Being self-conscious and apologetic about my beginner's golf game has meant I have passed up the opportunity to participate the past two years. This year, I accepted an invitation. My partner and I seem to be about level with one another skillwise. And we have been pitted against better opponents as evidenced by our stroke benefit due to higher handicaps. Tonight, I did something I have never done--I parred the first two holes. It seemed that having better golfers in our foursome somehow brings better play out of us. My best 2 scores this season have been the two nights I have played men's league.
It is that way in the business world, too. The more we are faced with challenges, the better we respond and perform. If we have any competitiveness in our bones that is. We want to get better at what we do, not matter what the 'what' happens to be. Playing better competition makes us better. Setting challenging goals challenges us. If we do not challenge ourselves, we will not improve and may even regress. I suspect I will improve my handicap as a result of playing in the men's league this year. And I suspect the changes and challenges in the mortgage industry will improve my performance as well.
I joined the men's league for the first time this year, too. I hope you're right about the handicap.
Posted by: Jeff Gwynne | May 28, 2008 at 07:15 AM