Submitted by rsteel on
* EGO, most successful people have one. Call it competitive edge wanting to be the best you can be, pride etc. Conversely the arrogant loud boastful outright liars they are the ones to avoid in every aspect of life. They know the least and are generally very insecure. I did not invent sports betting. I am not the best most talented in the industry. However over the years I have acquired the characteristics that I harp on in grapevines that allow me to be successful in this business. I adapt I am open to new ideas. I am very confident in my ability to handicap. I have survived and prospered in this business and there is much to be said about longevity 20+ years I have been doing this; where the norm is people coming and going on a daily basis.
* Re-evaluate teams on a regular basis. Teams go through changes ups and downs over a long season. The public is slow to react to these cycles. Even top echelon teams go through down periods through a season. What a team did in month 1 has zero relevance to how they are performing in month 4 for example.
* Discipline, money management, do not take a bad number. Do not chase the line. If the line is moving away from you wait and see if it comes back. If it is moving in your favor wait until it bottoms out. Over time you will become very instinctive and good at predicting line movement. If the line misses your target number pass the game. The national anthem is played some where all the time.
* This business requires long long hours. If you have a passion for what you do if you enjoy what you do than it does not feel like work at all. Figure out what you are passionate about in life determine how to make money at it and you will NEVER work a day in your life.
* You must be able to handle slumps and extended bad streaks. Losing is no fun for anybody. It is gut wrenching and nauseating. This business can drive you crazy at times. You have to be able to lose or make money and not blink. Gamblers tend to make the same mistakes and make the worst decisions for some reason. Stay on as even a keel as possible. Do not let bad beats effect future handicapping.
Have confidence in your skills and your ability to find value. Most importantly take a long term approach which will help you deal with the daily ups and downs.