There are many moments in our lives that lead us to make important decisions regarding our professional sphere, but none will ever be as significant as the moment we start stepping out of our family cocoon and decide which path to take.
Usually, this kind of choice is made at the end of the educational cycle that we still define as mandatory, after obtaining our middle school diploma, or upon completing our university studies.
The path we choose is often aligned with these educational journeys, unless there are different needs that go beyond academic growth, stemming from situations of sheer necessity. However, such situations cannot be summarized in a short article like the one in front of you, because each of us enters the working world simply by taking the necessary steps to grow up.
Combining Passion and Profession
If you have carefully browsed our portal, you may have noticed that one of the most frequently used words in our articles is "passion."
What is more important than passion if we want to give Confucius’ famous saying a meaning that goes beyond the simple reason why we all start working—money?
It goes without saying that Confucius' words would not hold true if the Chinese philosopher, who lived 2,500 years ago, had referred to mere money, leaving us with a thought that, today more than ever, remains strikingly relevant.
Confucius did not know about poker table dealers, although there were figures in his time who facilitated the entertainment of others, such as in the game of Go, which some of you may have encountered during your life.
However, when talking about "entertaining others," some key points need to be clarified.
We Are Part of the Game, We Have Fun Like the Players
Practicing a profession that we grow to love from the very first moment implies a personal exercise deeply connected to play itself.
Choosing a job where others have fun, and where there are professionals ensuring this fun, does not mean that these professionals are not integral parts of the game—on the contrary.
The person writing this has turned others' enjoyment into a job, realizing that they will never be able to give it up as long as someone pays them to do it.
Commenting on a poker final table means organizing a wealth of knowledge—a task I have enjoyed since childhood when I used to throw a bunch of colored markers onto the carpet, with the blue one representing Italy. If Italy ended up far behind the others, the commentator you are reading now would shout with excitement, waking up my grandmother who was trying to sleep.
And If You Want to Be a Dealer…
Let’s focus on the figure of the dealer, or more broadly, the croupier.
If you are a player—whether casual or serious—you know well what a croupier's role is: they allow others, fellow human beings just like themselves and like you, to engage in their passion for gaming through another passion—the joy of being together, sharing laughter and moments of happiness that arise from a particular game.
This kind of career choice is rarely made purely out of the necessity to put food on the table, as there are much less demanding jobs for that. Rather, the desire to be around people, hear players' stories, and spend breaks with colleagues who often become our closest friends are aspects of this job that go far beyond the agreed-upon salary.
We’re Not in Taormina: First the Money, Then the Fun
Before anyone cries scandal, let’s be clear: professionalism in this field comes first, and any professional service must be properly compensated. A dealer’s pay should never be less than what was agreed upon at the time of hiring, contract signing, or negotiation.
This principle must be weighed carefully by both the worker and the employer who provides entertainment. It is both a written law and an ethical rule. However, the real highlight of our discussion is that if you love this job, you will love it for life.
Or at least, that’s what happens in most cases.
If you enjoy this profession, you will wake up with a smile, ask your colleagues who worked the late shift (sometimes there won’t even be shifts, as casinos never close) how that session ended—perhaps the one where the player in seat 7 was eating junk food at the table. Or you’ll go to lunch with your colleagues before starting the night shift.
No, of course, it won’t all be sunshine and rainbows. There will always be that one colleague you don’t get along with, the one who complains about everything.
But forgive them. They haven’t realized yet that this is one of the best jobs in the world. Help them see it differently, and be the first to create the perfect work environment.