Hey there,
I need to inform you about my good friend, Jay. On the poker desk, Jay is an artist. I’ve watched him stare into a person’s soul for 2 minutes earlier than making a hero name for his complete stack—and be proper.
He’s made a dwelling from the sport for the higher a part of a decade. However final 12 months, he tried to get a severe backer for the World Collection of Poker, and the entire thing fell aside in a single, embarrassing electronic mail.
The potential backer, a pointy businessman, replied with, “Thanks, however your on-line presence would not encourage confidence.”
Jay was crushed. Why? As a result of his “on-line presence” was a Twitter account with a blurry avatar from 2012 and a display identify you could not say in well mannered firm.
He had world-class expertise however was presenting himself like a hobbyist in his dad and mom’ basement.
It was a harsh lesson that so many people within the poker world be taught too late: you generally is a shark on the felt, however if you wish to construct an actual profession—get sponsors, discover college students, or be seen as a real skilled—it’s a must to assume past the desk.
You should construct a model. And consider it or not, that begins with one thing that sounds rather a lot like a CV.
This Is not Your Excessive Faculty Resume
Okay, let’s be clear. I am not speaking about itemizing your summer time job lifeguarding. A poker participant’s “CV” is extra like a professional athlete’s spotlight reel or an investor’s pitch deck.
It is a doc—or a private web site—that proves you are a successful funding. It’s your argument for why somebody ought to guess on you.
So, what does it really appear like?
- The Unshakeable Proof: That is the core of all of it. You should present your receipts. I’m speaking about clear, multi-year revenue graphs from monitoring software program. A hyperlink to your Hendon Mob web page with each money listed. This is not bragging; it is offering the onerous knowledge that separates the professionals from the pretenders. It says, “I’m a long-term successful participant, and listed here are the numbers to show it.”
- Your Story, Your Edge: Why ought to somebody care about you over the thousand different grinders on the market? That is the place you write a brief, compelling bio. Are you the mathematics wizard who lives for GTO poker? The live-read grasp who thrives on psychology? Inform that story. It exhibits you are self-aware and that your success is not simply luck; it is a particular, honed talent set.
- The “Extra Than a Grinder” Part: That is the place you checklist something that exhibits you’re a contributor to the group. Have you ever coached gamers? Written a weblog about your largest palms? Appeared on a podcast to speak technique? This stuff are gold. They show you’ll be able to talk, assume critically in regards to the sport, and that you’ve got worth past simply clicking buttons.
The Cringey Avatar Drawback
Let’s return to Jay’s blurry avatar. We have all seen them. The grainy picture in a darkish room, the sunglasses-and-hoodie combo, the pixelated brand from a defunct coaching website.
It is the default uniform of the net poker world, and admittedly, it is holding numerous proficient gamers again.
Once you’re asking for sponsorship or charging $200 an hour for teaching, that picture issues. It’s your digital handshake. A nasty one makes you look amateurish and untrustworthy.
I virtually pressured Jay to repair this. He did not have cash for a photographer, so I had him use a profile image maker. He stood in entrance of a window for some first rate mild, snapped an image along with his cellphone, and uploaded it.
The software immediately stripped away his messy bed room background and let him select a easy, clear one.

The transformation was insane. In 5 minutes, he went from “nameless display identify” to “Jay, the Poker Skilled.” It’s such a small factor, however a pointy, high-quality headshot indicators that you just take your self, and your small business, critically.
My Go-To Arsenal for Constructing a Poker Model
An incredible profile will get your foot within the door. The suitable instruments allow you to construct the entire home. These are the sources I like to recommend to each participant who needs to degree up their profession off the felt.
- Your Public Ledger (Information & Monitoring):
- The Hendon Mob & SharkScope: These are non-negotiable. One is for stay, one is for on-line. They’re the official, third-party resume of your outcomes. Maintain them up to date.
- Discovering Your Voice (Content material Creation):
- OBS Studio: It is free, and it is what practically each streamer makes use of to document their display. Make hand assessment movies. Discuss via your thought course of. It is the quickest method to construct an viewers and entice college students.
- Medium or Substack: You do not want a flowery weblog. Begin writing. Break down a tricky spot you have been in. Discuss in regards to the psychological sport. This establishes you as an skilled.
- Trying the Half (Branding & Social Media):
- Canva: You do not must be a designer. Use their templates to make clear graphics to your posts or a easy banner to your Twitter profile. It takes minutes and makes you look 100x extra skilled.
- Sharpening Your Sword (Mindset & Research):
- Primed Thoughts: Poker is 80% psychological. This app, designed by a poker professional, is like having a mindset coach in your pocket. It helps you keep centered and resilient via the inevitable downswings.
- GTO Solvers: Mentioning that you just work with solvers (like PioSOLVER) in your bio is a strong sign. It exhibits you’re devoted to learning the sport on the highest, most present degree.
It is Time to Inform Your Story
What occurred to Jay? After he constructed his “poker CV,” created an actual model for himself, and began placing out content material, he did not simply get a backer for the WSOP—he obtained three provides.
He is now a coach with a ready checklist and a revered voice in the neighborhood.
He was the identical expert participant he all the time was. The one factor that modified was how he introduced himself to the world. He took management of his personal story.
The stereotype of the poker participant as a shadowy outcast is lifeless. The longer term belongs to the professionals who’re additionally entrepreneurs. So collect your stats, sharpen your picture, and begin constructing your case. It’s the perfect guess you’ll ever make.
The publish Does a Poker Professional Want a CV? The Stunning Reply & Toolkit for Cashing In appeared first on My Poker Teaching.