Are you playing it safe or playing to win?
Some years ago I read an excellent article by Australian golfer Jason Day titled “Letter to My Younger Self”. Whether you like the game of golf or not I really suggest you check it out on The Players Tribune.
There was one part of this letter that really struck a chord with me. Jason Day talks about his early days on the US golf tour and how his focus at that time was playing to maintain his place on the tour. The US golf tour is lucrative to say the least, and if you can survive there it’s a ticket to a very comfortable life. However, as Jason says in the letter: “Here’s a secret, just between us, that you’ll only find out after you’ve been on Tour for a while: “playing to keep your card” is the enemy of “playing to win”.”
Jason Day has achieved impressive things in his sport. Highlights include winning the US PGA, one of the 4 major golf tournaments in the world, and achieving the distinction of being ranked the number one golfer in the world. It’s no coincidence that his breakout year only happened after he stopped playing it safe, and started playing to win instead.
Playing to win carries a risk - you might lose.
Playing it safe carries a much greater risk - you will certainly never achieve all that you are capable of.
What greatness is lying dormant in you that will never be realised if you are merely playing it safe? Let's take a lesson from Jason Day and start playing to win instead and see what we can really achieve.
So what are some of the things you can do if you want to play to win?
Establish an ambitious goal. In their book Built to Last Jim Collins and Jerry Porras called these “big hairy audacious goals” (BHAG's).
Strengthen your commitment to the goal. Some ways to do this are visualising what it would be like to achieve it, and sharing your goal with some trusted friends.
See the path to the goal. This involves figuring out the steps you'll take to get there, in enough detail that you can make out the trail.
Take the first step. Notice the feelings of fear and doubt but don't let them dissuade you from starting. The sooner you start the sooner you'll achieve the win you're looking for.
Hone your craft. For golfers like Jason Day this means hitting golf ball after golf ball, under all sorts of conditions. For you it might mean practicing your interpersonal skills, becoming more assertive, sharpening up your professional knowledge or a range of other things.
Establish a support crew of positive people. These could be family members, trusted friends, mentors, etc. who are supportive and can cheer you on.
Celebrate the mini wins along the way. The worthwhile victories don't come overnight. Mark the small interim wins with celebrations.
Keep going, keep going, keep going. See the inevitable failures as speed bumps rather than road blocks and use them to strengthen your resolve rather than break it.
If you've been playing it safe rather than playing to win in your career and your life now might be a great time to try the opposite. Who knows what might happen if you do?