This week I had the good fortune of attending the PGA Annual Conference.  It included the opportunity to play golf with some of the PGA Professionals.  I used to play when I was younger, but over the years I have played less and less and now only play maybe 2-3 times a year.  Obviously, my game is not quite up to par (pun 100% intended :) ).  After the first few holes, the two pros in my group started to give me some advice. I told them we were all just out here having a good time and I didn't want them to feel like they had to work, but they insisted.

It was obvious that they had a deep love of the game and have spent their careers perfecting their craft.  While you can't ever truly master something like golf it is one of those endeavors where the journey is the actual goal.  After implementing some of their techniques the ball was flying all over the place.  I thought I was going backwards but they kept saying it didn't matter because my swing was improving and that was the most important part.  In essence if you focus on the details and get those right the result will eventually come.  By the end of the round, my shots were starting to get more on line and the swing felt much better.

I finished the day with a deep appreciation for those that have chosen to dedicate their lives to a single purpose like this and also for those that take such pleasure out of teaching others.  The lesson learned for me was that just like them we need to continue to focus on the excellence of the details in our craft.  Getting everything just right for our clients in every detail and the end result will take care of itself.

Danger is an innate part of any backcountry endeavor. I am often asked, "Is it worth the risk? Are you scared? Isn't it too dangerous?" To those who ask that, I like to answer their question with a different question that I came across that really impacted me:

Is danger the acknowledgment of risk or the illusion of safety?

Danger is constantly around us, no matter how "safe" we think we are. Every decision we make is fraught with risk and uncertainty. So what do we do?

Push harder! Challenge yourself! Being safe keeps you in the same place - stepping into risk brings progress.

 Happy Tuesday! 
  

We have 18 more days left until the New Year is upon us. It's that time of year to start thinking about all the changes we want to make in our lives. New Year’s is a time to reflect and assess where we are and look forward to the New Year to come. Below are some tips from Psychology professor John Norcross, Author of Changeology to help you follow through on your resolutions.

1)   Make changes to your behavior. Changing your routine can bring different results. Instead of trying the same thing over and over again, expecting a different outcome, people need to modify their behaviors. 
  
2)   Define SMART goals. When setting targets, use the SMART acronym: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-specific. Norcross says that individuals must go further than simply saying, "I want to lose weight." "Specifically, what are you going to do so that you can measure and track [your weight] over time, for say, the next three to four months?". 
  
3)   Track your progress. Norcross calls this technique self-monitoring. A calendar, or a calendar app, is a handy tool you can use to track your goals. 
  
4)   Reward small achievements. When you reach a portion of your goal, recognize the accomplishment and perhaps do something nice for yourself. This will help keep you focused and excited about the overall goal. 
  
5)  Make it public. When individuals announce their goals on social media, to their families or in the workplace, they are being held accountable by those closest to them. 
  
6)   You are human. Chances are you may slip up once or twice during this process. It's OK. Norcross says it is important to deal with failures by getting back on track and continuing along your journey. Seventy percent of successful goal-setters said that their first slip actually strengthened their resolutions. Norcross says to adopt the outlook, "I'm human. Let me learn from it, and let me keep going."