Monday Morning Match is a quick post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.
Same Course, Different Day
I played golf both days this past weekend. On Saturday morning I enjoyed one of my best rounds of the year. We were the first group off the tee at 7:30. The weather was slightly overcast and the temperature remained right around 65 degrees all round long. The greens were smooth and the Golf Gods were generous and I shot a season-low 71 (one over par on the Ohio State Golf Club Gray Course)
Of course, I arrived for my tee time on Sunday champing at the bit to get back on the course and deliver another great round of golf. Even though the format would be different (I was playing in a club event and not my individual game), I was still excited to continue to the great tee shots, ball striking and incredible short game I experienced the day before.
Sadly, Sunday’s tour around the course couldn’t have been more different from Saturday’s. I couldn’t seem to strike the ball squarely off the tee, my distance control into the greens was off, and my putting was either off the pace or off the line. It was a perfect example that each day you play golf, your opponent isn’t your playing partners or fellow competitors but the course itself.
Same Course, Different Day
Has that ever happened to you? You have an amazing day at work where everything seems to go right and then the next day, everything falls apart? One day you’re on fire with your prospecting efforts, random calls from new customers come seemingly out of the blue, and the WiFi in the office is strong. The next day a contract falls through, your laptop gets a virus, and the printer in the office needs service.
How can one day be so good and the next day be so challenging?
Enjoy those times where the “vibe” seems to be working in your favor and the energy is high. Any day you feel like your words are connecting with the audience you’re engaging with, keep engaging. It’s like driving down a busy road and all the stop lights turn to green as you approach. Don’t question it. Enjoy the ride.
In the event that things just seem to be “off kilter” and not going as planned, realize what might be happening and don’t be afraid to call a time-out or simply “turn off” the day for a while. Take a deep breath, go for a walk, or unplug from electronics and simply breath. Stop over-thinking it. Stop putting undue pressure on yourself. Stop trying to do something you don’t know how to do.
There are 18 holes in a round of golf. Once one hole is done, the next one gives you another opportunity to hit that great shot.
There are 24 hours in a day. Once one hour has passed, the next hour gives you another opportunity to build relationships, solve problems, and have fun.
The moral of the story? Whether you played good yesterday or not, today is another chance to tee it up.
Photo Credit: Michael Jasmund
Photo Credit: Tyson Dudley