Be a Tiger June 2008
Anyone who has traveled through an airport in the US or read a business magazine recently has probably seen Accenture ads featuring Tiger Woods, the world’s number one golfer. Based on this amazing man’s climb to the top of the world of golf and march toward inevitable greatness, Accenture urges everyone to “Be a Tiger.” Are they kidding us?
If you saw the news about the most recent US Open, you know that Tiger won. You may have read how he recently had knee surgery and was forbidden to play by his doctor. He told his doctor, “I will play in the US Open and I will win.” Watching him limp around the course was painful. Yet he continued to play, grinding his way to the top, making incredible shots. He tied the leader, Rocco Mediate, on his final putt on the last hole to force a playoff. The next day, when they were tied at the end of the playoff, they had to play a “sudden death” hole. Still limping and grimacing in pain as he hit the ball, Tiger won the hole and the US Open. So, “Be a Tiger?” It seems even more unreachable now.
In a recent New York Times magazine article, the writer observed that Tiger Woods is “monomaniacal” about achieving greatness, that Tiger is so focused on being the best golfer on the planet that he focuses on little else. The author is wrong. Tiger Woods is maniacal about being great at everything. In the article Tiger says, “Why would you do anything and not do your absolute best at it?” This is a man for whom greatness is a way of life.
Perhaps we can learn from Tiger’s philosophy.
In Leadership: The Inner Side of Greatness, Peter Koestenbaum writes: “Greatness is the commitment to relinquish mediocrity forever.” That’s one heck of a commitment. It is incredibly challenging, but it produces some incredible experiences.
Recently, after rereading Koestenbaum for Scott’s master’s degree project and reflecting on Tiger’s statement, we decided to experiment with the notion of “relinquishing mediocrity.” What if, even for just a day, we were to do everything to the absolute best of our ability? What would that day be like?
Commit to living one day to the absolute best of your ability. Commit to relinquishing mediocrity. We found that showering and brushing your teeth take on a whole new meaning when you do your best. Kissing your partner as you leave for work, if you’re in a relationship, is elevated to a whole different plane. We noticed how committing to be your best enhances every conversation, email, project, chore, interaction, or meal. We realized how the day ascends to a whole new level thanks to this difficult but worthwhile experiment in consciousness.
It might not mean winning the US Open, but you will be different, your work will be different and your life will be different. Commit to relinquishing mediocrity for one day. You may find it addictive and you will commit for life. Go ahead, be a Tiger!
The Greatness ProjectTM is researched and written by:
Scott Asalone & Jan Sparrow
Copyright © ASGMC, Inc. 2008