You cannot build a successful poker career through technical ability alone
Knowing how to play is only half the battle.
Building a life and career that allows you to perform consistently, develop professionally, and make the most of your opportunities is where things can get considerably more complicated.
It doesn’t matter how good we are technically. Struggling with consistency, volume, motivation, lack of direction, unclear vision, life tilt, and any other practical demands of playing poker competitively can derail our progress and stop us from reaching our potential.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
The problem isn’t necessarily your ability to learn and play poker. It may be something else surrounding the game.
You don’t have to keep fighting the same battles
You might have ambitious goals for your poker career. But do you find yourself struggling to follow through on the things you know you should be doing?
Maybe you feel like you don't deserve your true goals. Your true vision.
So you sell yourself short and settle for something more attainable. If you called yourself out on your own bullshit, you know you can do better. But pursuing what you really want means confronting some uncomfortable beliefs about yourself.
You end up compromising on your ambitions, then wondering why you can't seem to follow through. Your confidence takes another hit, and you're left unsure how to build yourself back up.
These problems can become frustratingly repetitive. Maybe you can see what’s holding you back. Make plans to tackle it. Then somehow you find yourself dealing with the same issue over and over again. Another blow to your confidence and self image.
Sometimes you have blind spots that are difficult to recognize on your own. You need an outside perspective from someone who isn't caught up in your usual environment or afraid to tell you what they see.
Stop trying to solve the wrong problems
More discipline is not the answer.
Yeah I know. You might think you have a discipline problem. You're not putting in enough volume, you're not studying enough, or you're struggling to follow through on the plans you make for yourself.
But more often than not, there's something deeper going on. It might be a structure problem, a self-worth problem, or some combination of things. Maybe your environment isn't conducive to getting the work done. Maybe too many things outside poker are competing for your attention. Or maybe there's a disconnect between what you say you want and what you're actually doing to get there.
No amount of forcing yourself to do something you don't want to do is going to magically make it sustainable. You need to understand the connection between the work you're doing and the vision you're pursuing. You may also need to address the beliefs, shame, or guilt that are getting in the way.
You will never build a sustainable career by constantly banging your head against the wall trying to be ‘more disciplined’.
As a coach I am here to help you see your blind spots. I’m not here to be your friend and give you endless validation. I’m here to help you identify your problem and create a solution based ACTION plan to kicking the shit out of whatever is holding you back.
That’s where we start. Diagnose the problem before jumping around to solve it.
Build the structure that allows you to succeed
We're going to identify the obstacles holding you back and develop a clearer vision of what you actually want to achieve. Not a watered-down version you've convinced yourself is good enough, but what you're genuinely capable of pursuing and want from your career.
Our objective isn't just to figure out what you should be doing. It's to build an approach that allows you to actually do it.
So how do we go about that?
First, we need to understand where you are now. What's working? What isn't? What have you been struggling with, and what have you already tried to do about it? Sometimes the problem is obvious. Other times, we need to dig a little deeper to uncover what's actually getting in your way.
From there, we'll establish what you want to achieve and identify the changes most likely to help you get there. That might mean rethinking your career direction, addressing some underlying beliefs, restructuring your approach to volume and study, or making better decisions about how you manage your professional life.
Then we turn those insights into an actionable plan. Not some idealistic list of things you should be doing, but a realistic approach that accounts for your circumstances, priorities, and ambitions.
And the work doesn't end with having a plan. We can evaluate how things are going, identify what's still getting in the way, and adjust our approach as necessary.
The goal is to move beyond simply knowing what you should be doing and develop the clarity, structure, and ability to actually follow through.
What would we work on?
Everyone's circumstances and ambitions are different. Our discussions will be guided by what you want to achieve and what's currently getting in your way.
If there's a disconnect between what you say you want and the actions you're taking to achieve it, that's something we need to address.
Furthermore, here are the core areas I can help.
Direction and career development
Man, I've made just about every mistake in the book when it comes to building a poker career. And yet, here I am. I've made good money, built a life I'm happy with, and figured out a lot of things I wish I'd understood much sooner. Had I taken the guidance of a good mentor earlier, I could have saved myself a lot of time, money, and frustration. That much is certain.
We can work together on your vision. Evaluate your game plan for going pro or managing your career. Transitioning from part time to full time. Refine your schedule and weave in life skills and how to handle opportunities outside playing. Smash those self limiting beliefs. And overall align with a better sense of direction and purpose.
Structure, consistency, execution
Building a sustainable approach to volume and study
Structuring your environment, schedule, and sessions to maximize EV
Identifying obstacles to consistency and productivity
Overcoming mental blocks that prevent you from executing your intentions
Get the highest returns on study: learn to actually enjoy studying without neglecting it
Professional decision-making
Bankroll management and shot taking
Strategic moving up and down in stakes
Developing a “barbell” strategy for reducing your risk of ruin
Making decisions that balance career ambition with lifestyle
Mental game and lifestyle
Identify and correct self limiting beliefs
Find the root causes of negative self talk, or low self image and create action plans to correct
Managing your psychology through volatile times, good or bad
Build habits and routines that support long term performance
Develop a professional mindset and greater accountability
Managing relationships and personal life alongside the demands of professional poker
Who is this coaching for?
I’ll tell you who it’s not for.
This is not for you if… you are unwilling to take responsibility for things within your control.
This is not for you if… you do not see the value in taking an active role in your own development.
This is not for you if… you are not serious about your professional development and simply hoping to catch a lucky break.
If you're serious about improving your situation and willing to put in the work, we're on the same page.
You might be considering making the leap to playing professionally but need space to evaluate if its the right move.
Perhaps navigating the shift from part time to full time is your biggest struggle. It can be overwhelming dropping everything you’ve known and grown comfortable with to pursue poker full time. Getting ahead on what’s necessary for success - thats a prudent approach. The payoff of getting things set up properly from the beginning will compound several times over the course of your career.
Maybe you’re struggling with consistency, direction, or sustainability despite already being full time.
Or simply, just performing below your potential. You know deep down you can do better, but something is blocking you… that’s where we can work together. Sorting out whats in the way of you making bigger gains.
Ultimately, you do not have to play full time or have a specific goal. Whats necessary is a desire to improve your current situation. A willingness to examine your current approach and readiness to take responsibility for making changes.
About me
I am Ryan McEathron. Many know me as “newguy89” from my PokerStars days. In recent times also recognized as '“PawLicker” on WSOP.
I’ve been playing for 17 years. Played well over 10 million hands across cash games, SNGs, and MTTs. Over that time I’ve generated approximately $2.2 million in net profit online.
But the number itself isn’t what I find most interesting.
I didn’t get here through one or two huge tournament scores. I’ve never had a $300k, $500k, or $1M bink. My results have come primarily through consistently making money over a long time horizon.
It wasn’t always this way either.
Not every year was a great one. Especially in the early days. I wasn’t nearly as consistent as I wanted to be. It too me longer than it should have to piece together the nuances of what it takes to succeed.
Eventually things started clicking. I began putting the pieces together that were previously missing. Compounding effects began working in my favor. The majority of my profit came during the latter half of my career. After I had got a handle on many of the things I wish I understood sooner.
I think there is a lot to be learned from that journey.
In the era of social media, we're constantly exposed to huge tournament scores, televised final tables, and life-changing binks. It's easy to lose sight of the fact that there are plenty of professional players quietly making excellent livings without ever needing one of those outlier results.
Building a sustainable career isn't necessarily about hitting the big score. It's about developing the skills, habits, decision-making, and professional approach that allow you to consistently put yourself in profitable situations. The goal is get to a place where you don’t need to rely on any one lucky gamble.
Beyond playing I work with serious players through private 1-on-1 coaching. I'm also a coach at BBZ Poker and have helped hundreds of players develop their strategic thought processes through seminars and training courses.
My goal with coaching is to help you develop the skills, habits, and professional approach needed to make the most of your potential. The sooner you start putting those pieces together, the sooner the benefits can begin compounding.
Let’s figure out what’s holding you back
You don’t necessarily need to overhaul everything you’re doing.
A few changes in the right places can have a significant impact.
The challenge is figuring out which changes matter most, understanding what’s been getting in your way, and developing a realistic approach to moving forward.
That’s what we can work on together.
Whether you're looking to take the next step in your poker career, become more consistent, or simply get more out of the opportunities in front of you, having the right perspective and direction can make a world of difference.
If you're serious about improving your approach to poker and building a more sustainable path forward, I'd be happy to work with you.
GRAPH: SNG+MTT $1-$2500 as of 2025/10/09. Rakeback NOT shown. Cash profit NOT shown.