The B.rad Podcast Tiger Woods' Work-Play Ethic (Breather Episode with Brad)
(Breather) This breather show is all about examining work ethic and work-play balance through the lens of legendary golfer, Tiger Woods.
An athlete since he was a very young child (check out his first TV appearance in 1978!) Tiger loves to train every day for golf, to compete, and is on a constant quest to get better. A far cry from the golfer of the past who played hard, got rich, and got soft. And sure, we see still see him fist pumping and his unmistakable competitive intensity, but behind the wizard’s curtain, Tiger is viewing his competitive endeavors from a more complex perspective.
Yes, the object of the game is to win, but the value and the meaning is found in the process, not in the mere holding of the trophy. Thinking about the trophy during the journey is a lethal distraction – as many of Tiger’s less-evolved opponents have discovered painfully. Extending your focus outward – worrying about opponents or what the world thinks of you – is also a distraction. Tiger steps on plenty of throats, but it’s inadvertently while trying to get a good stance to hit his shots. His enlightened competitive fire focuses on the process of peak performance, and it is directed entirely inward. In contrast, the prevailing psycho-emotional disposition of the modern competitor that we have been socialized to adopt in pursuit of success is to obsess on external variables and determine our self-worth according to results.
He also showed this by being the tour’s greatest ‘grinder,’ still trying hard even when way back. Furyk said, “Most guys in that position aren’t still trying to win the tournament, but Tiger was still thinking he had a chance. He believes he can win even when he’s 10 down. He never makes a frustrated, hasty play. He always plays the correct shot. He never says, ‘Shit, I’m two back!’ and pulls the driver and hits it anywhere. He plays the course the way it should be played.”
When I talk about work-play ethic, what I mean is that this really is a game to him; he’s playing Monopoly in real life with vicious competitive intensity, instead of fear of losing his buildings or being conservating with his 9 shot lead. His father Earl once gave him a very valuable piece of advice: “You know what? Just go to sleep. You know it’s going to be the most important round of your life, but you can handle it. Just go out there and do what you do. Just get in your own little world and go out there and thrash ‘em.”
Note the contrast between another popular coping mechanism used by athletes facing pressure, the old, “Just pretend it’s an ordinary competition!” admonition. This probably messes up the subconscious more than anything! But then what does he do after? He retools his swing, and while studying videos, realizes he relied on timing more than optimal swing mechanics. This is a guy who says he’s obsessed with winning, but unlike many of his competitors, he’s answering to a higher calling REPRESENTED by winning - get the difference?
At a press conference two days before the 2007 Masters (where he was runner-up to Zach Johnson) Tiger – holding trophies from the previous two major championships (’06 British Open and PGA) - was asked if he was thinking about another Tiger Slam (holding all four major titles at once, but not in the same calendar year ala the so-called Grand Slam). He replied: “No. I’m thinking about trying to place my golf ball around this course, that’s about it. My whole preparation is getting the ball in play and putting the ball on the correct parts of the green and getting the speed of these things…and that’s it.”
Tiger gives the gift of this perspective to all of us, over and over, and we, with the help of the superficial media, keep ignoring it in favor of pressing the issue of our results-obsessed mentality. No wonder Tiger has little patience for the media!
Here are some tips on how to cultivate a strong work/play ethic:
- Make Work Fun: It’s not enough anymore to put your head down, work hard and produce results. Reject the “just make it through the day” mentality rooted in narrow values like puritanical social climbing. The most powerful competitive stance is to get the biggest rush from the battle itself. By releasing your attachment to the outcome, you can experience the pure joy of competition and push your limits without distraction in pursuit of peak performance. Cultivate a pure motivation that extends beyond winning and losing, as Tiger demonstrated when he overhauled his swing despite competitive success. Pursue endeavors that you love and represent the highest expression of your talents. Have fun at all costs, understanding that this is the true secret of champions.
- Expand Your Horizons: Discard society’s harmful programming that values shortcuts, decadence, and conformity. Forget moderation in this context - take risks and push limits to realize true peak performance Transcend the energy struggle to beat opponents and the repetition of control dramas that you developed as coping mechanisms throughout your life. Realize that pursuing something bigger than your selfish needs will lead to performance breakthroughs thanks to the “love is power” concept. A selfless, evolved approach will create a collective escalation of passion among those around you and provide a more powerful, pure and long-lasting source of motivation than focusing narrowly on personal gain.
- Be Comfortable With Competition. The negative emotional baggage connected with results-oriented competitiveness has led many to loathe putting it all on the line due to fear of failure. Winners contribute to the peak performance and personal growth of all competitors, so don’t be afraid to enjoy victory and the yachts and mansions that you might accumulate as a consequence; “you don’t have to apologize for anything.” Become comfortable “going for the throat in competition, then sportsmanship after.” If you’re seven shots back with seven holes to play, don’t give up; relish the opportunity to chase. If you are ahead or running neck and neck with a competitor, savor the opportunity to push each other to greater heights.
- Work Smart – Having fun and working hard will not lead to success unless your work is focused, guided by expert coaching and directly applicable to your peak performance goals. Be brutally honest with yourself and make a clear decision to align your behavior with your stated goal of peak performance. Understand that this entails sacrificing things that bring you and your ego a certain measure of satisfaction, but will lead to more fulfillment, productivity and less stress. Pay particular attention to the importance of focusing on one endeavor at a time and achieving a smooth transition to the next. Seek out coaches, experts and friends who will tell it like it is. Do the same when you look into the mirror and then take specific and decisive action to address your weaknesses. Witness the example of scrawny Tiger and Annika venturing into the weight room and emerging with another distinct advantage over their rivals.
TIMESTAMPS:
Tiger Woods has just won his 82nd tournament on the PGA tour. It’s quite a record! [3:30]
After so many setbacks and injuries, Tiger is undisputedly the greatest comeback athlete. [05:19]
Tiger has set an example as a competitor. [08:00]
The value and the meaning is found in the process, not in the mere holding of the trophy. [11:34]
Focus on the process, not the result. [13:33]
You play each shot independent on whatever happened before. [16:59]
Tiger looked at the competition at the Masters as the most important thing in his life, rather than heeding some coaching advice that would say, “Just pretend it is an ordinary day.” [19:26]
Four tips to cultivate your own strong work/play ethic are: make work fun, expand your horizons, be comfortable with competition, and work smart. [23:50]
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