A Positive Day

My mood was perfect. I wanted to be a part of the day, plus the money charged was going to charity. I wanted to do it regardless of the way it was set up. If I wasn't able to get my own partner, I would allow them to pair me up with someone. The only drawback was that I wanted to play early on Sunday morning, not to start after 8:00 AM.

"Mr. LoVuolo, we have you set up with Mr. Givens, who just signed up today and also has no partner. Can you play at 7:00 tomorrow morning?" See, life is perfect. I was set to play in my first ever golf tournament at the golf club I joined this year. "Absolutely, if he doesn't mind playing with a twenty-one handicap, I'd really like the opportunity." "Fine, be here early to sign up and meet him, and we'll get you both out with the Dempsey twosome." "Great, I'll be there."

At home, I let Kathy know that I would only be out for the morning, not all day, so there would still be time for some shopping and planting in the garden. "Promise you won't be later than noon?" "Sure," I lied, "we'll be finished in plenty of time."

At 6:30 AM on Sunday, after having pulled my body out of a deep sleep, including a dream which needs to be discussed only in person, I showed up at the course to pay my entrance fee. Sitting to the side of the sign-up table was someone sitting Buddha like, with a stone faced set permanent scowl. After taking my money, the co-coordinator decided to finally inform me that the man sitting behind me was Mr. Givens, no first name, and that because of another mix up, we couldn't play until 7:48. "Well, we're both here, so we'll make the best of it."

Just as I turned around the Buddha had moved himself out of the chair to greet some of the other players at the first tee. So, I still didn't meet him. "What a dunce," I thought, "doesn't he have any common courtesy, even to introduce himself? This is going to be
a nightmare."

The helpers set my clubs on the cart and I took my putter over to the practice green, while Mr. stone face was obviously doing everything he could to avoid me. As I am wont to do, I cut him off as he headed back to the clubhouse, introduced myself with as big a smile as I could pull my muscles into, and he actually smiled back. Still didn't know his first name. "What's with this guy? What a disaster this is going to be. There's nothing worse today than to spend half the day with an unpleasant guy. And I really would like to try to win this thing."

"Mr. LoVuolo," the starter said, "you're set to play, so if you and Mr.(no first name) Givens will please go to the first tee, you're ready to start."

As we got out of the cart, I just blurted out, "So, could I ask you your first name?" "Oh, forgive me my impudence, my name is Ed. I'm really sorry I didn't let you know earlier, I was concentrating on my mind set. I really want to win this thing."

My psyche was blown. I had just met Mr. Ed Wonderful. A positive thinking, attitude adjusting optimist, who believed that the way to approach a contest was to ACT AS IF YOU ALREADY HAVE WON. "Thanks, Ed, I was just doing the same thing. I'm really looking forward to this style of play, because it makes it a real team event."

"You do know Ralph, there is no 'I' in team."

Here I was, my mind completely turned around in about thirty seconds. This I thought was going to be real fun. I met my psychological match. I never met someone who acted this way. Never met someone who said to me the things that I am always saying to others. "Right, Ed, thanks. I really believe that we can win this thing. I'm feeling terrific, and it sounds like you do too."

"Absolutely. If we help each other out, we can do anything we want. We need to maintain a positive attitude and lift each other up. No shot will be a bad shot. No shot will be the one that stops us from winning. How do you feel about this?"

All at once Ed Givens became my best friend for the day. "Ed, if you knew how many times I've said words similar to that to the people I work with you'd probably think I was exaggerating. A positive attitude is just what we need to have, it is the one thing that we are in control of. No-one can stop us from thinking good thoughts. No-one can stop us from causing those positive thoughts to be infectious, because we, you and I, as a team will be able to do this, but as individuals we are incapable of success."

We shook hands and then began what proved to be one of the best days of my life. When one of us didn't hit the ideal shot, the other one would say something positive and helpful. When one of us did especially well, it made us both feel better about the future.

Ed is a manager at a plant in the area. His main responsibility is to deal with contractors who sell to the government. His job as he described it was to be a broker. He was always helping someone get something done. "What I do is communicate with people, tell them the truth, and help them solve problems."

On reflection, that's just what all salespeople do. Now if I could just convince you to have a positive attitude and to be in control of your positive self, and use that positive attitude to help those you work with, we would all do better, both in our personal and business lives. WE CAME IN SECOND.

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