***NOTE: This is a writeup I posted today on my free picks page. I know that I do not have all the answers to being a successful gambler but I think keeping a positive attitude about things would help most gamblers tremendously. I would love to hear feedback on the subject if you all have any.
THE POWER OF POSITIVE GAMBLING
Whether in handicapping or in life, maintaining a positive attitude is often an important component of success. In fact I would argue that a positive attitude in handicapping is even more essential to success than it is in life in general. Handicapping is such a peculiar, volitile hobby or profession that maintaining a sunny attitude goes beyond recommended to the realm of nearly required.
The value of a positive attitude is intrinsic to all that makes a handicapper successful. For money management, a positive person is confident that over the long term, they will sustain profitability. The positive person remains in control because no matter how dire the situation appears, a positive outcome is assured.
Everyone gambles best when they treat it as a marathon rather than a sprint. Treating handicapping as a sprint is by its nature a negative action. Focusing on short term results is due to a lack of confidence over the long haul. Saying that you have to place a make up bet to attain a profit for a day or a week or a month reveals a deep seeded negativity in the gamblers attitude towards their abilities. Only a person who does not believe that they can make money long term would place such a high value on a small sample of plays.
Positivity also absolves some of the most common handicapping sins before they have a chance to take place. Make up bets, for example, are by their nature a negative action. They are an action of desparation taken because one lacks a positive outlook on the future. The gambler in essence tossing aside their skills and allowing the gambling Gods to determine their fate on the result of a single play. The positive thinking gambler sees little incentive to make large make up bets. Even if the game wins, that result is a drop in the bucket when viewed over a lifetime of wagering. There is simply no need to take that chance.
When I browse the forums of this very site, I see an unfortunate amount of negativity. I see post after post complaing about the outcome of a single game. It is hard to deal with losses. Believe me, I have a hard time writing this after the week I have had. I can even see the argument that venting about a hard luck play is somehow cathartic. My point is that looking at the bright side of things will give you a greater chance of success in whatever you do, especially gambling.
It seems that a number of players took a beating this past week and weekend, just as I did. My advice to you all is to dedicate yourselves to working even hard towards beating the books and making a profit. I believe that with the proper discipline and work ethic, most gamblers could turn their overall losses into overall wins. Let's work together to make a large number of those gamblers come from the Mad Jacks forums.
THE POWER OF POSITIVE GAMBLING
Whether in handicapping or in life, maintaining a positive attitude is often an important component of success. In fact I would argue that a positive attitude in handicapping is even more essential to success than it is in life in general. Handicapping is such a peculiar, volitile hobby or profession that maintaining a sunny attitude goes beyond recommended to the realm of nearly required.
The value of a positive attitude is intrinsic to all that makes a handicapper successful. For money management, a positive person is confident that over the long term, they will sustain profitability. The positive person remains in control because no matter how dire the situation appears, a positive outcome is assured.
Everyone gambles best when they treat it as a marathon rather than a sprint. Treating handicapping as a sprint is by its nature a negative action. Focusing on short term results is due to a lack of confidence over the long haul. Saying that you have to place a make up bet to attain a profit for a day or a week or a month reveals a deep seeded negativity in the gamblers attitude towards their abilities. Only a person who does not believe that they can make money long term would place such a high value on a small sample of plays.
Positivity also absolves some of the most common handicapping sins before they have a chance to take place. Make up bets, for example, are by their nature a negative action. They are an action of desparation taken because one lacks a positive outlook on the future. The gambler in essence tossing aside their skills and allowing the gambling Gods to determine their fate on the result of a single play. The positive thinking gambler sees little incentive to make large make up bets. Even if the game wins, that result is a drop in the bucket when viewed over a lifetime of wagering. There is simply no need to take that chance.
When I browse the forums of this very site, I see an unfortunate amount of negativity. I see post after post complaing about the outcome of a single game. It is hard to deal with losses. Believe me, I have a hard time writing this after the week I have had. I can even see the argument that venting about a hard luck play is somehow cathartic. My point is that looking at the bright side of things will give you a greater chance of success in whatever you do, especially gambling.
It seems that a number of players took a beating this past week and weekend, just as I did. My advice to you all is to dedicate yourselves to working even hard towards beating the books and making a profit. I believe that with the proper discipline and work ethic, most gamblers could turn their overall losses into overall wins. Let's work together to make a large number of those gamblers come from the Mad Jacks forums.
