First off let me say this is not one of those advice pieces. I am not waddling in self pity and need cheering up etc.  
 
No, this is a legitimate point i am trying to make. 
 
I play a shit lot of Team Fortress 2. I mean a really large amount. Sometimes over 200 hours in 2 weeks. I i don't just play on 32 man public servers. I play this game in the competitive format. Which is 2 teams playing 6v6 with class limits. 
 
After almost a year of this i decided to take a look on how much i accomplished in game and in real life. In game i have improved greatly going up the division fairly quickly. However in real life i have no job and because i play the game so much i did not take an  opportunity of going out with a girl i really liked.  
 
(Yet again let me stress this thread is not aimed at that.) 
 
Anyway the point i wanted to make is : How on earth to people who make a living off playing games balance things ?  
 
I mean i am in no illusion that i could quit everything and earn a living of playing Team Fortrress 2. The game is not very big at the moment. But you see these players who play quake and counter strike and they talk about how this is their lively hood. 
 
Have any of you played games to a level where you could earn a living and if so how did you manage real life ?