I have been working on my tee shots for the past two years — to no avail — until this week. A little adjustment in my swing (courtesy of my son) and all of a sudden I am finally smacking it off the tee box again. But alas, as soon as that problem is corrected, my faithful wedges have abandoned me. Which reminded me of something from my days as an entrepreneur….
As soon as we got through one crisis in our business, it seemed another reared its ugly head. It was a pattern that seemed to occur over and over.
I guess the continual challenge of the next crisis or problem is one of the things that makes golf — and entrepreneurship — so fascinating. Perfection is an unrealistic goal for either pursuit.
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If you are a golfer and have never played any of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama I cannot give it a strong enough recommendation. The courses are beautiful and challenging and the service is great. They are also a real bargain! Add it to your to-do list.
As a former avid golfer (I have a two year old, a one year old and am currently pursuing my PhD) I have never put together the similarities between golf and entrepreneurship. Both are fed by optimistic memories.
I have often fielded inquiries from my friends about learning to play golf. I advise them that you can tell if it is going to stick with you, and therefore be worth the investments and sacrifices, if when you get home from playing one of your first rounds of golf, all can think about is that magical 3 iron shot you had on hole 11. You are undeterred by the 9 other attempts with that same club that didn’t leave the ground.
Entrepreneurship is similar. The rewards come in between a series of setbacks. If those good times stick in your mind rather than the bad times, you will never get entrepreneurship out of your blood.
Well put!
I took quite a few years off of golf when our kids were youngsters.
Thanks for your thoughtful reflection.
Tis true. I am always amazed how entrepreneurship is a reflection of all that is good in life, yet will show all the dirt you previously had sweep under the rugs. 🙂