The Young Man and the Sea: Must-Read Story by Poker Pro Sorel Mizzi

It has all the ingredients of a Hollywood script - a beautiful setting (Rio de Janeiro), famous real-life characters (yes, the casually mentioned 'Dan' is the prodigal prince of high-rollers, @Daniel Colman), a seemingly impossible challenge, and, of course, a protagonist who is heroic in a most unpretentious and likeable way. Needless to say, it also has the Hollywood happy ending. 

This victory helped me prove to myself as well as others that belief in yourself makes your visions both possible and attainable.

@Sorel Mizzi (Canada's Number 4 with $11,199,439 in live earnings) has written a great story, Swimming Against All Odds, about how he accepted a bet with a bunch of 'degenerate gambler' friends that he would manage to swim across to the distant island in the picture below:

Fans are sure to enjoy the glimpse into the world of high-stakes poker stars off the tables and Mizzi also shares some valuable tips and experience with visualization as a powerful tool for self-fulfillment. But perhaps best and most thought-provoking of all is the question he throws back at us in the last line:

One of my favorite authors, Napoleon Hill, once said “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe it can achieve.”

And the real question I have to you is: what exactly is it that you want to achieve, and what story do you keep telling yourself that’s holding you back?

PS

I happened to accidentally save the pics for this article in a folder on my laptop called 'HeroScore' . The more I think about it, the more appropriate it seems and who knows what heroic exploits this inspirational story might unleash over the weekend ;) Whether you use the visualization technique or self-analysis to overcome or at least identify the fears and insecurities that might be holding you back, please share with your fellow RankingHeroes! In the meantime, we can all spare a minute to visit Mizzi's page and give his HeroScore a little boost :)

Swimming Against All Odds - Sorel MizziI can still remember fragmented images from early childhood experience with water; swimming with my floaters placed firmly around my arms, while Mom and Dad lounged next to the pool. Being fascinated and curious about the world around me, on one particular occasion, I took the floaters off to explore further depths. My parents observed …sorelmizzi.ca