I believe that accomplishments are made through failures. As a D1 golfer at Wichita State, I learned many times through failure. I learned that taking the time to prepare for a 3 ft putt is very important as it can be the difference between first place and 15th place. I learned that taking the risk to hit at the pin over a water hazard can lead to a two stroke penalty if not hit perfectly. Therefore, the safe play is to hit to the middle of the green and take the water out of play. I learned that golf is 90% mental and 10% skill, as many, many people have the skill but few have the mental fortitude to make a 10ft putt on the final hole to close the win. I’ve made my fair share of putts and missed my fair share. Actually, come to think about it, I would be golfing professionally and not be an eye doctor if I had made of those putts. All things work together for good. I’m glad I’m where I’m at, the lifestyle of an eye doctor is much more conducive for family life.
As in golf, the profession of optometry is much the same. I learned that staff are real people and that they are not just a part in the machine of optometry business. I learned that long time loyalty of a patient is more important then a $15 co-pay that was never communicated to them but ends up as a bill in their mailbox. And I am learning that all good things come with hard work and time. I continue to work through case reports in preparation for becoming a fellow of the academy of optometry, and I am reminded that nothing is easy and failure is the road to accomplishment. Failure is also in the eye of the beholder. When I receive a case report that I have spent hours and hours on and it is critiqued with marks on every page, I am tempted to think it is a failure. Yet, the changes are made and I mentally come to the realization that failure is part of the process of accomplishing.
If you sit in the valley of failure and discouragement has you paralyzed. Remember, you are on the road to accomplishing your goal.
So…what is it like missing a three foot putt anyway? Ha! You know I’ve been there with you many times. You also know I’ve always been drawn to golf because I think it mirrors life better than any game or sport on the planet. Failure is inevitable in both golf and life. They cannot be mastered and accepting that reality improves your ability to navigate both. Thanks for the great post brother!
Thank you for your perspective on failure. I have always looked at failure as a simple fact…failure. I get caught up in the negative aspect of it because it is also a big fear of mine. I hate to fail! However, your approach makes failure a positive that is so much more encouraging. I now, because of you have a better perception of accepting my failures and teaching my kids about failures. It’s ok to fail. Thank you.