Coaching Poker Forums

Hey all,

As you've likely guessed from my screen name and avatar, my name is Travis Steffen and I'm the author of Peak Performance Poker. I'm also coming out with a new series on DC called Hustle and Flow, which is a little bit of an inside look into approaching poker like a pro athlete.

This isn't your everyday coaching course. We won't be discussing hands, talking poker strategy, or having any crazy meta game debates. What I teach is a way to optimize your body and brain so that you can be more effective at the table. Among the hundreds of benefits you'll reap, you'll experience:

- Clearer thinking
- A much-needed boost in energy
- Improvements in working memory
- Elevated attentiveness and awareness
- Increases in stamina and longevity
- Improvements in mood, focus, and emotional control
- Lower stress levels
- Increase in confidence
- More effective overall cognitive function
- Higher degrees of control over the body's physiological states of arousal

Approaching poker as a high level athlete approaches their sport is extremely powerful. By changing your habits, thought processes, and overall outlook on improving in poker, you'll find that you become a much more effective player - and also a much healthier, happier human being.

Some common questions and subsequent answers clients have are as follows:

Does this type of coaching need to be long-term?

You're right if you think that the type of coaching I offer is more effective if done long-term, though you're free to stop or put your sessions on hold whenever you deem you want/need to.

Also, know ahead of time that I only agree to coach those who I truly believe I can help. If I don't think that my services are what you need, that you may benefit more from hiring another coach instead, or you've absorbed all I have to teach you, I'll always let you know.

How long do sessions last?

Sessions last at least an hour, though if we go over time you won't be charged extra. The "per hour" label is a little deceiving, and "per session" may be better. Sessions will last as long as they need to in order to ensure you fully grasp and understand the concepts we cover in that session.

How often should I schedule sessions?

Session frequency is up to you, but I recommend that you schedule at least 2 sessions per month. However, scheduling sessions more than once per week would be overkill. When we cover a topic it may take a little time for you to adopt strategies and habits I suggest, and throwing too much at you at once may be a little too overwhelming.

$500 is a little steep...why do you charge so much?

My rate on DC is $500/hour for your benefit, not mine. This may sound a little confusing, but here's what I mean:

When you're in a field like mine, people tend to subconsciously fight you're teaching. They don't mean to, but they do resist. This is because the human mind is evolved to seek the path of least resistance, and it embraces comfort - especially when there isn't much of a downside to doing so aside from simply slowing their progress.

While the things we'll go over are obviously helpful to almost everybody, if there isn't a significant investment on your part, you won't feel nearly as bad if you decide to stray from the habits we're trying to instill in your mind.

However, when you feel the investment you're making in the course is significant, you're going to feel as if you have to stay on track. Otherwise your money goes to waste.

Right...but I feel like there are lower amounts of money that appear significant to my mind as well. After all, I can hire Krantz for that much!

You're right - you can definitely hire a high stakes poker coach for the same rate - and sometimes even a little less.

There are a ton of poker coaches out there, and their client-base is spread out among all of them. The coaches on DC are all great btw.

On the other hand, I'm the only coach of my kind in the poker industry, so anyone looking for help on what I teach comes to me and me alone. Since I do have a lot of other ventures I'm involved in (I run 3 companies, I'm an author, and also a motivational speaker), I can only take a limited number of clients on at a time in order to be sure I can fully commit myself to helping them improve. I'm forced to set my rate at what it is in order to filter out those who are only halfway committed to improving. The ones who do come to me despite a higher than average rate are MUCH more likely to make progress.

Who benefits from your coaching?

Those who already have a firm grasp on the game are the ones who will see the most value from my services. This covers the "overlearned skillset" I talk about in PPP. For this reason, I mainly keep mid/high stakes players in my stable of clients as these are the types of players who are (typically) the ones who are committed to the game to the point where approaching it as a pro athlete is more realistic.

This doesn't mean I exclude lower stakes players by any means - but I do feel that other poker coaches may be a better fit for these players as many aren't yet consistent winners.

What do you mean by offering services "on retainer"

While the "per hour" tag is $500/hour, you'll find that my ongoing rate is much cheaper than $500/hour.

For example - while my rate is listed on DC as hourly, I mainly work on retainer. This means I'm at your services on a daily basis in one way or another. This includes:

- 4 monthly sessions
- DAILY feedback and support to your homework assignments and log posts (which I explain in detail to clients)
- Timely responses to any of your questions
- A personalized fitness and nutrition program tailored to you and your goals
- Various resources sent to you on my dime depending on your needs and direction of our sessions

When hiring me on retainer yourself, pricing is $1250/month (which comes out to a little over $300/session and doesn't even factor in the value of the daily advice and support - MUCH more affordable than the $500/hour I list).

Do you offer packages?

Absolutely - though I only do package deals on retainer. You can put me on retainer for 2 months at a time for $2000, knocking your price per session down by half.

I also do group deals, making things even more affordable. For 2 people, pricing on retainer is $1850/month, dropping price per session to a little over $200/session, and for a 2 month package for 2 people I offer a $3000 fee, knocking price per session down to under $190/session.

You can always add more people to your group if you like, but know that the more people you add, the less personalized attention you get. Essentially you get what you pay for in that aspect.

Do you offer packages for a live tournament series or the WSOP?

Yes, but pricing will differ depending on the number of people in your group and the time you'll want me at the tournament with you - and travel and expenses will be extra.

Do I know anybody you've worked with?

Most likely - though I keep my clients confidential unless they provide me with permission to release their names.


Here's what some of them had to say:

"As someone who has always been lazy and unproductive in numerous aspects of life, I sought out help from Travis years ago to learn how to be a healthier person and play better poker because of it. At this point I was still playing lower stakes.

Travis taught me how to eat well, increase my energy levels, lose weight, manage my life, and most importantly feel better than I ever had before. I was skeptical about how his teachings would effect my game, but it all had a major effect on how effective was at the table, and it's shown in my results. The road to being healthier, happier, and achieving your peak performance at the table isn't an easy one, but what Travis can teach you will make you feel like it is."

-DeucesCracked coach Fenderjaguar

"Working with Travis gave me the motivation, and more importantly, the know-how in helping prepare myself for the long grind of tournaments. His extensive knowledge of the impact of nutrition and diet on cognitive performance is infectious as it truly makes you believe that you have to prepare for poker like an athlete prepares for a sport.

I credit Travis for helping me take my energy levels, concentration, and focus to a level they have never been at this year's World Series of Poker."

- Best-Selling Poker Author Matthew Hilger


"Travis has been educating me now for about 2 years. I've been lucky enough to be able to ask him questions and follow his training programs. Not only have his programs gotten me in excellent shape and made me much healthier, but I've also learned a LOT.

He's made me understand the reasons why his methods work. All of this has made me a healthier and happier person in all aspects of life - and last but not least, it has lead to better focus and helped me be more disciplined during poker sessions."

-High stakes online pro ECart


If you're interested in coaching and feel my services are right for you - send me a PM.

Feel free to ask any questions you've got pertaining to my qualifications or my services and I'll be sure to answer!

One spot filled! I'll likely only be taking 3 students at a time unless it's a special case, so there are only 2 spots left - hit me with a PM if you're interested!

Hey,

I ordered your book last week and have read it already. Since this is the place to do so I guess I'll ask some questions.... first I really really liked the time-management stuff and have implemented it, so even though I thought the rest of it was so-so it was worth the money (also worth the money bc of quotes from the maven and hellmuth about how they keep it together upstairs lol.)

Eat a good diet/exercise regularly/meditate or do yoga daily/have a social life and you will feel happier as well as play better poker. This is undeniable. How far over and above that do you go in your coaching? Would a SSNL player just be better off I can buying your book, Jared Tendler's book and reading MarksDailyApple and ZenHabits?

What exactly do you talk about in an hour session?

In order can you rank diet/exercise/sleep/mediation? If you start out trying to form 5 new habits at once you'll likely fail, which order do you think a fat lazy guy should go in?

You say you're the only guy that does what you do, what about Jared Tendler? I'd consider his services to be similar except that he's a psychologist rather than a nutritionist.

Is there any evidence that better diet and exercise lead to an enhanced flow state? I don't think there is, but I think I saw you mentioned it so maybe you've seen something new I haven't. (you'll still play better if you lay off the big macs and run 30 minutes a day, I'm not arguing this.)

Do you still play poker?

One of the conditions to achieving flow is that "The task at hand must have clear and immediate feedback. This helps the person negotiate any changing demands and allows him or her to adjust his or her performance to maintain the flow state".... how do you think that applies to poker? Given the variance and runbad that can happen can poker be said to have clear and immediate feedback? I have an opinion on this, I'm curious what you think. It's a strange case.

One other note about your book was that I didn't think you went into the actual elements of flow. You mentioned the term a lot but most of the actual details about the components of flow weren't mentioned, what was the deal with that? Strongly recommend everyone go get the book FLOW by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, the concept is super-important. I guess that's not a question but a suggestion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology) )

Good luck, I think what you are talking about is much more helpful and useful than another random strategy vid by another random player. The ratio of NL sweat vids in the world to poker psychology and improvement vids is probably 200:1 even though the latter is more important than the former.

Good question.

If you're a small stakes player, I'd definitely start by watching the videos, reading the book, (I haven't read all the ones you listed, but based on what I know about Jared Tendler, he sounds like a great coach), and hiring a SS poker coach. Once you get a good, solid grasp on the game and you begin moving up, hit me up.

Most of my clients actually put me on retainer. One session can be helpful, but it's more helpful to progress linearly through everything and have me available each and every day.

For example, in an hour session that we discuss, say, time management, I would work with you and we'd create your time management resources together to ensure they're as good as they can be. Based on your situation, I'd then recommend how to go about using it on a daily basis, and I'd recommend additional resources for you to check out on the topic.

I can't really rank the aspects you listed because they're all part of a whole. One factor feeds into the effectiveness of the next. I recommend going in the order I outline in my series, as it's sort of a generalized look into my coaching course if you aren't able to take it. Start with the mind, then build to the body. This will ensure you KEEP the new habits you start.

Based on what I know about Jared Tendler, he provides a little bit of a different service, though still one that many consider valuable. I'm not saying that I'm the only poker lifestyle coach, just the only one that takes the scientific and physiologically-minded angle that I take. There are likely a few topics that are stressed by both of us though, so that should show you how critical they really are.

If you get the book, check the back and look at some of the studies cited. Flow from an athlete's perspective is the state of peak performance, so any factor that positively impacts that performance can be seen as getting you closer to it. Does this make sense?

I still play poker, though not nearly as often as I used to/I'd like to. To me, poker was a means to test myself against other competitors while simultaneously funding my businesses. I reached that goal to a certain extent, and my focus has turned a little more towards those aspects of my life. That being said, any time I start a new venture, I look to fund as much of it from poker as possible.

Flow is independent of variance really - or at least in the context I use it in it is. When the term was coined, the author had a little bit of a different angle, but the general concept applies to a number of things. Flow is dictated by your own performance, and it's necessary that you over-learn your skills in order to truly begin to reach it.

There are a number of different forms of feedback for an athlete. Sure the typical external feedback sources are always thought of first, but when one truly has over-learned their skillset, they can begin to rely more and more on internal feedback, which is a sort of self-analysis. Have you ever been really good at a sport or activity, and while engaging in it you did something that just didn't feel right? You likely knew immediately. After taking a seconds and going over it again, you likely corrected whatever it was that didn't feel right.

This is one potential source of immediate feedback that would apply to a poker player. If you make a decision and instantly know it to be the right one or the wrong one regardless of the way the cards come out, you've just exercised internal feedback.

I actually cited the Csíkszentmihályi book at the end of PPP, and I really recommend anyone interested in the concept - whether it's flow or anything else listed in the book - to explore additional resources. I actually provide a listing of some of my favorites near the back before the citations. PPP is meant as an introduction to the concept - not the end-all be-all resource, so you seem to be on the right track on seeking additional resources already.

Good luck!

Hey,

A couple notes- I did read your book and I play mostly mid-stakes, that was just a question, wondering if you thought SSNL and micro guys would not be a good fit. To some extent I would say anyone that's not busting up $1/$2 at minimum would be, as a certain level of technical proficiency should be achieved before you go into stuff like this, and the price is just too high given how much information is out there on this stuff already as well as how much other people cost... for that price I could hire a personal trainer and a personal chef and my diet and exercise needs are met. Just my opinion.

Your post clarifies what I was thinking before, and here is how I see it, to me this seems like a big difference.... Csíkszentmihályi was the guy who came up with the term "flow" and a lot of the research behind it. With the way you talk about it in your book and this post it seems to me that you and him are using the same word to talk about different things. You're talking about "peak poker performance" he's talking about a psychological state where you lose yourself in what you're doing. The two things are definitely related but they just aren't the same.

This sentence reinforces my read on that: "Flow from an athlete's perspective is the state of peak performance, so any factor that positively impacts that performance can be seen as getting you closer to it"... that's simply untrue, flow is not the state of peak athletic performance. Flow is, well, it's flow and people can check the wikipedia entry or the book for more details. For an example, though, millions of fat kids all around the world experience lots of flow (the Csíkszentmihályi kind) for hours every day while playing video games. Nutrition or lack of it has nothing to do with it.

I agree with you on immediate feedback, absolutely. Although to be fair at times in a session I'll say "Wow, why'd I do that I suck" and then later after the session I'll realize my play was fine I was just outcome-biased or tilted or confused.

The "physiologically-minded angle" just seems to be "eat healthy and exercise and it's good for your brain", is that all? Maybe I'm oversimplifying. The book Spark (that I noticed you recommended) does a helluva job showing that this is absolutely 100000% true.

Oh yeah absolutely - there are a ton of different resources out there you can take advantage of to help you reach your goals. Some personal trainers are good, but others can be deceptive - so do your homework and be sure you're getting a real trainer and not a glorified rep counter.

The definition of flow and the way it's applied and different settings may not be entirely the same, but the general concept really is. The psychological state where you truly are losing yourself in what you're doing is definitely something that characterizes peak performance - so I think it's a lot more related than it may seem on the surface. (PLEASE look beyond wikipedia do do this kind of scientific research though - there are a lot of confusing generalizations there that may give the wrong impression)

Here's a little clarification:

Csikszentmihalyi described flow as an optimal psychological state characterized by a state of concentration so focused that there is absolute absorption in the activity. However, there is evidence (McInman and Grove, 1991), (Jackson and Roberts, 1992) to suggest that flow can be seen as a peak performance state. In a 2006 study done by Devenport, she stated that when exploring the way in which flow states are achieved, participants suggest that over-learning of skills is necessary so that skills can be produced without over-effortful processing. Combining this with peak physical and mental training leads to the athletic version of flow.

What I'm saying is this: Csikszentmihalyi coined this term over 20 years ago. Since then, our understanding of it has evolved and it can now effectively be applied in other settings.

The angle that Spark shows is helpful, but there's also a sports psychology angle you can take as well.

It seems as though you were mainly focused on flow though, so hopefully this clarifies things a bit for you.

Let me know if you need anything further!

Believe me I've read the book as well as read a lot of current research about flow. I think the wiki summary of the subject is very good.

My point is still that when it comes to flow itself poker has more in common with a video game than with something like tennis or baseball. Fat kids get hours of flow every day playing XBox Call of Duty .

I can't evaluate the footnotes you post here as you cribbed the footnotes and that quote from the TJ Devenport paper (which is here: http://www.jssm.org/combat/1/13/v5combat-13.pdf, but I'd warn people that it is not scientific in any way whatsoever, the dude interviewed 3 good kickboxers so its interesting but not some huge study or anything like that, I think it's intellectually dishonest to cite it as "a study done by Devenport" it was 3 interviews that she then tried to relate back to other research), so I dunno if you've read those papers either. The Devenport paper makes no contributions to flow research at all, it's an 8 page paper with one paragraph that says "they really got lost in the fight, this is called flow"... it's not a good one to cite to make your case.

Either way the abstract for one seems to be saying "flow can lead to peak performance" which seems reasonable- flow, in the zone, whatever I know exactly what they are talking about and this is not a new idea, that this mental state = "in the zone." No disagreement there... There is no evidence that I can find that show that diet and exercise lead to this mental state at the poker table, which is where I'm saying your use of "flow" is not shared by anyone else I've read. Saying "eating better helps you achieve more flow" is simply not backed up by any studies I've seen.

Either way that's all I've got on this subject I was just happy to see someone in poker mention flow... it's interesting. The other big question I don't know the answer to is that if I feel like I am in a flow state in poker that it may not be flow- it might be autopilot. Autopilot is absolutely the enemy. But for me they really feel the same. They may BE the same, because of the constant calculations required at the table, things to note and think about... this is a major element of poker and it's just not present in a game of tennis or basketball, so if you're in a flow state at poker you might be playing your C game. Much easier to act instinctively on the basketball court. Which is, again, why I think the concept doesn't really translate that well to poker.

But I will agree that if you eat healthier and work out it will be good for your body your brain and your life and your poker will likely improve to some extent.

That's all I got, good luck man.

The Devenport paper is a qualitative study - but don't think it's not a study. Many disciplines - psychology in particular - rely heavily on qualitative studies like this. The Journal of Sports Science and Medicine wouldn't have published it if it weren't a scientific study as that's all they publish. (Correction - they do also publish literature reviews, which are some of the most helpful things out there - but this wasn't one of them.)

I really pride myself in my honesty to all clients. Your personal opinion on a piece of research doesn't make me at all dishonest, nor does it make it any less of a study. While it doesn't make direct contributions to flow research, it's compiled a few useful ones to apply it to a different setting. I'm hoping you can see the connection there.

Keep in mind - flow is an abstract concept. I feel as though I'm simply restating the body's contribution to peak performance if you've read the book - and I get the feeling that you already know it. Using the term "flow" to define a peak performance state seems to be your issue here. Again, let me say that Csikszentmihalyi coined the term, but the application of that state in sport is an extension of that. I urge you to look beyond it in order to see the concept for what it is.

This is a private coaching thread though, so if you'd like to discuss this further we should probably start a different thread.

Sure, start a different thread. I don't really know where it would go tbh.