Saturday, March 24, 2007

You Are Tardy Grasshopper

It is all somewhat beyond my comprehension - but wait long enough and the circle
of events, does, for whatever reason, seem to close with an inescapable pattern.
This latest go-round begins with a trip in November to see Mom in Ottawa.
On the flight on the way up I began reading a book I'd been anxious to read
for years.
It was written by Rick Reilly - someone whose work I'd respected and admired
since his early days at Sports Illustrated. Reilly always manages to embrace the
most human elements of the story - and that is what I think attracted me most.
His style is so distinctive that I remember reading an article - and thinking - I
enjoyed that so much it must have been Rick Reilly's...nine times out of ten I
was right. By the time I left the sports department at CHYM/CKGL
( and thus read Sports Illustrated less compulsively ) I was looking
through the index, disappointed when there wasn't something Reilly had penned.
At any rate, I'd read somewhere that Reilly had written a golf book
- Who's Your Caddy ? - and picked up a copy. For no better reason than lack
of time to read it - it sat on my book shelf for the longest time - until last
November.
In previous submissions I've talked about how much I enjoyed the book -
and in one of the chapters he had caddied for - as he described him -
mystic, healer and self help guru Deepak Chopra...Well..I had mentioned to
my wife, Charlene how much I had enjoyed Who's Your Caddy - and had
enthusiastically described the chapter with Deepak Chopra...So...for Christmas
this wonderful woman not only surprised me with another Rick Reilly book -
but also one entitled, " Golf for Enlightenment" the seven lessons for the game
of life - by Deepak Chopra...
Well I've been suffering through a bit of a personal funk for several months -
plaqued by issues like retirement, and what I want to do when I grow up....
and of course all of the other things that befuddle the generation...and then
I saw, " The Secret" which in my humble estimation is this generation's
" Think And Grow Rich" by Napolean Hill...but a far easier read. Then on
Bravo this morning I saw a piece on an ancient "surfer guitar master"
whose advice included a little gem , "When you fall into a pile of shit, tell
yourself it's perfume, because you could be there for a while." This guy's
life, and I don't remember his name but it doesn't matter because outside of
his home of California, he's not particularly well recognized, includes it all...
rise to fame and fortune, collapse, personally and professionally,
divorce, near fatal health problems, and from it all , he's emerged, singular
in his thinking, his actions, and his message. I'm guessing the guy's in his mid
sixties, and he and his 12 year old son play guitar together...bottom line here is
that this individual does what's right for him...lives his dream - and in the end -
decides what he wants and then does it. And is grateful for the chance.
I watched with great interest his story unfolding - because his story, much
like The Secret, much like so many other things I keep coming across reinforce
the idea that there are no limits on what a soul can do - and no limit on how
many ways anything you decide to do can be accomplished -
and that all you need do is make the decision - and then - go get it.
Presumably - the difficulty with which you reach your goal - is determined by
many things - including how well you plan - and how well you align yourself
with the external forces that can aid or hinder your journey...which is where
I am in the Golf For Enlightment book -
which is , in summary, just a whole lot of fun to be reading...right now.
Spent last weekend at the Golf Atlantic Expo meeting all kinds of good folks -
collecting a whole new series of Most Memorable Shots and Why Do You Play
This Game features for the radio program...I have a meeting this week to discuss
a possible weekly Golf column in a Nova Scotia print publication and I begin laying
out plans for a new feature in the Golf Shop Radio Program - my 20 favorite
Maritime Golf Courses....I don't think you'll find my choices reflected in the
politically formulated Top 100 of other golf media... Frankly how the Bell Bay's,
Crowbush Cove's, and Brudenelle's ever get identified among the Maritimes' best
courses is beyond me...90 percent of Maritime golfers never get to play them.
At any rate...oh...before I go...
Do you think the NHL should ban fighting ? Do you think the NHL should ban
fighting due to the number of recent injuries ? How many NHL players have had
their careers ruined by knees that blew up when their blades caught a flaw in the
ice ? Ban ice ! How many players have had their careers ruined when they were
sent flying into the end boards racing to touch the puck for an icing ? The NHL still
has icing. How many NHL careers have been ended by old age ? Any player over
30 should be banned.....or killed. Ban fighting ? What nonsense !
What the NHL has to ban is teams carrying a guy who gets 2 minutes of ice per game
- and 30 minutes of penalties. Fighting is far preferable to stick work..but two
giants in war gear who square off in a planned skirmish for which they are specifically
employed is too artificial to be considered as anything more than fodder for the
WWE. Anytime a player racks up more penalty minutes in a game than he has playing
time - he should be suspended for 3 games. After three suspensions, his worth to
his team should be clear, and he should be suspended for the year...then if a player
doesn't have the gifts to play at the NHL level - his days as a player will limited.
Might want to consider a hefty fine for the team each time one of their players is suspended...Tough hockey is good hockey...and there is certainly room in the NHL
for tough players and fighting..but sending two big wankers out there to mix it up is
a waste of everyone's time....and is proving dangerous.
That's it - that's all - there is no more...go Tiger !
When I get the chance I will talk next about Mike Weir and Lorie Kane....as they
fade like setting suns....
Til next time - hittem long and hittem straight..
Bless
Don

Labels:

Friday, March 02, 2007

Shhhhh...it's the Secret

If you live long enough there are many things - good and bad - that you will
have the pleasure - or pain of experiencing multiple times. Someone at
work couple of weeks ago hosted a screening of something called
" The Secret."
At the time, I had no idea what the secret was all about.
And, as it turned out, I was unable to make the screening...but I borrowed
the DVD the next weekend...
I have been introduced to Tony Robbins, and have at times found several
other self improvement gurus worthwhile...I particularly enjoyed the work
of one "Silver Fox" Jim Rohn, who I saw early on in my sales career, in
Toronto, while with MacLean Hunter. Rohn's pitch was
" It's easy - just do it ! "
Rohn pre-dates Nike and the swoosh by a decade or two, and I found his
message compelling in its simplicity... wanna lose weight ?
We all know how...it's easy - just do it ! wanna stop smoking ? We all know
how....it's easy - just do it ! Wanna get rich...we all know how...it's easy just
do it. Decide what you want, and then program your life and activities so
that everything you do is consistent with getting you to your chosen
destination...and that, in a nutshell is the secret.
I watched this new DVD, this new Secret with great interest - and I must
say, it spiked a new level of enthusiasm in me and has helped turn a bit of
a corner...for that I'm very thankful...I do need a reminder from time to
time - now more than ever that I sell advertising and marketing advice/
council/direction particularly where it relates to radio - or the human
voice - and increasingly the web. ...and it is that particular pastime that
allows me to live a very comfortable, and ample lifestyle...and I can't think
of a lot that I would rather do - that would allow me the freedom this does
- with similar rewards - until my rapidly approaching retirement...
So here's to "The Secret."
The Secret really hasn't changed much from the time I first read
Napolean Hill's , " Think and Grow Rich" - but 90 minutes ,
well produced in video is far more palatable than grinding through 228
pages of small print, or 12 30 minute cassettes.
" The Secret," is make a decision about what it is you want - and then
pursue it.
We're s'posed to get the winter's first storm tonight...and then it's
s'posed to go to five degrees celcius in the sun tomorrow...golf is not far
away. I hit shots for about an hour today into a simulator...it was
wonderful. I have new clubs. I had them custom made...custom fitted
and custom made. So far, I am very impressed...
and dying to get out on green grass in the fresh air and put them to the
real test.
I will begin working on the Golf Shop E-Newsletter this weekend...If
you are interested in being added to the distribution list just send me
an email. The Newsletter will have Quick Golf Facts, Swing Tips,
Book Reviews, Websites worth visiting, Equipment Reviews, Industry
News, and course reviews and will come out weekly. The Golf Shop
Radio Program, by the way begins April 6 ( Friday Nights at 6PM on
92 CJCH - streaming at www.cjch.ca ) and again Saturday mornings at
8AM...Lots of good stuff planned so please tune in...and tell your
friends !
Am I alone in my releif that Phil Mickelson failed in his bid to win two
tournaments in succession...he's probably a nice man, and there are in
all likelihood far more despicable people on the PGA Tour, but just
watching him on TV makes my skin crawl...dunno know why....
it is what it is..
Robert Louis Stevenson once said, " Our business in life is not to
succeed - but to continue to fail in good spirits."
Til next time...Bless
Don