Eagle Talk

I have been golfing for many years.?When people ask me if I golf, I often chuckle and go into a diatribe about how I play often but I would not consider myself a “golfer”.??Over the years I have golfed with some amazing golfers and some people that make me look like I am an expert.

I learned a valuable lesson over this past weekend about the importance of my mindset when I show up on the golf course and how much experiences on a golf course translate into life experiences.

I am competitive.?Being competitive served me well over the years until that strength gets in the way of me being fully present and I focus more on the other person(s) than I do on the experience.

On the par 5 11th hole, I hit two great shots and for the second time in my life, I had a putt for an Eagle. I explained this to my wife and she said, “that’s nice”.?To most golfers including my playing partners, this was big deal.?My friend, who is a wonderful human being and a great golfer was so excited for me to make the putt.?He wanted me to succeed. We all need friends like this in our lives.

I made the decision before I got to the course that I was not going to try to beat my buddy - I was just going to have a great time and play the best golf that I could play. It really did not matter what he or the other two people in our foursome did.?I just wanted to enjoy the experience.

All of my playing partners already completed the hole and it was just me and an 8-foot putt for my first-ever Eagle.?Here are some of the different thoughts I had as I was lining up this putt. And, why were my knees knocking and my hands shaking?

• I am not a good golfer and there is no chance I will ever make this putt because I am not a good golfer. Of course, I am going to miss this putt. (Victim)
• I should be playing better than I am. I can't believe I missed that last putt.??If I miss this putt I am going to throw my putter into the lake. (Anger)
• It is what it is.?I have a chance to make this putt but if I don’t at least I got on the green in two shots. (Rationalization)
• My playing partner is a really good guy and he is having a great round.?It doesn’t matter what happens with this putt because when we are done golfing and we are having lunch with our wives – he can tell them that he had the round of his life. He was having a great round of golf. (Focus on other people)
• We are going to be eating lunch with our wives and my playing partner is going to be talking about what a great round he had; what if I get to talk about the Eagle putt I made on the 11th hole and we can both feel great about our day on the course. I can make this putt.?(Win/Win)
• This is a beautiful day and I am only thinking about how much fun I am having. I am going to learn something from this experience. I could make this putt with my eyes closed. I have done it before. (The Zone)
• God made this beautiful day.?I am grateful to be able to walk and swing a golf club. This putt is already made. (Complete Connection with the Experience).

Welcome to my brain.?My knees were knocking and my hands were shaking because I was putting way too much much pressure on myself to perform. The adrenaline and the cortisol were racing through my body and were getting in the way of me having the best chance to make the putt. None of those thoughts are wrong but some gave me a better chance of being mentally prepared to make that putt. I wanted to focus on the thoughts that gave me the best chance to put all of my skill and all of my energy into making the best putting stroke possible.?Worrying about missing the putt would only take away from my focus on this putt.???Experience, skill, and preparation all play a role in confidence but having the best mindset gave me the best chance to put all of my skill, experience, and preparation toward making that putt.

I have made 8-foot putts before.?I have made putts longer than this putt.?I can make this putt.?It is uphill and it is straight – no break.?Standing over the putt, I put all of the noise out of my mind and practiced the stroke, and then stepped up and put the ball in the hole.

Translation for non-golfers.?

If I am expecting to miss the putt then I am taking energy away from focusing on the task at hand.?Any feelings of worry, fear, anxiety, helplessness, frustration, anger, or even jealousy will only take away from my chances of showing up as the best possible version of myself.?Any thoughts about what is going to happen afterward are also not helping me to have the best possible chance to show up as the best version of myself.??I chose to be fully present and to block out all of the thoughts about future success or failure. I was fully present and I was not attached to the outcome.?When we do this we have the best possible chance of achieving our goals and if we don’t reach our goals at this time – we will learn something that will give us a chance to evaluate and learn so that the next time we will be in a better position to achieve those goals by showing up as the best possible version of ourselves.

Wes Becton is the Co-founder and CEO of?George Washington Street Partners?which is an executive leadership, career, and performance coaching and consulting company.?Wes has extensive executive leadership and governance experience in a wide range of industries including banking, education, and healthcare. Wes is the former Board Chair of Northeastern Illinois University and currently serves on the Boards of Elmhurst University and Pan American Bank. Wes earned degrees from George Washington University (BA International Affairs) and Lewis University (MBA Health Care Administration) and is a Professional Certified Coach?(PCC)?through the International Coach Federation. Wes is a former Infantry Officer and graduate of the Army’s Ranger School and is a frequent speaker and lecturer on the topics of leadership, innovation, and diversity.

If you are interested in learning more about how to give yourself the best chance to show up as the best version of yourself, please visit our website and schedule a session at https://www.gwstreetpartners.com/meet-wes

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