Steven van Zadelhoff has been making a name for himself in the world of poker, being present in many live and virtual poker tables. The Dutchman, who uses the online moniker “SvZff,” has been elected into the Dutch Poker Hall of Fame back in 2017, and is definitely one of the most successful players from the Netherlands, currently being 6th on the all-time money list in this country.
His live tournament success is undeniable, but he is still considered an online poker professional. “SvZff” has managed to earn more than $7 million in lifetime cashes only on PokerStars, and is currently ranked the 35th best online poker player in the world. He occupied the first spot back in 2017.
Zadelhoff’s biggest victory was when he took down the World Championship of Online Poker Main Event, where he earned a whopping $1,624,502. All of that was a result of hard work, and Zadelhoff was eager to share his tips about success with the world.
Mindset Comes First
According to Zadelhoff, there are five pillars of success, and the first one is to start adopting a different mindset that would help you thrive. It should help you get out of the comfort zone as you start accepting that you’re allowed to make mistakes and forgive yourself. This new mindset will make room for growth and improvement. The Dutch player recommended a book called Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck.
Adapting Proper Nutrition
Zadelhoff considers proper nutrition very important, saying that not only our bodies but our mind as well need proper nutrients to operate in an optimal way. That’s why many people who don’t put the right nutrients often experience problems that are somewhat related to the mind, including fatigue, stress, anxiety, and more.
So, what are the proper nutrients? According to Zadelhoff, everything we need is in unprocessed foods, and we should vary between meat, vegetables, fish, and eggs, and eat as much protein that comes from natural sources. Carbs should be added if we need extra energy, but we should not start with carbs, as that is often what causes “diseases of affluence.”
Building a Strong Body
Once we adopt the mindset and change our diet, we need to look after our bodies and focus on our muscles, which Zadelhoff believes is underrated. According to him, people who take care of their bodies will have their mindset constantly improving. Moreover, Zadehloff thinks that “cardio if overrated,” stating that strength comes first.
Childhood Traumas
Many people have childhood traumas that they unconsciously project into their lives. For example, some think that they are too fat, too dumb, or simply “not good enough.” Most of these things come from childhood, and we should be able to address these traumas and work on them. We need to relieve that emotion, recognize it, and understand it. Zadelhoff recommended the book called The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.
Optimal Learning Environment
Finally, Zadelhoff believes that we should all be able to create our optimal learning environment, which means we need to emerge ourselves in study groups, instructional videos, courses, and more. Moreover, the Dutchman advises being in “a healthy relationship” with people who would appreciate what we do and, preferably, have the same goals as we do.
These were Zadelhoff’s five pillars of success. It’s easier said than done, but with enough persistence and determination, nothing is impossible. All of these tips can also be applied to people who want to start a poker career, as poker requires discipline, a healthy mind, and a healthy body in order to maximize your success.