Monday Morning Match is a quick post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.
A Swing and a Miss
You’re trying your best but you just can’t seem to make contact. When you do it’s just a harmless foul ball. You dig back in the batter’s box and get ready to make contact only to see the third strike whiz past.
Each time you’re on deck you’re thinking this next time up will be the time you finally make contact. A hit seems so easy but it’s a combination of a solid swing and connecting with the pitch at the exact right moment. Swing too early and it’s a hard foul down the 3rd base line. Swing late and it’s a painful whiff as the ball rips in to the catcher’s leather glove.
It’s part physical and part psychological. Is the problem that you’re bat isn’t connecting with the ball or that your head is telling you that you can’t do it? Are you trying too hard or are you just not as good as you think you are? How can you get over this hump and make your next at bat a success?
Hitting It In the Sweet Spot
Martin Kaymer from Germany won the US Open by 8 strokes. He shot 9 under par across four rounds on Pinehurst #2 in North Carolina to claim his first US Open title and his second Major Championship (He claimed the PGA Championship in 2010). It was almost as if he was playing a different course than the rest of the field. His opening round 65 was 3-strokes better than anyone else and he extended his lead after the second round with another 65.
The weekend of golf provided no drama as Kaymer’s game was in such a groove that even when he hit a bad shot he was able to quickly recover and make up for the mistake on a later hole. 2 early bogeys in round 3 were erased with an eagle 3 and no one ever challenged him for the championship.
Imagine how good it must feel to be in such control of your game that even when you hit it poorly, you’re still able to escape trouble and retain your large margin. There must be no better feeling than to have such a large lead in one of the biggest events of your career that you don’t even have to worry about “not winning.”
It’s a Fine Line
In baseball, a hall-of-famer is only a few hits better than a career Double AA baseball player. The difference between batting .300 and .250 is only a few baseballs falling in for hits every now and then.
In golf, you can hit the ball great from tee to green but if you miss every putt, your score isn’t going to be good enough to hoist the trophy at the end of the day. It’s about consistent tempo, contact, focus and course management.
How Are You Hitting It?
Let’s say it’s the halfway point in a golf tournament or perhaps it’s the middle of the 5th inning of a season-long baseball game. How’s your game looking? Are you ahead of the field or are you struggling to keep pace with the leaders?
If you haven’t secured as much business as you would have hoped/expected after almost 6 months, it’s not too late to get in the batting cages or maybe take a lesson. How’s your dedication to business development activities? Have you been consistent with your follow-up? How often are you using social media to listen, engage, share and support?
If you’re having a great first half of the year, how can you maintain momentum? Are you spinning plates working for you? Open houses bringing in the traffic? Door knocking leading to some solid leads? Does your newsletter or just listed cards generate some potential opportunities?
If you’re struggling right now and want to get better, change something in your routine. Think a little different and expect something to change. You need to see the difference in your business before it will happen. If you’re on a roll right now, don’t slow down.Stay focused and remember what you did to get where you are now.
Baseball, golf and real estate are all cyclical endeavors. Usually if you just keep doing the right things enough times in a row you’re going to find some success. It might now work in baseball or golf, but I know one way to have some success in real estate is to build relationships, solve problems and have fun.
In either case, it probably can’t hurt and might help.
Photo Credit: Derek Gavey
Photo Credit: Delta Mike