Howdy. I just witnessed my second albatross of the year, this time from a 78 year old retired lawyer. I’ve known and taught Scott for 6 years, but he has golfed for the better part of 7 decades. He has begun to regularly shoot his age or better, and I have lost more $2 bets in a variety of games to him than I care to reveal. This afternoon he hit a 3 wood from 255 yards into the hole on the par 5 12th Sunningdale Robinson Course. Yes, it rolled. Yes, the wind was behind us. BUT IT WAS FROM 255 AND IT WENT IN.
How is he so successful?
Scott is a lifetime student. Of law. Tennis. Cooking. Politics. Money. Golf. Scott’s entire life has been spent attempting to learn, improve, and implement. When one skill is implemented, he uses it to learn further, improve, and implement. Repeat. Repeat.
Scott has sought out “coaching” for all aspects of his life. He himself coaches lawyers. He is not intimidated by searching for more, and considers complacency a fatal human quality. Once a person believes that status quo is a comfortable enough to remain there indefinitely, growth and desire are put on the back burner. Those competitors who continue to seek and push their limits of knowledge, and adhere to a belief that their process is paramount achieve greater heights. This is true in sport, medicine, business, money, relationships, and life in general.
Scott wasn’t comfortable with the accepted notion that seniors lose their golf games in their 70’s. He ignored the “can’t teach an old dog new tricks” notion that is a plague on the practice range. He looks at shooting 85 with the same disdain he would a dirty politician. But it happens once in a while, and when it does, he accepts it, analyzes it briefly and unemotionally, and attends to areas that are a challenge.
Successful people are open to learning. Period.
MODEV MEDIA