Is sharing your goals actually -EV?

[Manjerica1]

Ever noticed this pattern?

You tell someone “this month I’m gonna grind hard”, “I’m moving up soon”, or “I feel a big score coming”…
And somehow, right after that, everything goes to shit.

Downswings hit harder. Focus disappears. You start forcing spots like you owe the universe a proof. I’ve seen this movie more times than I’ve busted with AK vs 72o.

So here’s the question: is sharing goals and big dreams actually bad for poker performance?

From a psychological angle, it kinda makes sense. When you talk about a goal, your brain gets a small dopamine reward — almost like you already achieved something. Motivation drops. Urgency softens. You feel productive without having done the work. Sneaky leak.

Then comes social pressure. Now people know your plan. Every bad session feels public, even if nobody says a word. You’re no longer playing your A-game — you’re playing to confirm an identity. To prove something. That’s when discipline quietly folds preflop.

And let’s talk about energy (yeah, that word).
Not in a mystical way — but emotional contamination is real. Doubts, jokes, projections, subtle envy. Most people don’t want to drain you, but they do. Unconsciously.

Same thing with sharing big results. Ego loves the applause. Variance doesn’t. Tomorrow you brick 20 MTTs and now the confidence tax is higher than the buy-ins.

Meanwhile, look at the strongest regs.
Silent. Low-profile. No constant updates. No goal announcements. Just volume, reviews, and cold execution.

So I’m genuinely curious:

Do you think sharing goals and dreams helps… or hurts long-term performance?

 

[veryluckyfish7k]

Ever noticed this pattern?

You tell someone “this month I’m gonna grind hard”, “I’m moving up soon”, or “I feel a big score coming”…
And somehow, right after that, everything goes to shit.

Downswings hit harder. Focus disappears. You start forcing spots like you owe the universe a proof. I’ve seen this movie more times than I’ve busted with AK vs 72o.

So here’s the question: is sharing goals and big dreams actually bad for poker performance?

From a psychological angle, it kinda makes sense. When you talk about a goal, your brain gets a small dopamine reward — almost like you already achieved something. Motivation drops. Urgency softens. You feel productive without having done the work. Sneaky leak.

Then comes social pressure. Now people know your plan. Every bad session feels public, even if nobody says a word. You’re no longer playing your A-game — you’re playing to confirm an identity. To prove something. That’s when discipline quietly folds preflop.

And let’s talk about energy (yeah, that word).
Not in a mystical way — but emotional contamination is real. Doubts, jokes, projections, subtle envy. Most people don’t want to drain you, but they do. Unconsciously.

Same thing with sharing big results. Ego loves the applause. Variance doesn’t. Tomorrow you brick 20 MTTs and now the confidence tax is higher than the buy-ins.

Meanwhile, look at the strongest regs.
Silent. Low-profile. No constant updates. No goal announcements. Just volume, reviews, and cold execution.

So I’m genuinely curious:

Do you think sharing goals and dreams helps… or hurts long-term performance?

For most players, sharing goals hurts more than it helps. It adds pressure and feeds ego instead of focus. Quiet work, volume, and discipline beat talking every time.

 

[CRStals]

I don't think it is - I feel that sharing your goals holds you accountable as you are publicizing them - which may make you subconsciously play different knowing that there is a degree of pressure on you now, versus not sharing your goals and playing as you always have been.

It's an adjustment that if you can make, should - should - result in a +EV eventually but I can definitely see short term how this could affect you negatively.

 

[MK_]

Well I guess it depends on who your friends are...,

I don't think it's the friends fault if you share a goal and you miss... sometimes that happens,

I like hearing about my friends goals and how they're doing, if they're doing well I like it even better😎👍