When my son comes home from playing golf, I don’t immediately ask about his score. Instead, I focus on three questions: “Did you do your best? What did you learn? And did you have fun?” This approach isn’t just about being a supportive parent—it’s about teaching a fundamental principle that separates champions from everyone else.
I believe the secret to excellence lies in learning to love what most people avoid. This mindset has transformed my son into an exceptional golfer, not because he possesses some innate talent, but because he has embraced the aspects of the game that others find tedious.
The putting paradox perfectly illustrates this principle. Consider this: 44% of all golf shots are putts. The math is simple—nearly half the game happens on the green. Yet most golfers spend disproportionate time practicing their drives and approach shots while treating putting as an afterthought.
Why? Because putting isn’t exciting. It lacks the thrill of crushing a drive or the satisfaction of watching a perfect iron shot soar through the air. Putting is a methodical, repetitive, and, for many, tedious process. It requires patience, precision, and mental fortitude—qualities that may not always be glamorous but are absolutely essential.
Champions Embrace What Others Avoid
Look at the greatest golfers in history. Scottie Scheffler, currently dominating the PGA Tour, is renowned for his putting prowess. Tiger Woods, perhaps the greatest golfer ever, built his legacy on clutch putting. These champions share a common trait: they excel in the aspects of golf that others often overlook.
The pattern extends beyond golf. In business, I’ve noticed that successful entrepreneurs often thrive by mastering the unglamorous parts of their industry that competitors ignore. In sports, the best athletes typically dedicate themselves to the fundamentals that others find tedious.
What separates elite performers isn’t just raw talent—it’s their willingness to find joy in the grind. They don’t just tolerate the boring parts; they genuinely learn to love them.
Building a Championship Mindset
This approach requires a fundamental shift in perspective. Instead of avoiding what’s complicated or monotonous, we must train ourselves to find meaning and satisfaction in these challenges. Here’s how I encourage developing this mindset:
- Identify the aspects of your craft that others avoid
- Recognize the competitive advantage in mastering these elements
- Find personal meaning in the process, not just the outcome
- Create systems that make practice enjoyable
- Celebrate small improvements in these areas
When my son practices putting, he doesn’t see it as a chore but as his secret weapon. He understands that while his competitors are chasing the thrill of longer drives, he’s quietly building the skill that actually determines winners.
This mindset applies universally. Whether in sports, business, or personal development, the willingness to embrace and eventually love the parts that others avoid creates an almost unfair advantage.
The most valuable skills are often found in the tasks others find boring or difficult. By teaching my son to love putting—something “consistent and annoying” to many golfers—I’m helping him develop more than just a golf skill. I’m instilling a life philosophy that will serve him regardless of his path.
Next time you find yourself avoiding certain aspects of your work or passion, ask yourself: Could this be the very thing that would set me apart if I learned to love it? The answer might just be the key to unlocking your potential.
Remember, champions aren’t just people who do what they love—they’re people who have learned to love what needs to be done.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can I learn to enjoy aspects of my work or hobby that I currently find boring?
Begin by connecting these tasks to your broader goals and understanding their significance. Create small challenges or rewards around them. Sometimes, diving deeper into understanding the nuances of these “boring” aspects can reveal hidden complexities that make them more engaging. Also, track your progress to see how mastering these elements improves your overall performance.
Q: Does this approach work for children who are just beginning sports or other activities?
Absolutely. With young children, the key is making the fundamental skills fun through games and positive reinforcement. Rather than forcing them to practice the “boring” parts, help them discover why these elements matter through stories about their heroes who mastered these skills. The questions I ask my son—about effort, learning, and enjoyment—work especially well with beginners.
Q: How do you balance focusing on fundamentals versus maintaining passion and excitement?
This isn’t an either/or proposition. The goal isn’t to eliminate excitement but to expand what you find exciting. By connecting fundamental skills to tangible results, you can develop genuine enthusiasm for the process. Many athletes actually report that once they master the “boring” fundamentals, these become their favorite aspects because they see how directly they contribute to success.
Q: Can this mindset be applied to academic or professional development?
This principle is perhaps even more applicable in everyday life. In academics, students who learn to enjoy rigorous study methods outperform those who only study when inspired. In professional settings, those who master the unglamorous aspects of their industry—whether it’s data analysis, regulatory knowledge, or customer service protocols—often advance more quickly than those focused solely on high-visibility projects.
Q: How long does it typically take to transform something you dislike into something you enjoy?
The timeline varies by person and activity, but consistent engagement typically leads to appreciation within weeks or months. The key is moving through three phases: first, recognizing the value; second, developing competence; and finally, experiencing the satisfaction that comes from mastery. For my son with putting, this process took several months of regular practice before he began to enjoy the putting green genuinely.
