How to Grind Out Content and Not Burnout: 7 Tips From A Semi-Pro Poker Player

Grinding:  to work hard, to hustle, to put in the hours

A grinder: One who grinds.

I use to be a semi-professional poker player for quite a few years. The knowledge I gathered through the ups and downs apply in many personal and professional matters. You need both skill and luck to make it big, but the more skill you have the less luck you need.

 Poker rewards long hours, just as SteemIT.

 Frustration is common.

Here's a few lessons that will take you just a step further into your SteemIT journey and help you reach your true potential without burning out and quitting.

1. Grind With The Right Attitude

Try to figure out what you want to achieve and figure out roughly how long it will take. Be it that you want to have lots of Steem Power, notoriety, a following or just make more money, you need to realize that it will take A LOT of time and patience.

In poker, I wanted to win major tournaments. Initially I thought that after a few weeks I could and should beat everyone! I was wrong. I could have saved myself tons of dissapointment whenever I busted a tournament. Once I started to focus on the long haul, my attitude changed and my game started to improve and overall I was a much more profitable player.

2. Improve Your Grind Every Day

Still, the success you desire won't come if you don't up your game! Write and read every day, try to come up with better ways to write something, to deliver the message, to communicate to connect with your audience. 

When the dots connect, you will know it and see it in your rewards!

I used to spend more time studying my hands than playing so I could play better. It's hard work but it's the most reliable indicator of future success. Don't cut corners!

3. Put In The Volume (aka really grind don't mess around).

Yes, you need to be on it every day, I try to come up with a minimum of 5 ideas per day, and write at least one.  It can be hard and jarring at times but the more I do it the better I get at it. When I get stuck I curate and comment.

4. It's Ok To Take Days Off

That's an important part that many dedicated grinders often forget. You need rest every few weeks. You need to relax, and disconnect from everything or else you're productivity will go down the toilet.

Think about it like that: it's an investment in your longevity! 

I use to play non stop for weeks, feeling like I was running in circles and never knowing why. Took a small holiday and when I came back: magic. I was back on track!

5. When "In The Zone" Don't Stop

You'll have days when everything you write turns to gold. Those days will feel like you were touched by a muse. 

Here's an obvious tip - do more on those days.

When I had winning poker days, I used to stop early because i didn't want my strike. I wanted to go to sleep like a winner.

I see the same thing on Steem now, I write something good and I STOP. Why?

Remember rule #1 -  THE RIGHT ATTITUDE, it's not about what happens today so who cares if you stumble on an article? It would have happened anyway, you just got over it way faster.

Note: With poker you CAN go negative with Steem you CAN'T! So keep on pushing!

6. When You're Not "In The Zone" Don't Tilt!

That's the opposite of #5, you'll have days that no words work, no sentence seem to be good enough and you just feel like you suck! 

WRITER'S BLOCK: 

Hello! 

FRUSTRATION: 

Hi There!

Easy to let a bad day turn into a bad month. In poker, you have these days quite often. If you let them affect your confidence and your game, you start doubting yourself and regress. 

Just take a small break and return to writing, or chill out by reading other people's work. You know what you're about! A few good sentences will take you off of the slump. Even Stephen King has writer's block and the man writes like he's on steroids!

7. The Grind Will Free You Or Enslave You - It's Your Choice

The grind is designed for one thing and one thing only: improve you, your work, your productivity, your habits. 

In a word: making you more money that you would'nt otherwise! You grind so that you have free time when you need it - because you already put in the work.

You grind because you'll have money when you want it. The grind is your friend, but it must work for you. Don't  ever let it take over your life. 

Have you seen Rounders?

If you are not careful, your whole life can become a fucking grind!

I wish you all the best and keep on grinding!

#steemit #steem #writing #life

Author : @razvanelulmarin  - Editor : @repholder - Image : Pixabay - Free Stock Images