Three Lessons Learned From Shark Week...

It's a summer tradition in July which dates back 30 years now. Some years are better than others, with all content aimed to be both somewhat informative and wildly entertaining. I certainly recall numerous marketing efforts from the Discovery Channel to promote Shark Week, primarily last year with the race between Michael Phelps and a great white which flopped, and this year with shows featuring Shaq, Lindsey Vonn and Aaron Rodgers. Shark Week is indeed a summer tradition which encompasses a wild audience, and local businesses getting into the act as well by selling shark-themed cookies, cakes, pies, etc.

However, Shark Week to me reminds me of something entirely different.

Growing up, 'The Shark' was none other than Greg Norman and I've been a fan of his ever since I could swing a golf club (ironically I realized we both have similar swings no less). I wrote this entry almost two months ago and decided to save it for this week during the summer phenomenon, as well as the conclusion of The Open, with the narrative based on a review of a Golf.com podcast where Greg Norman joined Sean Zak to talk about life mostly off the golf course. I was actually on my way to a Red Sox game when this episode came out and was the only time in my life where I wished the traffic got heavier heading into Boston because I wanted to finish the podcast. There were three main takeaways which were featured in this June 6th episode, and hopefully they resonate well in some capacity with those of you reading this. They include the following:

"ROT" or Return on Time
Attack Life
"DIN DIP" or 'Do it now, and do it proper.'

ROT

Again, this episode dropped on June 6th, and I don't think a day has passed where I've muttered this phrase in my head at least once. "Return on time," what an interesting concept. For example, take into account what you've done today from the time you woke up until right this second. If you worked out, did you get out of it everything you wanted? If you went out to breakfast, was it time well spent or was it something to pass the time until you had to go to work? What about after you got to work? Did you sit around and read the RBC Canadian Open preview or did you spend it in a useless meeting on how to best schedule out your co-workers vacation days for the remainder of the summer? Either way, take into account your return on time. Traffic and commute time notwithstanding, did you lay around all weekend or did you spend it with people you care about and make memories which will last you deep into the summer. ROT can be looked at from a professional perspective, and even more in a personal perspective. Like I said, I've spent almost two months with this phrase puttering around my mind and take the time to look at how I've used my free time and if it could be of better use in the future.

Attack Life

This has always been Greg Norman's mantra, whether on the golf course or in the boardroom of his 100 business ventures. Never settling and always finding ways to prove yourself to others is how Norman played the game beginning in the 80's, in large part because he didn't grow up a golfer. Born in Australia and growing up surfing in a wealthy part of town, it was his mother who inspired him to swing a golf club later during adolescence. Once he got the bug, he parlayed that illness into two Open championships and a number of weeks spent ranked number one in the world. But seriously, type into your browser www.shark.com (what a baller to have that URL to call his own by the way) and look at his portfolio. Golf course design, apparel, real estate, land development etc etc etc. That is absolute MADNESS that he can be coherent and aware on how each of these entities are performing, how his staff is handling day to day tasks, all while keeping sane himself. Attacking life is a major understatement for the Shark.

DIN DIP

Do it now and do it proper is a great mindset to have when completing every day tasks. This truly does not matter whether you are putting together a sales deck, taking out the trash, writing a thank you note, whatever. If you commit to something, no matter how low or how high the level of importance appears, do it to the best of your ability. By doing it now, and doing it proper the first time around, this allows you to increase your ROT and focus on other tasks which lead you to a healthy and fulfilling life. That's the approach I've always taken with schoolwork, especially in college. I knew the true value of getting things done ahead of time, and I never had to cram or pull all-nighters from putting projects and papers off until the last minute. Adopting an 'attack life' mindset will help give you the motivation you need to complete the task adequately the first time.

In closing, ask yourself what your ROT will be when watching Shark Week this week on Discovery Channel. Will it provide you fulfillment and excitement? Will it become a new tradition you share with your family, friends and co-workers around your cubicle or will you chalk it up to something you've tried but won't bother watching again? I never thought a golf podcast would ask so many questions and provide so many answers at the same time but then again, Greg Norman is simply in a league of his own.