Work Like a Tiger to Win

On March 23, 2009, golfer Tiger Woods made it back to the winner’s circle for the first time since he won the U.S. Open last June. It wasn’t that Tiger Woods was playing badly; he just wasn’t playing, due to a leg injury that required surgery.

With all the money Tiger has earned, he didn’t have to return to competitive playing. However, anyone who’s ever watched Woods play knows it’s not in his nature to quit.

So what did Tiger do in his second tournament back in action? He won it on the very last hole, after coming from five strokes behind in the fourth and final round.

Some viewers might simply say he won because of his natural talent. Others realize he won because of his work ethic. During the broadcast, there was a graphic on the screen that described Tiger’s typical practice routine. His practice days start at 6:00 AM with 90 minutes of weight training. Following breakfast, he hits practice balls and putts for a few hours, before playing nine holes of golf. After lunch, he practices on the driving range again before playing nine more holes. By now, it’s 5:30 PM, and Tiger’s day isn’t done. There’s about an hour of putting practice. It’s more than natural talent that makes Tiger a winner; it’s also preparation and hard work.

It’s the same formula for success in sales. You may have talent, but it’s not enough. It’s going to take hard work and preparation. Coming into work late, leaving early or taking two hour lunch breaks on a regular basis usually doesn’t cut it if you’re not the only game in town. Just as Tiger has competition on the professional golf tour, you have competition in your marketplace, and one of your competitors could be willing to prepare as thoroughly as Tiger Woods. Thus, the question becomes, how hard are you willing to work to win? At least in golf, the runner-up cashes a check. That’s not the case in the world of professional selling. If you want the first-place check, you’ve got to win.

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