To finish strong this season, I recommend doing a personal self-assessment and examining areas of your personal as well as professional life. I see numerous golf professionals who place such a high priority on being a dedicated golf professional that their personal lives suffer. Our profession places huge time demands on us, especially during the golf season, and finding that delicate balance between personal and professional lives is not easy.
There is a wonderful book that can assist in this area- Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” published in 1989. I know it is an old book, but the principles Covey conveys are timeless and can help anyone seeking to be their best in every area of their life. There is a part of the book that discusses the value of developing a personal mission statement (associated with Habit #2-Begin with the End in Mind). As Covey says, “It focuses on what you want to be (character) and to do (contributions and achievements) and on the values or principles upon which being and doing are based.” He states that because each individual is unique, their personal mission statement will be just as unique. His personal creed is insightful and contains the following:
- Succeed at home first
- Never compromise with honesty
- Remember the people involved
- Hear both sides before judging
- Obtain counsel of others
- Defend those who are absent
- Be sincere yet decisive
- Develop one new proficiency a year
- Plan tomorrow’s work today
- Hustle while you wait
- Maintain a positive attitude
- Keep a sense of humor
- Be orderly in person and in work
- Do not fear mistakes-fear only the absence of creative, constructive, and corrective responses to those mistakes
- Facilitate the success of subordinates
- Listen twice as much as you speak
- Concentrate all abilities and efforts on the task at hand, not worrying about the next job or promotion
Just like businesses need mission statements to provide consistent definition of its core purposes and for staff to stay on track, each of us can benefit from a personal mission statement to accomplish the same thing. It outlines what is truly important in our lives. Covey says it best with this statement, “A personal mission statement based on correct principles…becomes the basis for making daily decisions in the midst of the circumstances and emotions that affect our lives. It empowers individuals with the timeless strength in the midst of change. People cannot live with change without a changeless core inside them.”
If you struggle keeping your life in balance, and especially if you see your personal life suffering because of your work load, taking the steps to develop a personal mission statement could be invaluable. The book by Stephen Covey may be helpful in doing so. Make the decision to do this for you and your family today!
Carol Pence, Certified PGA Professional/LPGA
Employment Consultant
PGA of America (PNW and NorCal PGA Sections)
E: [email protected] O:(707)282-9252