GemHasTea

The reason you can’t do what you once did is because of the story you tell yourself. When I first graduated high school, I found myself playing golf five times a week. I got my handicap down to a 1.5. Then, life got in the way and the golf I played started to decrease. As the rounds decreased, the handicap increased. In 2021-2023, I averaged only 10 rounds per year. I had tons of excuses. I was busy at work. I couldn’t find people to play with. I got married. We had kids. There always seemed to be a reason (translation: excuse). Last year I decided enough was enough. I see a goal for myself that I was going to get my handicap down to scratch. This goal forced me to look at the stories I’d been telling myself. In doing so, I realized that’s exactly what they were: stories. If forced me to ask: is golf really something I love? The answer to that question was yes, so I was then forced to ask: why have my priorities not aligned with my actions? So, I put together a plan and broke it into 3 phases: 1. Increase the frequency by which I play. 2. Practice 2-3 days a week during lunch. 3. When the time came, get lessons to get better. The plan to increase frequency was implemented: - take half days during the week to play 18 holes. I work on the weekends anyways, so take advantage of the lighter traffic to play in less time. - schedule 2-3 golf trips per year to get more rounds in short bursts and meet my online friends (another goal) Phase 1 is in progress and I’m kicking off phase 2. In a short amount of time, I’ve gotten my handicap down from ~5 to a 1.8. I’m shocked how quick the impact was, but it has me hungry for more. It has been a great reminder that often the only gap between the results we want and getting to them is: - asking if you really want it - then putting together a plan We often tell ourselves these grand stories of “can’t” when we should instead be asking how we could. I don’t know if I’ll reach scratch any time soon. It may still be another year or two, but who cares. I’m enjoying the process and the lessons I’m learning, which span much wider than golf. It’s making me a better business owner, father, and husband too. So, next time you tell yourself a story, ask: if you really want it, what’s stopping you?