I'm addicted to multitasking, and spent approx 7 years playing poker for living, started with free $50 bankroll provided by some other poker forum for learning articles and passing the quiz and managed to increase it to $800 in my first month. Step by step I've got bored and tired of spending my lifetime for such money making. The good side is that i kept studying during these 7 years of online gambling in very different fields, like mechanics, aquaponics, hydroponics, chemistry and so on, and before poker I was web programmer and designer... had a small web studio and paid salaries. I think that the main reason for quitting poker was because I'm not the boss and only poker site owner is the real boss, and all of the winnings are something like a slary for rake that i've been generating. Felt myself uncomfortable about it.
At some point, approx 4 years ago I've cashed out really large part of the bankroll and bought a garage with a plan to make it a workshop, bought tools, machines and also ordered a big laser cutting/engraving cnc machine from China, it arrived 3 months later and I've won 1st places in couple of MTTs before it came and had same money in the bankroll, but I kinda had no serious goals and no experience in working with tools... When that 1st CNC machine arrived it was disassembled, and after putting all parts together I've realized that I can create CNC machines on my own just buying necessary parts... So since then I've crafted and sold approx 20 CNC machines, routers, plasma cutters, foam cutters and lathes. Haven't done any laser cutters yet and not going to make such trash as 3d printers... Well maybe organic 3d printer is something interesting for the future. At some point I've stopped selling machines in order to not create competition at my local market... And I create and sell wide range of objects using routers/lathe/plasma and so on. Last and this summer I've been selling kitchen furniture, hired guys for installation and assembling, while all I do is just drawing 3d models in the evening together with playing some freerolls, then I make g-code program using 3d model and feed machines with that g-code so they can cut/engrave things for me. Once started, engraving process is fully automated, and it's a perfect job. I really like it, cause I make things, useful things for people, something you can touch... My main instrument is brain + hands, instead of mouse+HUD in poker... It's much more fun to spend a day cutting wood logs, then welding metal, then painting engravings and talking to people that i've hired.
What is better? TO keep 20K as a poker bankroll = numbers on the screen... OR to invest 20K in such machine, and turn $5 wood into 12 statutes, $40 each, during 8 hours?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgCDiGfegVo
Or to engrave such flat panels with 3d relief for walls or furniture?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVvWJTnBoAc
As for the poker part, during this winter I'll pay serious attention to poker related theme and most probably will open online shop with poker related souvenirs, prizes, card protectors and maybe exclusive poker tables.
So far I've already made some poker-related items last winter, but haven't continued this direction, cause had to concentrate on things that giving me stable profit, while these poker gifts are just an idea for the startup.
and so on.. well maybe I've made like 20 things, including some statues and wall clocks related to poker, but they all are not finished, not polished not painted and oiled. But the main thing is that I made 3d models for these items and will be able to produce any amount of such items in the future.
I like the smell of oak wood in the workshop in the morning instead of browsing for fishy tables in the poker client. Feeling myself much better, however can't say that I earn more than I used to earn playing poker, but today I have a choice, I can start playing poker seriously again while machines are loaded with work, cause all I have to do is to wait while they work. But still, i see many much more interesting ways to spend time with possible high profit thatn playing poker each day. Maybe next year will spend some money for good equipment and will start posting new videos at the youtube channel... I've quit it cause without professional camera, lights scenario writing, directing and editing the video - it won't work well.
That's my story.
