How do you measure success in your chosen job or career. No doubt in the career I have chosen you could quote easily equate success with victories and money won. To be honest that stuff is important in a way, to provide for my family and give my kids every opportunity in life. I work hard to be a better player and strive to succeed on those levels but sometimes things don't seem to be working out.
Today I struggled on course for the first 8 holes being 3 over and not really playing that great. All the preparation and work done to be ready to go and here I was struggling. Frustrating, was I too amped, too keen, too excited and when it finally arrived I actually was too ready. I played a really good stretch of holes then, reaching the last hole at 1 over having picked up 2 shots. A final hole disaster of a double bogey 6 undid all the great work of the past two hours. That's the problem with my job sometimes, human error plays it's part and I'm the human making the errors!
Walking off the 18th I was disappointed with the last hole and overall score but really saw a glimpse of some exciting stuff out there for the year ahead. So was today successful? In a way no, but in a way yes!! Funny that! Also this story happened and this is also how I measure success in my life, when I can make a positive difference in the lives of those I come into contact with.
I made a birdie on the 9th hole today and walked over to the crowd and gave my ball to an old lady sitting on a chair watching, minimum 65 yrs of age at least. She was so excited and everyone around her applauded. After I finished some 2 and a bit hrs later and had signed my card I was heading up to the clubhouse and I hear a voice call out "Mashew Guyatto, Mashew Guyatto!!" I look across and it is that lady. She is motioning for me to come over to her and give my signature on her notepad. I walk across and she proudly has my ball in her hands, and asks for my signature. I sign her big notepad and also the ball and then she says something in Japanese which of course I can't understand and then gives me a gift in a plastic bag. Wow, she was so excited with the gift I gave her that she not only stayed around late in the day but also went and purchased me a gift! That's the sort of stuff I really want to do more of, a real joy in a moment of disappointment for me after making a double on the last. Her day will be something she will always remember and that smile on her face something I will remember and try to carry forward.
How do you measure success in your daily life? A good thing to ponder!