Life is a bitch, it chews you up and spits you out. Hell, it even shits on you for good measure – but you know something? Fuck it, I’m used to this shit. I roll with the punches. I hit back. I grab life by the balls, look it square in the eyes…

The isolation, the loneliness, the voices in your head – hell the voices outside your head – telling you it’s impossible. That it’s just out of your reach; you’re too short, too stupid, don’t have the genes, don’t have the money, not strong enough, too old. If you give into that then consider yourself a coward. Consider yourself hopeless and defeated…

But if your one of the few that can say no to life, to circumstances, then I salute you. I am OCD incarnate. I lift weights, I learn about numbers. It’s what I do…it’s all I do. For the longest time I envied the poker players. They knew something about numbers I did not, knew numbers in a way most other people didn’t. These guys knew numbers, and in turn, made numbers work for them. Well, I’ll tell you what, that ends now for today I begin a new chapter in my life.

100 weeks. 100 weeks until I see myself going pro. I’m currently stationed in Iraq, fighting two wars – one beyond me, and one within me. In one war I have my battle buddies ready to fight for their country at any cost, in the other…well, there is only me. And you –

That’s right, you’re fighting a war too. Inside you there’s something you want to gain, something to loose, a dream to bring to life, a habit to kill. For the next 100 weeks I’ll be studying intensely, focusing and limiting myself to Hold ’em. I’m going to prove, once and for all, that yes – yes it is possible. Yes I can.

So join me. Each week I will post my progress, where I stand. Each week I will provide articles and links so that you can help bring your dreams and goals to reality. I don’t have much, I’m not rich, I pay my subscription to this site save what I can. But I bust my ass, and accept every opportunity. I take everything around me and try to use it.

I’m here in Iraq, and I couldn’t be anymore grateful for it. I get to eat. I get to train. I get to practice and learn. The camaraderie is unlike anything back at home.