First let me start by saying celebrating my first Father’s day was a blast. Each day is a new fun and exhausting experience and worth every moment. To hear little Ayla ooooh and aaaah is fantastic. Yesterday she even mimic-ed my oohs and aahs in the same pattern. I never thought I’d be one of those parents who believes my kid is the most advanced child in the world, well I’ve have to suck it up and admit that it’s OK to be that way, just plain proud of everything she does.
Now with the title question, What’s your Tiger? This weekend if you watched the U.S. Open golf tournament you witnessed an amazing tournament. The amazing part is not that Tiger Woods won his 14h major or that he hit amazing shots, it’s his ability to do the amazing over and over again when the moment requires. The sports world is never surprised by his awesome ability, yet is still stunned by his greatness. To see him birdie the final hole of a tournament to force a playoff was inspiring. I sat next to my wife on the edge of my seat expecting him to make the putt, but still let out an astonished cheer, amazed by his greatness. I turned to my wife and said, the crazy thing is that each one of us is capable of being as great as Tiger Woods. Each one of us has something that we are capable of doing to the highest levels in the world. So what makes Tiger so special, what makes the best in any field so special. I believe it’s a combination of discipline, determination, maturity, and pure passion.
Tiger has the discipline get his mind and body in shape. He changed the way people look at professional golfers as a bunch of overweight guys with sticks, to physically fit athletes (they don’t all look fit, but they are). The rest of the tour had to start working out to try and keep up with him. He has the discipline to practice when he doesn’t want to. He knows that the pain is worth it because the outcome is so great. He has a unque ability to focus and stay in the moment like all great athletes and artist do. If you concentrate on the outcome and how good it will feel to succeed the pain of training or preparing or planning is worth it. Staying focused on the moment means putting aside all the things that can distract you from the task at hand. This is one of the things I struggle with because my mind move a thousand miles a minute. I have to force myself to conciously stay in the now and set aside thoughts of the future or past until I’m finished with my task. It definitely takes practice. For some like me, it’s a lot of practice.
He is determined to accomplish his goal of beating Jack Nicklaus’ major record. His on pace to destroy the record. We have all heard that we need to set goals. You hear it because it works. We need something to work towards, something that is greater than the minutia of day to day worries. Tiger has his goal and works hard everyday for it. What are you working for everyday? Are you working towards leaving your fingerprint on the world?
His maturity level is evident in his ability to stay focused on his goals and understanding his impact on the world. He is one of the most famous people in the world, one of the highest paid athletes in the world, and even has a super model Swedish life, yes life is good as Tiger Woods. How then is it that his personal life is out of the tabloids? I think it is because he knows that he is a role model and that everything he does will affect his ability to accomplish his goals. Even with all his success he hasn’t let it go to his head at least not publicly. Ask yourself are you willing to forgo certain pleasures for the goal, putting down the cheesecake to feel better, not buying the new TV to pay off debt, studying instead of watching TV to get your MBA. Are you more concerned about impressing people and doing things to make them like your or are you concerned about making a positive impact on the world by doing what’s right?
Tiger has immence passion for the game of golf and for life. He uses his passion as fuel to succeed. What are you passionate about? Are you using that passion to accomplish your goals? Do your goals and your passions line up? When they do, you’ll experience something amazing, you’ll discover your Tiger. Imagine winning the great tournament in your life, letting out the roar and giant fist pump when you hit the weight target, pay off that final bill, make the big sale, or …..
Go out today and live like a Tiger. I know it’s cheesy, but if cheesy works, be cheesy.
Joseph Cortez 