Golf's Basic Concepts

Yesterday I was out on the golf course for the first time this year. While I wasn't there very long (I had a lesson with the golf pro that lasted about 1 hour) I think he told me things that have already helped. The real eye opener is that all of the concepts are the basics - how to correctly hold the club, how to correctly swing the club, etc... How often do we get worried about the big things, when if we just do the little things correctly time in and time out it will take care of everything else. The other item is to always keep your eye on the ball. I get distracted easily so this one will be tough, but it is a very easy concept. Always focus on the project at hand and do the little things and it will work.
I will keep you updated on my golf game through out the year. I may not play the best, but it is a great place to meet up with friends and clients.

Control

This morning is was a glorious 29 degrees when I got out of bed this morning. It is almost May 1st and it seems like it still could be March. By now I should have golfed a couple of games, done some yard work and be ready for summer. Instead I have yet to hit a golf ball and other than mowing for the first time this weekend, no yard work is done. This stresses me out. I like things when they follow my plan, whether that is the weather, my kids or my clients. I have finally come to the realization with the birth of my third child, that life will do what it wants no matter how hard I try to change it's course. I am a student at this point in learning to roll with the punches and make the best what ever comes my way (but between some interesting clients and three kids I am on the fast track). After a lot of discussions with my wife, who just happens to be my best friend also, I have realized I can't let all of this get to me all of the time. I need to control the stress instead of it controlling me and stop creating more stress for myself (which we all do). I am learning and with a lot of help I should get there before I die.

FOCUS

As a typcial salesperson (that means short attention span, likes to have fun and gets distracted with blinky lights) the one thing that slows me down more than anything else is lack of focus. In my day to day work life I try to have a game plan that is pretty simple to follow and then execute successfully. When I get too many things in my plan I get caught up in the process and never get to the execution, which spells disaster. Lately I have been up to my neck in disasters... I know what I need to do but am too busy with the process stage, which does not make the sale only slows it down. I am trying to get better (I feel like there should be a 12 step program out there - maybe I will put that on my list of things to do also, but will probably never get it done) so if you have some ideas please pass them along.

Teamwork or Lack of It

Last night was the first night that I had my two youngest kids by myself, overnight. I thought how hard could this be? Taryn (18 months) and Gabriel (4 months) are good kids, just not the best sleepers, but I can handle this. My wife is travelling on business for a couple of days and told me that, maybe, I should call in some help. She does this on a pretty regular basis and I thought, well I should be able to do it also.

I should have thought this through better. Not having a team mate to help me (my wife) allowed my children to team up against me - and they did. I am almost 40 years old and should have the upper hand when it comes to thinking, but did I have my humility handed to me last night. Not only did they miss their bedtime (only by an hour so I thought I was doing pretty well) but when Gabe woke up at 12:00, 2:00 and 4:00 with Taryn waking up at 3:00 (yes there was overlap and I had to hear crying for at least 30 minutes) I knew I was not worthy. I needed my team (my wife or at least someone) to help me - but I didn't think I needed them.

How many times does this happen. We taste some success and all of a sudden we can do it all alone. We don't need any help. And what happens but we land straight on our face. I learned last night that not only do I need to back me up in every aspect of my life, but one person against a team will always lose no matter what their ages are.

Well I need to go get another cup of coffee - I am dragging pretty badly this morning.

Time to Slow Down and Reevaluate

I read a great blog by a good friend of mine, Steve Riat, yesterday in regards to always feeling like we need to rush around. It seems like if we don't have multiple things on our plate at one time we are not working hard enough (or maybe this is just me). Whatever happened to doing one thing at a time, and doing it well? I know that multitasking is needed sometimes, but should it be the normal way we do business?

A few months back I made a promise to be 100% at home in the evening for my family, that means no email, no laptop, no smartphone, no technology. Kids grow up too fast and you need to enjoy them while you can. Would this concept, in one degree or another, work at the office or on the road? I feel like I have become a slave to the process instead of allowing the process to make sure I have everything I need. The customer should be my number one priority, but lately I feel like paperwork has taken their place. This is not good and I know I need to change this mentality.

I am trying to get better at posting on at least an everyother day schedule. Again I think it is important, but it seems that the lower priority items take up all the time. Many of my mentors, including Arlin Sorensen, Stuart Crawford and Steve Riat, think that getting your thoughts down on paper (either physically or digitally) is important, so I think that I should follow their leads.

This weekend was awesome! My wife and kids and I did NOTHING but stay around the house and play. Oh sure it was difficult to do at some times (my mind always wanders to chores that need to be done) but how long will it be until my children don't have time for me? I need to make the most of the time that I have. I say that I work hard to provide for my family, but why wait to enjoy them until there is nothing left to enjoy because I am too old to do anything with them. A book that I read not that long ago ("The Four Hour Work Week") had many interesting thoughts to ponder, but the biggest that I took away was why do we wait till we are old to retire. Take some time every month or year to enjoy what you have. I am trying to do that and will tell you how that works.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!