Working for goals

Yesterday, at 50 years old, Phil Mickelson became the oldest golfer to win a major championship. (It was his sixth.) There are a lot of takeaways from his post-tournament interview.

While playing, he didn’t let himself think about the potential results. He stayed in the present. Stayed focused on the shot at hand. Didn’t let his mind race.

He shut out noise. Didn’t watch television. Wasn’t checking his phone. Tried to quiet things down.

Phil believed for a long time that he could play at a high level again, but he wasn’t executing the way he knew he could.

“Although I believed it, until I actually did it … there was a lot of doubt.”

An interviewer asked, “As age crept up, you never let that get in the way. How did you do that?”

Phil’s answer was immediate: “Worked harder.”

“I just had to work harder, physically, to be able to practice as long as I wanted to. And I’ve had to work a lot harder to maintain focus throughout a round.”

Throughout the interview, he gave credit to his caddie, his coaching team, and his wife. They supported him throughout his journey and never lost faith in him.

We’re all getting older, and we can all learn from Phil. Believe in yourself, even when the odds aren’t in your favor. Stay present and focused. Know the value of those who support you. And sometimes, in order to get what you want, you might have to work a little harder than you used to.