A Day in the Life

It always starts with that buzzing. Three or four times, always directly in my ear, the alarm goes off. I then roll over to unlock the phone with that password that has been built into my fingertips. I  flop back over to catch another 45 minutes that I had planned on the night before.

The next step is to make the same lunch that I've eaten just about every day this past year; two PB&J's. I can crank through them in just a few bites when I find a moment.

What follows is a 20-minute drive to the top-rated golf course in Maine, Belgrade Lakes Golf Club. During this drive, I scan the radio to find my rhythm for the day. Once I arrive, I make that last walk, or ride, up to the top of the hill. This is when I remember why I do this every day. I absolutely love the place; it has the purest golfing experience and the best service to be found in all of Maine.

My usual day consists of starting golfers off on their rounds, greeting them at the bag drop, picking them up in the shuttle, and corralling carts. Being able to help people with advice before the round and making sure their needs are met keeps me smiling most of the day. After that, I let the course speak for itself. Belgrade is not the same as other courses. It's special, and the atmosphere there inspires me to work hard and plan my day around this place.

My favorite days at Belgrade are when I get to sling the bag as a caddy. I've learned through experience that caddying is all the fun and mental challenge of playing without any of the frustration that comes from being the one responsible for striking the ball.  

After my work day is over, more often than not, I'll go grab my sticks and head out to play a few holes by myself, which is always a treat. From there I'll make that 20-minute drive back home and, help out where I can. Many days, that means heading back out to pick up a younger sibling or two. Just a short while later, it is time to eat dinner, get a bit of reading done, then prepare to hear that same buzzing the next morning, when the cycle begins once again.

Constant Reinvention

The constant reinvention of myself is something that I am able to see better than anyone else. I notice the subtle and not-so-subtle changes that occur in my daily life. I'm not even close to the same person that I was yesterday, let alone a month ago. Sure, I may look the same to some, but the difference in how I perceive myself is astounding. I look back at how much less I knew and how much more arrogant I was. I see myself changing at a blindingly fast pace now, and it's only going to be accelerated in the coming months.

I said in a video interview a month ago that people don't like it when you outwork them—which I still believe to be true. One of the reasons that I am able to outwork them is the seriousness that I bring to everything I do. I'm shocked at the lack of motivation that people bring to the workplace. I don't understand how you can give less than your absolute best to someone who is paying you to do a job. Integrity, and lack thereof, is the term that springs to mind as I'm writing this.

Growing up, integrity and hard work were something that I aspired to, based on the example my parents set for me. I had the notion that once you were an adult, the expectation was that you were supposed to behave and carry out what you did in a professional manner. Based on that standard, very few people have grown up, and this shocks me.