Golf is a game full of numbers, stats, streaks, and constant evaluation. On the PGA Tour, they can break down any statistics you can imagine. Average score, the average number of birdies per round, average drive length off of the tee, greens hit in regulation, and the list goes on and on. One of my personal favorites is the bounce back stat. It calculates how many times a golfer, after suffering a bad score on a hole, can bounce back and shoot under par on the very next hole! In his prime, Tiger Woods owned this stat. He has the ability to refocus on the future, forget the disappointment from the prior hole, and make up the lost stroke.
So back to the question, 'What's Your Bounce Back Stat?' We've all been there, done that. Just recently I was looking at some team sales numbers and for the particular period we were sitting in the DFL position...you know, Dead Friggin' Last! But I've always been inspired by the thought of bouncing back from disappointments. Like a strong football team who, after being scored on, drives the length of the field to answer back, we too have the ability and focus to turn a negative into a positive and bounce back.
If you ever get "stuck" after a letdown and you can't quite get back on track. Try these steps to help you turn things around:
1. Assess the damage and adopt the attitude that "This too shall pass"...realize that it's not the end of the world. The sooner you get over feeling sorry for yourself, the quicker you'll be able to move to step 2!
2. Evaluate the desired result, put a plan together, get your team engaged in the solution, and get yourself in position to carry out your plan.
3. Take ACTION and EXECUTE on your plan and make the desired outcome a reality. And of course in real life instead of on the sports stage, it will take you longer than a 5 minute drive down the football field or the 15 minutes that it takes to play the next golf hole, so track your results and celebrate your successes.
By the way, there's a certain amount of excitement when you find yourself in this position. Those come-back stories, the walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth, the go ahead touchdown with only seconds left on the clock, winning the Masters tournament after the entire golf world thought you were washed up(thank you Tiger)...those are the stories that are remembered and talked about long into the future. Good luck building your Bounce Back Stat!