165 – Mike Wasserman – Unbreakable Confidence: How a Top Pro Conquers the Poker Table
Summary:
Today’s guest is Mike Wasserman. Mike discusses his experiences as professional poker players and emphasizes the importance of resilience, adaptability, and mental toughness in navigating the unpredictable nature of the game. Mike shares personal strategies for maintaining a strong mental game, including seeking outside help and prioritizing health and exercise. They also discuss the role of mental game coaching in helping players overcome self-sabotage patterns and execute their strategies more effectively. Throughout the conversation, they highlight the importance of confidence and emotional resilience in poker, particularly in tournaments.
Time Stamped Show Notes:
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[01:01] Mike, welcome to the show…
[17:38] Mental game strategies for poker tournaments, including accountability and maintaining a positive mindset.
- Mike endorses the importance of having an outside perspective for mental game improvement.
- Reflects on dealing with emotional swings in poker, taking accountability for losses.
- Mental toughness and drive to win are crucial for success in multi-table tournaments (MTTs).
- Shares personal experiences of going through the process of accumulating chips, playing the bubble, and learning from mistakes to improve poker skills
[26:58] Mental toughness in poker, accepting challenges, and finding support.
- Struggles with accepting the need to consistently push themselves beyond their current limits to grow, as seen in the example of doing push-ups.
- Discusses the importance of having a coach or mentor in poker to help with mental game and decision-making.
[32:48] Resilience in poker and the importance of a process-oriented mindset.
- Resilience is key in poker, as consistent process improvement can overcome variance.
- Describes their experience with cold plunging, including initial shock and gradual numbness.
- Preparation strategies for poker tournaments, including eliminating distractions and mentally preparing for different scenarios.
- Eliminates distractions to stay focused during final
- Focus on mental preparation, not tactical preparation, for short-term final tables.
- Emphasized the importance of confidence in tournaments and preferred to see confident players, even if they have lower ROIs.
- Mental game coaching for poker players, focusing on confidence and self-sabotage.
[59:29] Poker courses and strategies with a focus on confidence and pressure moments.
- Offer courses on poker strategy, including a Sunday million win and a mid-stakes plus course.
- Mid stakes Mastery Course offers 40 hours of content, including live coaching sessions and hand histories.
Wrap up—Thanks For Checking Out This Episode Of The Mindset Advantage Podcast!
Key Learning Points:
- The importance of mental game and confidence in poker success. Mike discuss how working on the mental/psychological aspects, such as through coaching and therapy, can be transformative for poker players.
- The value of creating educational poker content. Mike share their experiences developing poker courses and videos, noting how the process of explaining concepts helps deepen their own understanding.
- The role of resilience and perseverance in a poker career. Mike highlights overcoming downswings, financial setbacks, and self-doubt through determination and a willingness to keep improving their game.
Contact/Resources
Click here for Mike’s course:
67% OFF Mid-Stakes Mastery 2024
75% OFF Tournament Fundamentals
FREE 1 Hour video 3 Most Common Mistakes at Low & Mid-Stakes Tournaments
Mike’s Instagram
Get The A-Game Poker Masterclass
Free Poker Mindset Audios on Youtube
Free Primed Mind Primers on Youtube
Interested in working with a Mindset & Performance coach on your poker game? Send a message to support@pokermindcoach.com and our team will work to find the best option for you.
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