Don't sweat it!

Picture this.  Your alarm goes off for work at 4 a.m.  After waking, you head out to the kitchen and turn on the coffee maker.  From here it is time to take a shower and get dressed.  After returning to the kitchen you find that you forgot to put water in the coffee maker.  To add to the situation you burn your toast and drop the peanut butter-covered knife on the floor.  All of this has happened before 4:30 and you haven’t even left the house yet.

Sadly, this scenario becomes a reality of mine several times each year! 

Although it is frustrating to start the day in such a way, are you going to let a little kitchen mishap ruin your day?  No, you can’t.  If we set a negative tone for the day just because of some burnt toast we won’t perform our best at what matters most.  When looking at the bigger picture we have much greater concerns to worry our self with on the golf course. 

As a manager our attitude has a greater impact on those working around us than we can even imagine.  It takes very little time for others to sense how we are feeling and predict the type of day that is ahead.  This applies to both positive and negative attitudes. 

For now, I’m going to focus on the less desirable of the two: negative.  When we’re in the heat of the golfing season everyone is already under a lot of stress and pressure.  The daily rigors of maintaining the course is already tough enough, without any outside factors.  Add a little negativity and suddenly the “vibe” throughout the crew becomes much worse.  We have the ability to control our emotions and choose our outlook at all times. There is certainly a time and place to become upset and angry, however, we need to pick these times wisely so that they have meaning and provide a message. 

It isn’t healthy to let the small things get to you, because at the end of the day what really matters most?  This will vary depending on the individual, but a few things that come to my mind are: health, family, quality of work performed, and what lies ahead in the coming days on the golf course.  If we are distracted by insignificant items in the workplace we will not be able to fully focus on the primary task at hand. 

For example, accurately mixing and applying a tank of any product requires careful measurements and a vigilant operator.  The essential elements of this process can be lost if the applicator is more concerned with something that was said in the lunch room rather than ensuring the entire green surface was treated.  We can easily make mountains out of mole hills, but why create these obstacles when they can be avoided all together?

By going to the source of the distraction it can often be alleviated with just a little time and effort.  If this requires a conversation with your superintendent, a co-worker, or a crew member, become proactive in the situation and confront the issue at hand. 

Those who we work for depend on us to have a clear mind and focus in all that we do.  Our performance must be predictable and consistent in quality.  This is only attained through hard work and dedication.  All that we experience both on the golf course and through our personal lives makes us who we are.  By concerning ourselves too much with trivial details the greater purpose can become lost. 

Life is too short to sweat the small stuff.