By Ryan Carter

When I tell someone about my professional poker career they are always jealous of the lifestyle I live. To someone working a 9-5 the amount of freedom a pro gambler has sounds like paradise compared to their boring ass job. The truth is, if poker somehow became a 9-5 and I was forced to choose between the complete freedom or the game I love, I would choose the game in a heart beat.

I gamble because it gets my blood pumping. I still get the same adrenaline rush every time I launch a huge bluff, and it’s hard to keep a smile from my face when I trap some sucker into giving me his stack with a garbage hand. The challenge of out thinking my opponents while constantly controlling my emotions keeps the daily grind fresh and exciting. While the freedom is great I wouldn’t trade the mental stimulation I get from poker for anything.

My personal philosophy has always been; if I’m not doing something every day that truly excites me I need to fix that ASAP. There are a million ways to make money in this world, so there is no reason you can’t be doing something that pays the bills as well as gets you pumped to wake up each morning. Look up and you will see this site’s slogan: “Always Bluff: For People Who Take Risks”. To live the Always Bluff lifestyle you don’t have to be a professional gambler. You just need to be willing to “take a shot” at something you truly desire even if there is a little risk and uncertainty involved.

Many people thought I was crazy for dropping everything to play poker for a living. If I hadn’t I would be stuck in some lame job, not getting any work done because I was day dreaming about the life I have now. I would have spent my whole life thinking about what could have been, and that would have been a great human tragedy. If you’re life isn’t everything you want it to be I suggest you do something about that immediately. Trust me; the rewards are well worth the gamble.