Since you're probably not reading the comments

My friend Josh posted a comment to my Bobby Fischer post:

Hey Brian,

Great post, and a bit of a coincidence. Check this out, its written by Paul Wasicka, 2006 runner up in the WSOP Main Event, and current defending NBC Heads-Up Poker Champion.

http://www.kwickfish.com/Site/blog/4EB...

Learn more about Paul here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wasicka
http://www.fulltiltpoker.net

Here was my initial reply:

That's a great blog post. I was just thinking that Poker has gone through a resurgence the way chess did back in the 1970s. I wonder who today's Bobby Fischer of poker is? Was that Chip Reese?

Obviously the parallels don't really work, because there's no Cold War and poker wasn't brought back by one guy. But the lesson about greatness in both will be the same. Talent and hard work, with the most important talent being the "need" to work harder than anyone else in the world.

I imagine any reader of this blog has developed at least a cursory knowledge of poker over the past few years.  With the way it took over cable, it was hard not to learn who Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu and Chris "Jesus" Ferguson are.  I mean, I know who they are and I've never played a game of legit poker in my life.

Paul Wasicka is a relative newbie to the scene, but he seems to be pretty good.  His blog post above is basically explaining why he'll never be the best.  I know that sounds harsh, but if you can basically say you aren't as motivated as other people are, then you're are implicitly saying you won't be the best.  Why?  Because as I've written before, effort is the by-product of your attitude, which includes your motivation. 

Here's my rule of thumb for determining whether someone can ultimately be the best at something.

1.  There are people out there who are equally as talented as you are.
2.  One of those people out there will work obsessively hard--Bobby Fischer hard--to be the best at what you are trying to do.
3.  Your only hope is to work smarter or harder than that person.
4.  You'd better absolutely love what you do.

Paul's blog post is well worth a read.  I give him a lot of credit for putting himself out there and analyzing himself in public.  And he's acting to change those things he feels need to change, which is certainly commendable.  I just wonder if you can manufacture motivation to rival that of the "Bobby Fischer-esque" variety.  Because that's ultimately what you are up against.

***Update: Sorry to resend, but I had to update the link and photo.***