Set goals and be realistic

I stopped by my local card room last night but not to play poker. I actually sat down with a few of the regulars and began asking them what their goals were. I was curious and knew them well enough to ask questions that the average guy probably wouldn't about their game. One of the guys was in his late thirties and plays in the $5/$10 No Limit game. He is a business man and has done quite well for himself over the years. He also happens to be one of the better cash game players. So I asked him about his game and this is the feedback he gave me:

"Well, you know I tend to be a grinder. I love the game but I try not to be stupid about it. A lot of these guys think they are going to be professional poker players and do the TV thing. Me, I just want to be respected as a good player and if I win a tournament here or there that's fine. I don't spend a whole lot of time worrying about getting on TV or playing in the World Series of Poker and stuff like that. Yes, I would love to do those things and I probably will play a couple of professional tournaments but my main focus over the past two years has been building my bankroll."

That was a very concise, well thought out answer with a definitive goal in mind. Actually my poker friend had a lot more insightful things to add on the game and the players he plays with. The point is that he has a goal in mind and is not caught up in all the hype of the game. Sure, he is an everyday guy just like most of the people that play this game but he has a plan.

Do you?