Posted By Chris on July 20, 2009

There are days a voice in my head assures me, “I am too old for this.”   The voice likes to remind me me, “There is too much to learn. It’s a young person’s game now.”

Then there are days like Sunday July 19, 2009.  History will show Tom Watson lost The Open Championship  in a playoff to Stewart Cink. But ten years from now, I’m thinking more people will remember Tom Watson almost won it than will recall Stewart Cink took home the Claret Jug.

Watson’s performance motivated this motivator.  You see, I’ll be 60-years old on my next birthday in a little less than 10 months.  Tom Watson will be 60-years old  in two months.  On Sunday, he beat all but one  in a  field of the world’s greatest golfers.

On Sunday, I told the voice in my head, “Shut up.”

Tom Watson’s performance demonstrates that you don’t have to retire or fade into the sunset. Your skills don’t have to diminish. You can be “world class” at any age. It’s a matter of finding what you’re passionate about and putting in the work.

Since I invested six hours watching Watson yesterday, I will share with you five lessons I am taking from the performance:

1. It starts in your mind. Watson believed he had the game for a Links course. You have to believe you can make the sale, learn new computer skills, master social media, talk to the CEO and contribute something of value. Do you believe?
2. Age is just a number. When you start making excuses that you are too old or too young to accomplish something, that becomes your truth even if it’s not a fact.
3. You can be better next year than you are this year. You can be smarter, stronger, thinner and anything else you really want to be.
4. You can inspire and influence others by your performance and have a profound impact on people at any age. Focus on results instead of the obstacles in the way.
5. Get up, show up and put in the work. You’ll be surprised at all the good things that can happen.

I started watching a golf tournament on Sunday. I ended up getting a terrific role model for what it means to be a professional at any age.

How did Tom Watson inspire you?

(4 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)
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