Thoughtful Thursday: What is possible?
July 12, 2018 is a day that I will remember for a very long time.
Over three years has raced by since my good friend and colleague Karl Morris and I launched our first book collaboration, “The Lost Art Of Putting” at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open at Gullane, just along the road from my base at Archerfield Links.
We were joined by Tom Irwin from our publisher, Sports Publications and the man who very kindly wrote the foreword, 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie OBE.
I first met Paul when we played in the Scottish Assistants Strokeplay Championship at Cruden Bay around 1990. I could be wrong but I think that might have been his first-ever 72 hole win. At the time, we were both aspiring young professionals wondering what the future had in store for us. Since then, Paul has gone on to have an incredible playing career, winning numerous titles, including The 1999 Open and playing on two Ryder Cup teams. I on the other hand didn’t.
Did either of us think that these achievements were possible? I can’t speak for Paul, although I suspect he did think it was and I am not at all surprised that he has won 8 tournaments on the European Tour and one (so far) on the Staysure Tour.
Beyond his achievements as a player, Paul and his team, including his wife Marian have done an incredible job with the – paullwariefoundation.co.uk – providing coaching and playing opportunities for kids across Aberdeenshire and beyond.
His latest venture, the Tartan Pro Tour, a series of six 36 hole events for young male and female Scottish professionals, once again illustrates why he has been arguably the most influential person in Scottish golf over the last twenty years. This is a prime example of what is possible when you have a crystal clear intention and pay attention to the right things with a first-class attitude. Keep up the great work, we all appreciate it.
Going back to The Lost Art Of Putting, what started out as an exercise in basically putting our collective thoughts down, turned into a an Amazon best selling book. Did we think that was possible? To be honest, at the time, it didn’t really enter our minds. We thought if we sold a few copies and helped some golfers to hole more putts and enjoy their golf a bit more, we would have done our job. We even joked at the time that if we didn’t sell any, at least we would have a very nice business card!
Little did we know that it would have such an impact on golfers around the world. Barely a week has gone by when we haven’t received numerous messages from as far afield as the USA and Australia as well as all over the UK and Europe, from golfers thanking us and sharing their success stories. It has been quite a journey and a very satisfying one at that.
It is often said that everyone has a book in them and while that may or may not be true, if you do decide to write one, be prepared for days when the words simply do not flow. Days when you literally sit staring at a blank screen hoping that somehow a few hundred words will magically appear. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t.
From our personal experience, three magic words kept us going and I suspect the same three words played a leading role in Paul’s successes.
INTENTION, ATTENTION and ATTITUDE
Those who know Karl and I will be well aware that we use these three words frequently but that is because we strongly believe they are the cornerstones to success, happiness and what is truly possible.
Regardless of what you would like to achieve, be mindful of these three key words and whatever endeavour you chose to take on, ask yourself if it is possible. You just never know what might happen.
Until next time, check out our store by clicking here.
All the best,
Gary Nicol