Obviously, Daniel Negreanu will have different goals for his internet and real world poker efforts in the new year than you or I will. His almost uncanny ability to read his opponents cards have paid off for some big wins online in 2012. But it is important to write down your goals and check them frequently if you are going to achieve them, however large or small they may be. Negreanu recently posted on one of his poker blogs his goals for 2013. Let’s take a look at his goals for the new year to give you some ideas about setting your own. 

After setting 10 rather lofty goals for 2012 and accomplishing 3, Daniel Negreanu said that he wasn’t as upset as you may think for failing to hit 7 of them. His goals were rather lofty, so by accomplishing 3 out of the 10, he actually had a great year. In 2013, his number one goal is to cash for $1.5 million in online and live tournaments. Last year his goal was $1 million, and he crushed it, with $1.7 million cashed online at PokerStars and in live tournaments. However, there is no One Drop tournament this year, and he cannot make the Aussie Millions big events, so raising his goal by 50% for 2013 means he will have to focus that much harder with fewer big-money events available. What are your personal goals for finishing in the black in online poker tournaments this year?

Daniel Negreanu also wants to top the WPT All-Time Money List, and he is about a million behind right now. Obviously, this is a goal you and I can forget about entirely until we have a good run of 5 or 10 years. But you can make a personal goal very similar. Perhaps you should work hard at having your best year ever in 2013, and attach a monetary figure to that? Negreanu also said he would like to win at least one bracelet in 2013. If you are an above average player, and can attend one of the opportunities to win gold in Paris, Australia or Las Vegas in 2013, you may want to consider this.

One very important goal that the Canadian pro set for himself is something we all should probably think about doing in 2013. Negreanu has set a goal to abstain from partying the night before ANY event. Sometimes we jump online after a night out when we know a tournament is about to start, log into our account, and begin playing. “Staying 100% focused” as Daniel puts it, is extremely important for us to play our best. When you hear someone who makes his living by playing online poker and live events publicly express this as a goal, you have to take it seriously.

And finally, there is definitely an online goal in which you and I can succeed in accomplishing in 2013, right alongside a professional. Daniel Negreanu has as his number 10 goal in the new year to “Shoot at least 12 Rants.” In staying connected to poker at large online, you are better informed about what is going on in our virtual community. And let’s be honest, it is fun to rant and rave to blow off a little steam from time to time. If Daniel falls a little short of his goals in 2013, he is still destined to have a great year. And here is hoping that you have an awesome year in 2013, and you hit your online poker goals as well.