I was talking with a friend about golf while driving back from a fun weekend at a daddy/daughter camp. I am not a golfer and I don't find any enjoyment on the golf course mainly because I am SO bad. I have not made the attempt to adopt a "growth mindset" with golf. Why am I so bad? Well, we could probably list 150 reasons but one big one is that I try to swing too hard. More than one person has told me that you shouldn't swing the club hard if you want to be good. A good steady swing is all you need and let the club determine the distance. When I swing hard, the ball goes everywhere except straight. Which means par for me is losing 1 ball per hole (I'm not kidding). It takes me a long time to get from tee to the cup. Maybe if I didn't swing so hard I could play better.
Similarly, as I watch stock car racing, I often hear the announcer or spotter tell the driver to ease into the corner instead of driving into the corner so hard. Sometimes it is in the effort to use less gas to extend their mileage. This adjustment often results in faster lap times. So, driving smoother, letting off the gas, and using less braking can result in faster laps.
I know when I do go-kart racing I see this first hand. If I go full speed into the turns, I end up losing control or being passed by people that are driving more smoothly.
So, in what areas of my life am I "swinging too hard or driving into the corners at full speed, just to end up slamming on my brakes?" Could this tie into micro-managing and frustrsting my team? How about pushing too hard with fitness and getting injured? Parenting? How about even in my faith?
The tough part, for me, is knowing where the line is between pushing enough and pushing too much. If you don't push enough, you leave results "on the table" and don't reach your potential. If you push too hard, you may get good results today but at the cost of poor long term results.
I think the key is being aware that the line exists and looking for indications that you are approaching it. Watch your "laptimes" as you push harder. Listen for indications from your team, spouse or children.
So far, it seems that the best I can do is to be aware that the line exists and be alert to indications that I am approaching it.
