Monday Morning Match is a simple 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 Range of Opportunities
It was probably 5 years ago that I spent a few days installing PVC pipes, hanging netting, adding safety lighting covers to the light bulbs, and reaching out to local golf courses to get a used synthetic piece of turf. You see, it’s hard to practice golf in central Ohio in the winter months when then golf courses close down their driving ranges and my kids were totally focused and committed to practicing their golf games in the winters to prepare for the “next season.”
My next-door neighbor had been hitting golf balls in his garage the previous two winters so after some planning and youthful “begging” from the kids, I finally decided to put our own “hitting bay” in place. The nets hung on shower curtains and carefully measured our piping that was hung from the ceiling. The mat was acquired from a public golf course with a large driving range as one of their “hand me down” pieces. We would place an egg-shell mattress pad on the floor underneath where the balls would drop from the nets after shots so the balls wouldn’t bounce around the floor of the garage.
To their credit, the kids did take advantage of the ability to hit in the garage almost every winter since the nets were installed. Some days it was so cold, they had to bring space heaters out to warm up the garage. They always had to clean up after themselves, picking up the balls, dragging the mat back against the wall, and pushing the nets back so we could get the cars in the garage after their practice sessions were over.
My daughter Riley’s high school golf career ended 3 years ago with her team finishing 4th in the State Championship Tournament. While she hasn’t “retired” from golf, she no longer plays competitively but does still play for fun. Ryan is finishing up his senior season as a co-captain on the team and, depending on how far the team makes it through the post-season tournaments, will be playing his last high school round in October. Ryan doesn’t have plans to play collegiately but is aspiring to enter into the PGM (Professional Golf Management) program in college so the game of golf will continue to be a big part of his near future.
Have I become “De-Ranged”?
This weekend, I pulled down the nets, tarps, and all the other components of our “indoor garage driving range.” Our golf club will keep the driving range open for another 4-6 weeks (weather permitting) and Ryan and I will be able to play golf as long as we are willing to battle the elements, sometimes even getting to tee it up on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Day. But the need to practice in the garage won’t be as strong anymore.
While the end of the kid’s high school golf careers is somewhat bittersweet, suddenly having that extra space in the garage, not to mention how much brighter the place looks now without the tarps and nets hanging everywhere, it doesn’t feel like the walls are closer than they really are.
Time for You to Make Some Moves
As we turn the calendar to the final quarter of 2019, what are some of those things in your business that could be re-arranged, removed, or replaced? Do you have some “clutter” or other things “hanging around” that could be distracting you from finishing the year strong?
Take some time this next week to take a good look at your workplace, systems, and practices to determine what might need to be moved, tweaks, or simply eliminated.
Before you find yourself getting de-ranged, simply rearrange. Just don’t stop building relationships, solving problems and having fun.
