Back At It

I finally played golf this weekend. If you’ve been following my tweets or taken note of the snide side comments in this space, you know I’ve not been happy about the layoff.  In fact, the 90+ days of enforced time off (a layer of snow really does inhibit one’s ability to find a white golf ball as well as reduce how far that ball travels) did have a side benefit, one which I think might apply in some ways to business as well.

I hadn’t played in a long time. Despite that, the rounds I played over the weekend were pretty darn good.  I was striking the ball well and, had I been keeping score, my score would only a been a few strokes north of where I left off last year.  Sure, the “touch” parts of the game were pretty rusty, but for the most part, things were in good shape.  I attribute this to having realistic expectations and trusting myself, two things at which I’m horrible for most golf rounds.

As I stood on the first tee, I was just hoping to hit the ball someplace where it could find it.  I focused not on the 100 or so things I know I shouldn’t do but only on one thing – make good contact.  I wasn’t over-thinking anything – I was relying on the basic skills I know are part of my “muscle memory” and letting those skills do their thing.  In a way, I was doing exactly what Pia Nilson teaches – think in the “think box” and when you step into the “swing box”, thinking is over.  Do your analysis, but when it come time to act, trust your innate skill, trust your instincts, and go.

That’s an approach to business as well.  Analysis is important but as we grow as businesspeople our “muscle memory” grows as well.  The key is to train yourself along with way.  In golf, it’s lessons, practice, and play.  In business, it’s reading, seminars, and conversations.  Then, get out of your own way.  In my case, a few months of no golf helped me to be a better golfer.  In business, it can be as simple as not taking the office home (really hard these days) or as complex as taking a sabbatical.  If you’re not using your alloted vacation time, that might be a sign that your business skills have too much clutter – clear your head so the innate skills can come out.  Having realistic expectations is easier when our heads are clear.

Have you teed it up yet this year?  How did you do after the layoff?  Ever had the experience of coming back from a weekend/vacation and seeing the world differently?  Let’s hear about it.