That’s what tee boxes are. I mean, metaphorically.
They’re the beginning. The start of a journey that will take you across a few acres of land, and, if you’re anything like me, on a roller coaster of emotions.
That’s why they say, “The battle is always won on the tee box.”
Okay, no one says that. I made it up.
However, a tee box does come with a significant question to be asked, because the beginning is the most important part of every journey.
Where should you go?
It doesn’t matter what exactly you’re trying to do, the beginning is a blank slate with infinite possibilities. You haven’t begun yet, so you can kinda go in any direction you please.
For example, if you’re on the first tee at a golf course, you have a decision to make. Multiple decisions, to be honest.
Where should you aim? What club are you going to use? What shot shape? Where is the best place for you to leave the ball to set you up for your next shot?
In the beginning, you’re left with a huge range of options to choose from. Which, for an indecisive person like me, is almost overwhelming. Insert ‘Grinning face with sweat’ emoji here. What? Don’t look at me. I didn’t come up with the name.
Ultimately though, those questions always seem to simplify down to the same theories, no matter what you’re working on. Hell, I had to answer them to be able to write this damn newsletter thing (still don’t know what to call it.)
Basically, you’ve got to ask yourself a few simple (not simple) questions.
What are you trying to accomplish? How are you going to accomplish it? What tools do you need to accomplish it? What’s your ideal outcome?
The more you think about it, the more it becomes a massive undertaking. Nonetheless, those are the things the human brain needs to know so that it can proceed.
I mean, danger could be lurking around any corner. Ironically, that’s what golf courses are all about. Hazards. Some you can’t even see.
It’s easy to become stuck, unsure of the best way to move forward. But, if you don’t ever leave the tee box you never get to see the amazing stuff just beyond the hill.
Sometimes, when you can’t see your landing spot, you’ve got to ask yourself, is the reward worth the risk? Am I okay with taking a chance, regardless of the outcome?
Most of the time, I’d say yes.
Which, in golf talk, translates to:
“Are you gonna swing or not?”