Bigger, Faster, Louder
Every January well-meaning people all over set goals for themselves for the new year. While many fall by the wayside, often before February arrives, I wanted to post my poker goals for 2026 to keep myself accountable.
2025 was a fairly good year for me but I did not have clear goals to reach for. My main goals were to win poker tournaments and make money. However, it wasn’t until about a month ago that I dug into some of the data to see where I was.
What I learned is that Spin & Go’s have far more variance than I am interested in. I found that my game is best suited to MTTs, and so my goal for 2026 includes more MMTs and little to no Spin & Gos.
This is why I have set five specific and measurable goals for 2026 that I can hold myself to over the year.
Goal #1: Win a Nightly $100 on PokerStars PA
Since I live in Pennsylvania, I have access to several legal online sites to play on. I happen to like PokerStars best, I am not affiliated with them in any way…but I would consider an ambassador role if offered (hint, hint).
Taking down a nightly $100 on PokerStars PA is goal #1 for several reasons:
- It represents a step up in stakes for me. I generally play the $15 – $50 range and have done well, so I want to test myself at the next level
- Larger tournaments will mean bigger wins, which will help with goal #5
These fields tend to be tougher than the smaller tournaments, so hopefully my game will grow with more experience on a bigger stage.
Goal #2: Win a Sunday Major on PokerStars PA
This is in line with goal #1, but represents a bit larger stage. While it may seem like the same thing, the Sunday tournaments attract bigger fields, so therefore are harder to win just in that respect alone.
As prize pools increase, so does the skill needed to win. I am hoping to rise to the occasion.
Goal #3: Launch Poker Punx Apparel
This is where poker culture and identity collide.
Poker Punx apparel isn’t about slapping chips on a hoodie and calling it a brand. It’s about representing a mindset — studied, disciplined poker mixed with deep punk roots and a DIY ethic.
When I started getting into content creation, I realized poker players and punks have a lot in common. They prefer to do things their own way, and they have a healthy disdain for being told what to do.
The 2026 goal is simple:
- Launch the apparel line cleanly
- Dial in quality and consistency
- Build something that poker players actually want to wear
I have seen a lot of poker apparel brands out there, but very few that I thought represented me. So instead of waiting for one to come along, I decided to start it myself.
Goal #4: 26 Podcasts & 26 YouTube Videos (Optimally 52)
Content is the long game — the slow grind that compounds when consistency builds upon itself.
Baseline goal:
- 26 podcast episodes
- 26 YouTube videos
That’s one of each every other week. Manageable. Realistic. No excuses.
The stretch goal is the real heater:
- 52 podcasts
- 52 videos
One per week. Now the content I want in this space is quality. I want to make sure each episode is worth watching and not just done to say I had an episode this week. That is why I have a real goal and a stretch goal.
These won’t be hours-long podcasts or videos but a manageable and attention-sustaining 15-30 minutes each, focusing on quality over quantity.
Goal #5: $1,000 Per Month Profit (Minimum)
This is the backbone of everything.
A $1k/month profit isn’t flashy, but it’s sustainable. It means:
- Bankroll management is respected
- Stakes are chosen logically
- Consistent good play that avoids punts
Some might say this is too low a goal and could be achieved by winning one tournament. This may be true, but not everyone can win that one tournament a month. Variance also plays it’s part in making this “easy” goal that much harder. However, with discipline, I believe $1k/month is achievable.
How It All Fits Together
None of these goals live in isolation.
Poker shapes the content.
Content strengthens the brand.
The brand reinforces the identity.
Profit shows those watching or listening to the content that I am worth their time.
Some months will feel like a heater. Others will feel like I am at the whims of variance. That’s the game. The edge isn’t avoiding variance — it’s rising above variance and keeping it in check.
Final Thoughts: Play the Long Session
2026 isn’t about one lucky run or one viral post. It’s about stacking thousands of small, correct decisions until they add up to something undeniable.
Play disciplined. Ship it when the spot is right. Hit record even when motivation is short. Build Poker Punx the same way winning poker is built — patiently, deliberately, and with the DIY mindset I was raised on in the punk scene.
One year. Five clear goals. Plenty of hands left to play. ♠️