by
Rosemary O’Neill
Success in Life, Business, and Golf
BigStock What is success?Molly:
That was incredible! That was the shot of the tournament!Roy:
I just gave away the U.S. Open.Molly: It doesn’t matter.
Roy:
One time in my life I know
the safe play to hit and I still …,
I still can’t make myself do it.Molly: It doesn’t matter.
Roy: My whole career, my whole life on the line …
I just made a 12 on the last hole of the Open!Molly: You sure did. It was the greatest 12 of all time.
No one’s going to remember the Open 10 years from now, who won … but they’ll remember your 12! My, God, Roy, it was…Well, it’s immortal! I am so proud of you!–Kevin Costner and Rene Russo in the movie Tin Cup.
Perhaps I have golf on the brain this week, since I live just a few miles away from where the PGA Tournament will be played this year. But Iâve always had a soft spot for Tin Cup, Kevin Costnerâs movie about a washed up golf pro.
The enduring lesson of Tin Cup is that, sometimes, no matter how crazy you seem to the rest of the world, youâre still doing the right thing for you. After all, Roy gets the girl in the end.
The Secret to Success
In business, as in life, you often have the choice of the easy lay up onto the green vs the risky shot across the water hazard. It might even be in a clutch situation, with everything on the line and crowds of people watching.
The person who wins in that situation is the person who has clearly defined criteria for success. And that might not mean winning the tournament. It might mean getting past fear and going all out in a quest for knowledge.
Fear of failure, fear of looking stupid, these things keep us from going straight at our goals. We tell ourselves that it couldnât possibly work. Stop worrying about how itâs going to work, and start focusing on what success means to you. See it, savor it, vividly imagine it every morning.
Then pick up your trusty 5 iron and go straight at that hole.
Thank you, Rosemary!
You’re irresistible!
ME “Liz” Strauss