What goals really need...

Posted Jan 01 2013, 09:27 PM by Cathy Erickson
Happy New Year friends…and happy 2013 golf season! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and are looking forward to a new year full of great golf! I faintly remember writing a “resolution” post about this time last year so I looked it up and read it.
 
A year ago I appeared to be motivated, but as I look back at 2012, I hit more than my share of stumbling blocks…I am one of the 85% who generally failed. But not completely! And that’s what gives me hope once again as we start the 2013 journey. What I wrote a year ago makes sense, and the experts that know about goal making and being successful at it give us wise guidance. Small attainable goals, write your goals down, don’t give up, and find support – all good stuff!

But something was missing…something that I believe can be the difference between success and starting over…passion. Now I realize that much of what we need to do to get through life won’t include passion…life can be challenging, frustrating, and at times painful. But if I had to go back and rethink my 2012, I think I forgot to let passion into the conversation…without it, everything seems, well, harder.
 
One of the first things I read about the 2013 PGA Tour season was that Steve Stricker was that he was dramatically limiting his play for 2013 (only 10 events!), meaning he won’t be a full fledged Tour member. He has qualified for all of the Majors and the WGC events and will play a few more events as well.
 
As I’m sure you can imagine, my immediate response was being heartbroken. My favorite PGA Tour player is only going to be in only around 10 fields? Did he not think about calling me first?!! This was NOT the news I wanted to read as I started 2013. But as I read a little more about the reasons and motivations behind his limited schedule, it was hard to stay mad. Stricker, 45, in an interview with Alex Miceli at Golfweek, said that he wanted to spend more time with his family, spend more time working on a new foundation, and spend less time traveling.
 
It’s hard to argue wanting to spend more time with people you love, and I applaud Steve using his talents and connections to make more opportunities for young people in golf. If I had to guess, he’s getting the chance to follow his passion. Stricker was quick to note that he’s not “quitting” just adjusting to do some things he’d like to do. He’ll be in Hawaii this week to defend at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, but then will take a hiatus until February. So while I’m sad that I won’t be rooting for Steve all season long on the golf course, I really appreciated being reminded about passion. And if I can embed my passion into whatever goals rise to the surface for me I know I’m already ahead of the game.
 
And since I have a passion for my predictions (despite my record!), here’s my first…Steve Stricker – repeat champion this week!!
 
I hope you all not only know your passion but let it lead you.
 
(Watch for my 2013 predictions next week!)

Filed under: passion, Steve Stricker, PGA Tour., Cathy Erickson, resolutions, 2013, New Year