It was Saturday afternoon and I had just come in from completing the Saturday errands.  I knew Tiger Woods was playing in his third golf tournament since returning from knee surgery and I wondered how he was playing.  So I turned on the TV. 

It was the late stages of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Tournament which takes place at Bayhill County Club near Orlando, FL.  Within seconds the leader board flashed across the screen and Tiger was in fourth place, five strokes down.  I said to myself:  Tiger’s got this tournament won.  With any other golfer I wouldn’t be quite so positive as to the outcome of the tournament.  But this is the way I had it all figured out:  Tiger would gain a few strokes and the players in front would feel the pressure of playing against Tiger and they would lose a few strokes.  And so it came to be.  On Sunday, on the 18^th hole, Tiger sank a 16 foot putt to win the tournament by one stroke.  I’m sure many of you have seen the replay of that putt on the newscasts and his excitement in winning the tournament. 

Tiger doesn’t need the money.  He’s got enough.  It’s not the fame.  He’s also got that.  Instead…  It’s the competition.  It’s about going out and proving yourself every single day. 

Tiger’s day starts very early in the morning and he works at the game of golf till the evening time.  He is a champion because of his focus, his athletic skills and his work ethic.

We have a tournament going within ourselves as business people right now too.  It’s called the recession.  In this tournament, we can’t afford to come in second.  Tiger was five strokes behind.  He never quit.  He never doubted his ability.  He just kept pushing forward. 

It’s time for all of us as business people to not be beaten by the recession.  You may be behind, you may even be losing money.  But now is the time to prove to the world that you are a world-class business person.  Look to Tiger as an example and copy his dedication to excellence.  You’ll get more than a trophy when you win at this game of business.

PS:  Please share your comments on how you are not letting this recession beat you at the game of business.