Let us start by defining what is Tilt.
Tilt is a poker or Trading term for a state of mental or emotional confusion or frustration in which a player/trader adopts a less than optimal strategy, usually resulting in the player becoming over-aggressive.
My friends have always expressed surprise at my typical remark when they tell me a bad-beat/ losing day story:
“No one cares,” I say. “More importantly, I don’t care, so don’t tell me a bad beat story again.”
I don’t do this to be callous. If I go easy on you in a sparring round, then you could get yourself killed intervening in a real-life conflict. My job is to backhand you when I see an opening, because the world is going to be much less forgiving.
You know who else won’t care about your bad beats? Your children. Your wife. Your sick parents who depend on you. The bank won’t care when they call you about your mortgage. To date, I have not found a grocer who will exchange eggs and milk for tales of one-outers/ central bank interventions.
I also hate wastes of time. All that energy you’re focusing on how you’ve been “wronged” could have been channeled into something productive. Whining about the audacity of a game of chance not to bless you with riches strikes me as the epitome of time misuse.
I’ve created the following list of 13 pieces of advice I’ve dispensed over the years that has helped me and some more:
1. Work ’Til it Hurts
There is something earned internally when one surmounts a seemingly impossible task, such as working sixteen-hour shifts at a grueling, monotonous job. When you do finally get to do something you enjoy, you have an appreciation for how the work is not nearly as hard as it seems, and that you’re blessed to spend time with such problems.
2. Do Charity Work
3. Training Should Be Hard
Actually playing poker/trading shouldn’t be difficult. The training is where the real pain is. It takes countless hours. You can analyze situations daily for years and still realize a hundred other things you don’t know.
And then one day you’ll realize: You’ve explored 99% of the situations that confront you. And you will be calmed.
A great deal of tilt comes from this insecure thought: “I’m not good enough.” When you lose, and you haven’t done the work to understand whether you made a mistake or not, you feel like it’s a confirmation of your deep-seated fear. It’s difficult to embrace this insecurity and use it to make us work harder, since so many of us reject the pain with anger.
4. No One Cares About You
This is a great question to ask: Who was Franklin Pierce?
Don’t know?
He was the 14th president of the United States. Now if nobody remembers a president’s name, what are the chances anyone will remember, or care, about what you did in a game of chance?
If you’re nothing without other people’s respect, you’ll be nothing with it.
5. You’re No Worse Than Anybody Else
Want to know a secret? All those people who act like God’s gift to trading? The ones who are bragging about insane credit card roulette bills and their new cars? Yeah... they’re in debt, and the tax man is looking at their house.
I also know a few guys who actually do have the money most of us dream about (and make no mistake, there are very few of them). These rich guys have as many problems as anyone else.
6. Help Out Your Family
There’s always someone in the family who needs a little help. The elderly often don’t have access to the resources they need to live comfortably. Spending some time with them not only fosters feelings of belonging, but it will again show you how tough other people have it. It will give you perspective.
7. Keep a “Reality Check” Nearby
8. Save Money
9. Trade at Stakes You Can Afford
And trade with money you can afford to lose. Have a plan to move down if things go sour. Oftentimes tilt is just a byproduct of having too much on the line.
Your goal is to be a better trader today than you were yesterday. The money will come if you stay in the game and keep practicing with focus. Your goal is not to get rich quick.
10. Have Calming Hobbies
Put these into your work schedule, because they are an investment in yourself. Try meditation. Hiking. Reading under a tree. Get away from the computer or casino. Breathe fresh air. Relax.
11. Find an Outlet for Your Anger
Over the years I have boxed, wrestled, battle-rapped, run half-marathons, lifted weights, and enjoyed more than a couple mosh pits at metal concerts. You have to let go at some point, and it’s better you don’t do it in the office or in a family setting.
12. Pets
13. It’s Just a Game
It’s all about the work you’re willing to put in. Just enjoy the ride.
Tilt is a poker or Trading term for a state of mental or emotional confusion or frustration in which a player/trader adopts a less than optimal strategy, usually resulting in the player becoming over-aggressive.
My friends have always expressed surprise at my typical remark when they tell me a bad-beat/ losing day story:
“No one cares,” I say. “More importantly, I don’t care, so don’t tell me a bad beat story again.”
I don’t do this to be callous. If I go easy on you in a sparring round, then you could get yourself killed intervening in a real-life conflict. My job is to backhand you when I see an opening, because the world is going to be much less forgiving.
You know who else won’t care about your bad beats? Your children. Your wife. Your sick parents who depend on you. The bank won’t care when they call you about your mortgage. To date, I have not found a grocer who will exchange eggs and milk for tales of one-outers/ central bank interventions.
I also hate wastes of time. All that energy you’re focusing on how you’ve been “wronged” could have been channeled into something productive. Whining about the audacity of a game of chance not to bless you with riches strikes me as the epitome of time misuse.
I’ve created the following list of 13 pieces of advice I’ve dispensed over the years that has helped me and some more:
1. Work ’Til it Hurts
There is something earned internally when one surmounts a seemingly impossible task, such as working sixteen-hour shifts at a grueling, monotonous job. When you do finally get to do something you enjoy, you have an appreciation for how the work is not nearly as hard as it seems, and that you’re blessed to spend time with such problems.
2. Do Charity Work
3. Training Should Be Hard
Actually playing poker/trading shouldn’t be difficult. The training is where the real pain is. It takes countless hours. You can analyze situations daily for years and still realize a hundred other things you don’t know.
And then one day you’ll realize: You’ve explored 99% of the situations that confront you. And you will be calmed.
A great deal of tilt comes from this insecure thought: “I’m not good enough.” When you lose, and you haven’t done the work to understand whether you made a mistake or not, you feel like it’s a confirmation of your deep-seated fear. It’s difficult to embrace this insecurity and use it to make us work harder, since so many of us reject the pain with anger.
4. No One Cares About You
This is a great question to ask: Who was Franklin Pierce?
Don’t know?
He was the 14th president of the United States. Now if nobody remembers a president’s name, what are the chances anyone will remember, or care, about what you did in a game of chance?
If you’re nothing without other people’s respect, you’ll be nothing with it.
5. You’re No Worse Than Anybody Else
Want to know a secret? All those people who act like God’s gift to trading? The ones who are bragging about insane credit card roulette bills and their new cars? Yeah... they’re in debt, and the tax man is looking at their house.
I also know a few guys who actually do have the money most of us dream about (and make no mistake, there are very few of them). These rich guys have as many problems as anyone else.
6. Help Out Your Family
There’s always someone in the family who needs a little help. The elderly often don’t have access to the resources they need to live comfortably. Spending some time with them not only fosters feelings of belonging, but it will again show you how tough other people have it. It will give you perspective.
7. Keep a “Reality Check” Nearby
8. Save Money
9. Trade at Stakes You Can Afford
And trade with money you can afford to lose. Have a plan to move down if things go sour. Oftentimes tilt is just a byproduct of having too much on the line.
Your goal is to be a better trader today than you were yesterday. The money will come if you stay in the game and keep practicing with focus. Your goal is not to get rich quick.
10. Have Calming Hobbies
Put these into your work schedule, because they are an investment in yourself. Try meditation. Hiking. Reading under a tree. Get away from the computer or casino. Breathe fresh air. Relax.
11. Find an Outlet for Your Anger
Over the years I have boxed, wrestled, battle-rapped, run half-marathons, lifted weights, and enjoyed more than a couple mosh pits at metal concerts. You have to let go at some point, and it’s better you don’t do it in the office or in a family setting.
12. Pets
13. It’s Just a Game
It’s all about the work you’re willing to put in. Just enjoy the ride.