Even Tiger Woods has to Practice?

I’m not a huge golf fan, but like most people, I know Tiger Woods as the best golfer of our generation. He is a true master. A natural.   

Even though he is considered one of the best golfers of all time, Tiger Woods needs to practice to stay on top of his game. His philosophy and approach to practice and where he devotes his focus is very surprising. 

To simplify the game of golf, there are two major skills needed, putting and swinging. Your swing drives the ball down the fairway a long distance onto the green where you then putt the ball a short distance into the hole. The fewer times you hit the ball to reach the hole the better. 

Tiger Woods has a great putt. In fact, his putt gets all the glory, we've all seen the commercial where he sinks a putt, pumps his fist in victory and drives away in a new Cadillac. But it is his phenomenal swing that separates him from the rest of the field. It is truly one of the sweetest and smoothest in the history of the sport. 

So what do you think? When Tiger Woods heads out of the club house for his morning practice, where does he spend his time and energy?  

Does he head to the practice green to work on his biggest weakness, his putting or does he head for the driving range to work on the biggest strength, his swing? 

--Tiger Woods spends 20% of his practice time on his weakness and 80% on his strength. 

Surprised? I was. 

He knows (and I learned) that working on the things you are good at gives you more energy, more motivation and ultimately more success. 

His work smart ethic is to focus on his natural strengths. By doing so he makes them sharper and they become an even stronger asset to his game.  

It is practice and it is effort, but because his swing is natural to him, he enjoys working at it and getting it just right. For him seeing the ball fly down the fairway with just the right angle and correct distance is gratifying.  

On the other hand, he works on his weaknesses just enough to keep them from hindering him, holding him back or getting in his way to success. 

The Tiger Woods story is a reminder that we all have natural strengths and weaknesses. It's where we spend our energy and time that makes all the difference. 

My challenge to you is to think about your business. How are you investing your time and energy within your business? On your strengths, the things you enjoy doing or on your weaknesses, the things you really struggle with? 

In future issues, we will explore how you can focus on the things you enjoy doing and less on the things you don't.