Wow! Turns out that "team thing" made a difference after all! The American team won the Ryder Cup Sunday 16 1/2 to 11 1/2 over the visiting Europeans. In his post game press conference, Captain Paul Azinger was quoted as saying, "I focused on the team concept. We spilt them up into small groups and had them bond. They were never coming out of those groups."
I mentioned in my previous blog that team success is directly proportional to how much the individuals are willing to give to each other. There was never a question of giving for the Americans in this 2008 Ryder Cup. Infused by a group of six, enthusiatic rookies, the Americans were giddy, laughing, and clearly having a fun time. The mood of the event was much lighter than in recent years. This is all due to the philosophy of Captain Azinger...focusing on TEAM, giving heart and soul to something greater than yourself.
I was proud to watch this American group do so well. The Europeans were equal to the task for the most part, but home field advantage and the fueled crowd turned out to be a huge advantage for America.
Fulfilling the Need to Grow...The Americans won because they gave of themselves for the team goal. Strategy and player placements made some difference as well. Have no doubt, though, this Cup was won by America because they were the better team. Togetherness was at the core of this deal. The great golf that ensued was just the result. I particularly cherished how players such as Boo Weekley refused to put too much pressure on the moment. The rest of the players simply joined him. After all, he was just being a great teammate.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Ryder Cup - An Essential Team Game
This week September 19-21, the USA will take on the Europeans in golf for the right to win the Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup is a team competition, emphasizing different two player and single game formats throughout the three day event, played every other year. Particular negative emphasis has been placed on the American team in recent years due to the fact they have lost 5 out of the last 6 Ryder Cups, with their last victory coming in 1999.
Why have the Americans faltered so often in the last several years? The answer...American golf culture is focused on winning Major Championships such as the Masters, US Open, and the PGA Championship. This means one person winning for one person. Team events are second. Europeans, on the other hand, look to the team game and events like the Ryder Cup as the highlight of their careers.
The difference in philosophy lies in the Europeans ability to put aside their egos and focus on each other. They do this rather easily. As a result, they have become consistent winners in the team game because the team, and more importantly the players, come first above all else. The Euros' great chemistry is apparent. It translates to their golf games in a positive way. The Americans often look like a line of individuals who are sandwiched together to force a team. They often look tight, uncomfortable with what is at hand. We all know how this turns out....into routs.
Let's look at history a little. The American team combined the world's two best players a few years ago to play together. On paper, it should have been a no-brainer. But World #1 Tiger Woods and World #2 Phil Mickelson looked very uncomfortable playing together. They lost and lost big. Why? They were two big time players who decided not to come together and give to each other. They were not able to efficiently switch gears and just play for something bigger than themselves. Even hearing in the interviews that they were honored to play for their country doesn't mean that the American players were willing to totally surrender to the team.
The Europeans know the value of the team concept. They simply put down their egos and give to each other. The result is usually victory, not because they were focused on the prize, but because they were focused on their teammates. The team game is usually a departure for the Americans. Team games are not promoted by the American golf culture and the PGA Tour. Comraderie and respect yes, team no. As a result, it hurts the Americans in a major team event such as the Ryder Cup.
Evidence in check, Kenny Perry gave up the right to play in the US Open and British Open this year in order to focus on making the Ryder Cup team. He was blasted in the media over and over for that decision, which is a clear indication that many expect Perry to play for himself over playing for his team. Not so fast my friend.
Fulfilling the Need to Grow...on any team, on any given day, in business, little league, or the Ryder Cup...positive results are measured by how much individuals are willing to give of themselves for the sake of their teams and the cause at hand. Success is measured by how well people can work together, support each other, and leave the individual agendas on the ground. The essence of true teamwork is in direct proportion to how unselfish the team players can be. Pay attention to how much the players give to each other and the team during play and you will clearly see the winner of the 2008 Ryder Cup long before the final match.
Why have the Americans faltered so often in the last several years? The answer...American golf culture is focused on winning Major Championships such as the Masters, US Open, and the PGA Championship. This means one person winning for one person. Team events are second. Europeans, on the other hand, look to the team game and events like the Ryder Cup as the highlight of their careers.
The difference in philosophy lies in the Europeans ability to put aside their egos and focus on each other. They do this rather easily. As a result, they have become consistent winners in the team game because the team, and more importantly the players, come first above all else. The Euros' great chemistry is apparent. It translates to their golf games in a positive way. The Americans often look like a line of individuals who are sandwiched together to force a team. They often look tight, uncomfortable with what is at hand. We all know how this turns out....into routs.
Let's look at history a little. The American team combined the world's two best players a few years ago to play together. On paper, it should have been a no-brainer. But World #1 Tiger Woods and World #2 Phil Mickelson looked very uncomfortable playing together. They lost and lost big. Why? They were two big time players who decided not to come together and give to each other. They were not able to efficiently switch gears and just play for something bigger than themselves. Even hearing in the interviews that they were honored to play for their country doesn't mean that the American players were willing to totally surrender to the team.
The Europeans know the value of the team concept. They simply put down their egos and give to each other. The result is usually victory, not because they were focused on the prize, but because they were focused on their teammates. The team game is usually a departure for the Americans. Team games are not promoted by the American golf culture and the PGA Tour. Comraderie and respect yes, team no. As a result, it hurts the Americans in a major team event such as the Ryder Cup.
Evidence in check, Kenny Perry gave up the right to play in the US Open and British Open this year in order to focus on making the Ryder Cup team. He was blasted in the media over and over for that decision, which is a clear indication that many expect Perry to play for himself over playing for his team. Not so fast my friend.
Fulfilling the Need to Grow...on any team, on any given day, in business, little league, or the Ryder Cup...positive results are measured by how much individuals are willing to give of themselves for the sake of their teams and the cause at hand. Success is measured by how well people can work together, support each other, and leave the individual agendas on the ground. The essence of true teamwork is in direct proportion to how unselfish the team players can be. Pay attention to how much the players give to each other and the team during play and you will clearly see the winner of the 2008 Ryder Cup long before the final match.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Growing from the Gas Crunch
Never in my life (all of 37 years) do I remember a time when the price of fuel went so out of control so fast. It seems like I went from paying $2.25 per gallon to $4.00 overnight. Quite honestly, it felt like someone took my wallet. I have a six cylinder Nissan Maxima that gets fairly good gas mileage. I used to pay about $35 to fill up my tank, now it is $56.
I used to cringe each time I drove by a gas station until I began to think about how I could change this in my favor. What is in my control to do something about this? This just hurts. Is there a better way?. What can I do? As I put this thought on autopilot, something wonderful began to happen. A shift in consciousness began to take place. Drive less T Tagg. Consolidate your trips around town. Plan your routes ahead of time. It will be fine. You are actually doing something good for the environment. I thought about riding my bike to work, then I thought about the 100 degree summer heat and the probability of getting mowed down in rush hour Memphis traffic. Better think again, although many people are successfully riding their bikes to work everyday now.
Driving is still currently the best for me. To save even more on fuel, I made sure my tires were properly inflated, my oil was freshly changed, and my acceleration was smooth instead of drag racing style. I found myself playing a game. How many extra miles can I get on THIS tank? As a result, I am delaying my return to the pump by an extra 3-4 days.
Saving at the pump is an exercise in thinking ahead. I’m a visionary, so this new way of thinking plays right into my hands. What else can I do to save? Make it permanent. As the price of gas retreats quickly back to the $3.50 per gallon range, the temptation to drive more will be very strong. What good will this do? Put us right back into the cash straps! Will this ensure that we have $4.50 gas by next year? Ummmmm, no way Jose if we grow from the gas crunch.
Fulfilling the Need to Grow – I believe situations are presented as learning opportunities. What have I learned as the result of higher gas prices? I have learned that conservation is a priority where it wasn’t before. I have learned that I can function very well on less than I thought I could. I have learned that saving gas and using less total resources makes me feel great. I have learned that our survival will be based on how well we adapt to changing circumstances. I have learned that as we save and grow, more alternative methods and resources will be available to help us meet our conservation goals. I have learned that many people using just a little less gas lowers demand and that lowers prices. Most of all, I have learned that by doing a small part to help the environment and reduce my carbon footprint, I am contributing to the well being and healthy totality of the human connection. I am growing indeed.
I used to cringe each time I drove by a gas station until I began to think about how I could change this in my favor. What is in my control to do something about this? This just hurts. Is there a better way?. What can I do? As I put this thought on autopilot, something wonderful began to happen. A shift in consciousness began to take place. Drive less T Tagg. Consolidate your trips around town. Plan your routes ahead of time. It will be fine. You are actually doing something good for the environment. I thought about riding my bike to work, then I thought about the 100 degree summer heat and the probability of getting mowed down in rush hour Memphis traffic. Better think again, although many people are successfully riding their bikes to work everyday now.
Driving is still currently the best for me. To save even more on fuel, I made sure my tires were properly inflated, my oil was freshly changed, and my acceleration was smooth instead of drag racing style. I found myself playing a game. How many extra miles can I get on THIS tank? As a result, I am delaying my return to the pump by an extra 3-4 days.
Saving at the pump is an exercise in thinking ahead. I’m a visionary, so this new way of thinking plays right into my hands. What else can I do to save? Make it permanent. As the price of gas retreats quickly back to the $3.50 per gallon range, the temptation to drive more will be very strong. What good will this do? Put us right back into the cash straps! Will this ensure that we have $4.50 gas by next year? Ummmmm, no way Jose if we grow from the gas crunch.
Fulfilling the Need to Grow – I believe situations are presented as learning opportunities. What have I learned as the result of higher gas prices? I have learned that conservation is a priority where it wasn’t before. I have learned that I can function very well on less than I thought I could. I have learned that saving gas and using less total resources makes me feel great. I have learned that our survival will be based on how well we adapt to changing circumstances. I have learned that as we save and grow, more alternative methods and resources will be available to help us meet our conservation goals. I have learned that many people using just a little less gas lowers demand and that lowers prices. Most of all, I have learned that by doing a small part to help the environment and reduce my carbon footprint, I am contributing to the well being and healthy totality of the human connection. I am growing indeed.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
The Secret of the First Hour - The Golden Hour
I have a secret and I have to share.
It can change the course of your day.
It can also alter the course of your life.
It will Fulfill your Need to Grow.
It’s a state of mind that starts early in the morning…and lasts all day.
Anyone who puts this secret to good use is well on their way to catching the express train to Success. Here it is. People who decide to devote the very first portion of their day (5 minutes of more) to proactive thinking, encouragement, motivation, or inspiration absolutely catapult themselves into greater achievements by day’s end than those who don’t. Through many documented observations, it is apparent that people, who decide to begin the day with information for positive growth and input come out on top. Why is this? Let’s have a look.
The First Hour is the Rudder of the Day - The Golden Hour.
Henry Ward Beecher
Most of us are not truly aware of what is entering our minds first thing in the morning? We rise and immediately turn on the TV. We see and hear who got shot, who was busted for selling drugs, and who has landed in jail, among other things. So many people wake up to this form of stimulation only to be disappointed that the rest of the day doesn’t seem to get any better. The shocker is most people don't realize what is happening. Is this your routine?
To turn this around, you must be aware of what you allow your mind to receive. Start the day off in the right direction. If you want success, fill your mind early with the kind of information that will benefit you. You may begin with reading a passage of my book Enrich Your Sunrise in combination with the other strategies listed below. You don’t have to accept what the TV or media has to offer. Instead, make your morning YOURS. Let's look at this a little more.
Let’s liken your mind to driving a car. Stimulating your brain with beneficial thinking in the first hour is like putting your car in first gear and creating great momentum. Rolling smoothly and easily makes getting into second gear effortless. By the time you are in fourth gear, you are steamrolling and very hard to stop. Most people begin their day in reverse. By the time they figure out what it takes to move forward, time has slipped away and they have to play catch up. You truly deserve more. Get on your game early by making the First Hour your Golden Hour. I named my book Enrich Your Sunrise in honor of the first hour of the day. Why? Because it is the most important hour. Start strong and finish strong!
Make a point to stand guard over the information that is flowing in and out of your brain. You are in control of one thing and one thing only…your actions and thoughts...aka your attitude. This is your life! So in order to get life where you want it, you must take possession of it and claim it. Do you want MORE or the same boring stuff? Then begin using different combinations of this STRATEGY FOR GROWTH listed below!
Listed below are four techniques on how to fill your first hour with applied beneficial thinking, which I call the MORE STRATEGY FOR GROWTH:
1. (M) Use the Power of Meditation or Prayer – take 2-3 minutes to connect with your creator, higher power, or Divine Intelligence. Give thanks to be alive today. Get in touch with your Inner Self and get your Soul ready to receive harmonious and enriching information. Remember, you are entitled to abundance, happiness, and joy. You deserve it. It is your birthright. Tune in and connect.
2. (O) Organize the Day – the most productive individuals plan their day in advance. They think about what they want to accomplish and formulate a plan to carry it out. Use my Productivity List as an outline for your day at work or at play. In order to achieve great successes today, focus solely on the how you can be useful to your purpose or organization by planning your actions before you make them happen.
3. (R) Read a Book or Listen to Inspirational CD’s – here is another secret. The most successful people in the world fill their daily commutes with inspiration and learning. Not only does reading a few pages of a nourishing book or listening to CDs get your blood pumping, it also raises your level of enthusiasm and endorses your clear and definite purpose in life. You'll find that it makes you feel great! You'll want more and more. Reading and listening, even for only a few minutes, will keep you engaged, progressing, and learning. It's a fantastic way to start or finish your Golden Hour!
4. (E) Exercise – a number of people have shared with me that during their morning exercise, many of their brilliant ideas come to them. This happens for me as well. Exercise increases the heart rate and metabolism, refreshes the brain, and positively stimulates the nervous system. Physical use of the body improves health immediately. Something as simple as a brisk walk can make a big difference in how you feel. Sound physical health is one of the universal principles of success and exercise is a great way to obtain it. My #1 personal maxim reads: A strong mind in a strong body.
Put the (M)(O)(R)(E) Strategy for Growth to good use. If possible, use all aspects of MORE or a combination of these techniques to start your day. Come up with twists of your own to make it yours. The rewards you will receive when you put this strategy into action are abundant. It will change how you approach your day and give you a greater sense of yourself. Using MORE will provide you with the mental, physical, and spiritual energy you need to make the day energizing and productive. Incorporating MORE into your life will lead to bigger and better changes from within. Why? Because you chose it. The Secret of the First Hour is very powerful, and it is yours for the taking. Grow on!
It can change the course of your day.
It can also alter the course of your life.
It will Fulfill your Need to Grow.
It’s a state of mind that starts early in the morning…and lasts all day.
Anyone who puts this secret to good use is well on their way to catching the express train to Success. Here it is. People who decide to devote the very first portion of their day (5 minutes of more) to proactive thinking, encouragement, motivation, or inspiration absolutely catapult themselves into greater achievements by day’s end than those who don’t. Through many documented observations, it is apparent that people, who decide to begin the day with information for positive growth and input come out on top. Why is this? Let’s have a look.
The First Hour is the Rudder of the Day - The Golden Hour.
Henry Ward Beecher
Most of us are not truly aware of what is entering our minds first thing in the morning? We rise and immediately turn on the TV. We see and hear who got shot, who was busted for selling drugs, and who has landed in jail, among other things. So many people wake up to this form of stimulation only to be disappointed that the rest of the day doesn’t seem to get any better. The shocker is most people don't realize what is happening. Is this your routine?
To turn this around, you must be aware of what you allow your mind to receive. Start the day off in the right direction. If you want success, fill your mind early with the kind of information that will benefit you. You may begin with reading a passage of my book Enrich Your Sunrise in combination with the other strategies listed below. You don’t have to accept what the TV or media has to offer. Instead, make your morning YOURS. Let's look at this a little more.
Let’s liken your mind to driving a car. Stimulating your brain with beneficial thinking in the first hour is like putting your car in first gear and creating great momentum. Rolling smoothly and easily makes getting into second gear effortless. By the time you are in fourth gear, you are steamrolling and very hard to stop. Most people begin their day in reverse. By the time they figure out what it takes to move forward, time has slipped away and they have to play catch up. You truly deserve more. Get on your game early by making the First Hour your Golden Hour. I named my book Enrich Your Sunrise in honor of the first hour of the day. Why? Because it is the most important hour. Start strong and finish strong!
Make a point to stand guard over the information that is flowing in and out of your brain. You are in control of one thing and one thing only…your actions and thoughts...aka your attitude. This is your life! So in order to get life where you want it, you must take possession of it and claim it. Do you want MORE or the same boring stuff? Then begin using different combinations of this STRATEGY FOR GROWTH listed below!
Listed below are four techniques on how to fill your first hour with applied beneficial thinking, which I call the MORE STRATEGY FOR GROWTH:
1. (M) Use the Power of Meditation or Prayer – take 2-3 minutes to connect with your creator, higher power, or Divine Intelligence. Give thanks to be alive today. Get in touch with your Inner Self and get your Soul ready to receive harmonious and enriching information. Remember, you are entitled to abundance, happiness, and joy. You deserve it. It is your birthright. Tune in and connect.
2. (O) Organize the Day – the most productive individuals plan their day in advance. They think about what they want to accomplish and formulate a plan to carry it out. Use my Productivity List as an outline for your day at work or at play. In order to achieve great successes today, focus solely on the how you can be useful to your purpose or organization by planning your actions before you make them happen.
3. (R) Read a Book or Listen to Inspirational CD’s – here is another secret. The most successful people in the world fill their daily commutes with inspiration and learning. Not only does reading a few pages of a nourishing book or listening to CDs get your blood pumping, it also raises your level of enthusiasm and endorses your clear and definite purpose in life. You'll find that it makes you feel great! You'll want more and more. Reading and listening, even for only a few minutes, will keep you engaged, progressing, and learning. It's a fantastic way to start or finish your Golden Hour!
4. (E) Exercise – a number of people have shared with me that during their morning exercise, many of their brilliant ideas come to them. This happens for me as well. Exercise increases the heart rate and metabolism, refreshes the brain, and positively stimulates the nervous system. Physical use of the body improves health immediately. Something as simple as a brisk walk can make a big difference in how you feel. Sound physical health is one of the universal principles of success and exercise is a great way to obtain it. My #1 personal maxim reads: A strong mind in a strong body.
Put the (M)(O)(R)(E) Strategy for Growth to good use. If possible, use all aspects of MORE or a combination of these techniques to start your day. Come up with twists of your own to make it yours. The rewards you will receive when you put this strategy into action are abundant. It will change how you approach your day and give you a greater sense of yourself. Using MORE will provide you with the mental, physical, and spiritual energy you need to make the day energizing and productive. Incorporating MORE into your life will lead to bigger and better changes from within. Why? Because you chose it. The Secret of the First Hour is very powerful, and it is yours for the taking. Grow on!
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