I recently received some negative comments about what I’m looking to do with my projects, about playing online poker. This is in fact what I am looking for; to receive feedback about what I’m doing in my life by publishing them through this weblog. So I’m pretty happy about that. But at the same time, I’m a little frustrated by the knowledge base that was used to form those comments. This is my forum for me to address those issues.

There’s always risk in whatever we do in life. Should we avoid risk? Or should we learn how to manage risk? When you propose to your wife, when you buy a house, these events to some people are very risky things (to me anyways). Some people think investing is risky, but I don’t. I think it’s risky not to be investing. Why is there a discrepancy? What’s the difference between you and me? It lies in how we manage risk, and we can find a way to do so by educating ourselves, and making sure we’re not rushing into things. I’m a Computer Science major graduate, and thus very comfortable with computers. But can you imagine a 70 year old with no computer experiencing a minor panic attack sitting in front of a computer because he thinks it might blow up? The difference is preparation! A 70 year old properly educated and prepared about computers can learn to be as comfortable as myself in front of a computer, or at least more comfortable than he was before.

Do you agree, rushing to do something you are not familiar with will create risks in most situation? Let me go one step further. Rushing to judge something as risky when you don’t have the knowledge to make a competent judgement is equally as risky. You are risking a negative situation. Let me explain: Person A is an expert at buying houses as investment and I’m an expert in stock investments. Both of us have not taken the time to educate ourselves in each other’s field. It’d be ignorant for both of us to equate the other’s activity as risky without the proper knowledge. You can imagine that we will defend ourselves, because we have the proper knowledge and we’re good at it. And if one of us rushes to judge the other based on our own understanding of the other person’s field. We will definitely be risking an unpleasant confrontation.

There is a fine line between experience and ignorance. I can appreciate that somebody with life experience has something worthy to listen. However, the difference may be what those experience were based on? A person who has experienced all their friends and family losing money in investments will think “Investments are risky”, but what are the quality of investment experience? Has this person tried to seek out someone who has had consistent success in investments and find out what is the difference? Maybe after that, this person may think that “Investments are risky, but you can manage that risk by educating yourself about them”. A different tune don’t you think.

The general population regard poker as a bad gambling habit, they regard that if you’re working on other projects while you already have a career as unneccsary risk. “Slow and Steady” is what they ask me to do. I can appreciate that. In fact, “slow and steady” is what I do all the time. I slowly steadily educate myself about poker before going into it. When I did not, the first time, I lost and I examined myself. I took it slow, I made sure I educate myself so that I can minimize the risk. When I take on a business project, I don’t go into it thinking I will be dumping $100,000 into a business right away. I take it one step at a time, making sure I’m comfortable with the next step by always being skeptical about myself. I do want to say that I need those skeptics in my life. They keep me honest, they keep me focused on the “slow and steady” way.

Where does the balloon come in this article? Simply this, when you are excited about anything – an opportunity, a relationship, your energy fills the space. It’s like inflating a balloon. You expand the possibilities and your vision with your offering, your ideas, your energy. It’s awesome! But what happens after?

The pressure on the outside of the balloon (from other people’s negativity) becomes greater than it is on the inside and it quickly deflates. If you’re discouraged, then you are no longer there to keep the balloon full, it collapses.

I’m facing that challenge right now. Taking the business project right now may be the BEST thing in my life. I can educate myself, I can do it the “slow and steady” way, but people may not realize this and just see risk written all over it. They will be giving me that pressure. The same thing with poker, from what I’ve seen and learnt, my realization is that poker is not just a game of luck, but also has a requirement of skill, a skill that can be practiced and perfected like shooting a basketball. But others are pressuring me to say I’m doing a bad thing while they have not put themselves to research it like I have. I guess it’s really nothing for me to quit the game, but what irks me is their ignorance of the game, and mostly that they discount me for having self-control. Poker is probably one of the least priorities I have in my life right now, but they make me feel like I’m addicted to it, which irritates the hell out of me.

I want to finish by saying that I need all of you critics and skeptics in my life. You are what keeps me honest, you are what keeps me level headed. You are what keeps me humble, and keeps me from choosing the easy road. Sometimes you are wrong, and sometimes you are right. What I do wish from you is that you will make that research if you have the time. That you will put yourself in my shoes, find out from my experience versus your experience what is different. I have something I believe in right now, and I’m pumping air into that balloon as fast as I can. See if I pump it too fast, it’s gonna burst. I know I’m going slow and steady, as fast as I can (if that makes sense). If you’re a skeptic that’s near and dear to my heart, I don’t want you to worry about me. I want you to be happy for me, to support me, or to even help me. Because you can and will be able to do so when you educate yourself. I believe sincerely that you can be a skeptic and also be open-minded at the same time.