Executive coach + writer of 90 Percent Mental on substack I write about what it means to build a strong mental game "on the court," at the office, and in life
Joined March 2023
- Tweets54
- Following124
- Followers33
- Likes121
Gary Woodland continues to amaze and inspire me.
If you’re not familiar with Woodland’s story, he is a longtime PGA tour pro who was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent successful surgery to have it removed in 2023. However, he has been open about his continued struggle with PTSD in the aftermath of the surgery.
You can imagine how tournaments filled with crowds, noise, TV crews, and drones capturing footage could easily overwhelm anyone, let alone someone struggling with PTSD in the wake of a major brain procedure.
On Sunday, Woodland tied for 4th at the BMW Championship and earned a spot in the PGA Tour Championship for the first time in six years. What really moved me is how Woodland talked about his weekend rounds in making it to that point.
On Saturday, he noted that he struggled because he was desperately trying to block out the noise around him. Ultimately, trying to block out the noise drained him, but Woodland said that the round taught him a lot.
On Sunday, he took a different approach. He embraced the atmosphere. He said, “I tried to enjoy it. I’ve had a really good year and I’m proud of it. Through all the hardships I’ve had, I’m proud of where I’m at.”
Woodland’s experience is a reminder to ask ourselves the questions: What happens when we stop resisting and embrace where we are? What does the moment we’re in have to teach us?
Madeline Walsh retweeted
Working hard is a choice, not a requirement. Jensen Huang clearly thrives working dawn to dusk seven days a week - he's doing what he loves. But it's a disservice to imply every successful company requires that level of obsession. It doesn't.
Success certainly correlates with hard work, not obsessive work. For every founder who works continuously and succeeds, hundreds work just as hard and fail. There are scores of factors that go into a company's success (luck being paramount), so if you beat the odds and become that one in a thousand, you never really know if your company succeeded because of you, or despite you. When reading about successful founders who worked constantly, remember: Survivor Bias is a B*tch.
Working that hard for long periods comes at a cost - to your health, relationships, and ability to chase down the other joys that make you whole. You have to push back - because a startup is a demanding mistress. It's never satisfied no matter how much time you put into it.
Whatever pace you choose, prepare for the long haul. Jensen has been building Nvidia for 31 years. While recent years have been intense, he knew when to sprint, when to walk, and when to step away entirely. During Netflix's launch, I often only managed rushed family dinners before returning to late-night office sessions. Years later, testing Netflix kiosks in Las Vegas, I spent months away from home. Not many date nights that summer.
But I learned ways to unleash beast mode when needed while maintaining balance. When I couldn't find balance daily, I looked for it weekly. And if weekly wasn't possible, I aimed for monthly. I learned years ago never to run for airplanes, because going all out rarely determines success or failure. Pick your battles and don't obsess over the small stuff.
I've helped found seven startups, including two billion-dollar outcomes. Yet my proudest achievement is staying married, having my kids grow up knowing me, and pursuing my other passions. This proves you can be a founder without working constantly. That's a success we can all aspire to.
Madeline Walsh retweeted
If I was 25 again…
I’d spend 90% of my time & money working on my mental health.
Confidence, feeling comfortable in my own skin, risk taking tolerance & my ability to manage and regulate my emotions.
There is no such thing as long term success without mental health.
