the War of March 2010!
-bag
Reader Comments (2)
Supernova - best of luck man. If I run into you in a SnG or MTT I'll be sure to point out how all those pretty stars mean you have no fucking social life. Haha.
I think a good 15-30 minutes of light cardio is perfect. Preferably before each session. I'm going to join a gym soon once I find out that's willing to waive those ricockulous sign-up fees.
You're assuming I even HIT Supernova. I appreciate your confidence in me, but I have a long ways to go and I will indeed have no social life lol. But the friends will always be there doing the same thing. And the girls I would be wasting time on will always be JUST as horrible. Rest assured I will be hiding my status from onlookers in shame if I ever reach that point. Platinum star is bad enough and I hide that. 15-30 minutes of light cardio before a session is a good idea. Usually when I work out its 1.5-2 hours. I just trained myself to get more in with less sessions. I really enjoy outdoor sports more than sitting in a gym like a hamster. I'm looking forward to Spring.
Gym's are tough. You either go to a place like Gold's (where I'm at; complete steroid factory). Or you go to a place that's dirt cheap, but its extremely overcrowded with people. The cheap place will also be flooded with beginners that have no idea what they are doing. Not sure where someone fits in that is passionate about being healthy, but is not obsessed with weight training or totally clueless.
I actually got lucky on my gym. It has some serious body-builder types, but discounted rate (because of my company) and walking distance to work. Despite being a steroid factory it's very big and I never have a problem with space. The best part is I can avoid rush hour on the way home if I work out at night. It's like the lesser of two evils or something.