Well, I will tell you my story.
I am a guy living in Redlands, CA making a living as a Poker Player I don't want to say Professional Poker Player because i don't know why.
I've been playing NL Texas Hold em since a young age. About 3 years ago I fell really deeply into the game. I lost lots. Thousands and thousands. 30,000$ if you want a price tag on it. My mistake was starting at a casino, not reading up on books of the game, not studying strategy not dedicating myself enough to the learning part of Poker and not to mention starting off at those ridiculous stakes 1-2 Poker. If you can imagine practically losing, on a daily basis 100 bucks can add up.
Fast forward 2 years to now. I no longer lose no more. I make about 200+ bucks a day. On someday's I make even more. I play Live NL 1-3 Hold em. Today for example I made a nice payday of 441.00$. I have been constantly making about 200-500 on a daily basis. Now, I still do have my bad days, Aces cracked, Flush over Flush, Bad Coin Toss (which i strongly recommend never doing) 50/50%
odds are not good odds. And a bad session of tilt play.
Going on tilt will destroy any dream and chance of playing Poker and making a living might as well just keep working. If you cannot be mentally disciplined then Poker is not for you. If you think that you can just so casually jump up in blinds and think your okay you might as well just give them your money.
I recommend studying at least a minimum of 2 hours a day maybe even 3 if your hardcore enough I study for 3 a day. Reading, watching videos, Taking out a deck of 52 cards and studying hand positions, what would you do in these situations, against these kind of players, making a graph, keeping balances, how to make as much money as possible out of a hand. Study the math part of it too. Your whole point of studying is too develop a strong sense of focus in the game. If you can focus very good then it will make you a decent player.
Now, if you are a person who goes online or a casino, you take out your phone, you listen to music, you eat, you watch TV, your watching the family, your talking on the phone, then please, just stop playing Poker you are throwing your money away.
Think of it like a job, would a real professional job allow any of that at work? Of course not you would be fired eventually. Poker is the same way you need to give it everything. And I do mean everything. And once you gave it everything give it even more. That is how you become good at NL Poker and make a living as a Professional.
Good Luck
Aaron