A Day On The Golf Course

Last week I spent an afternoon on the golf course with my youngest son. At one point, after one of our less-than-stellar shots, I told him, “A bad day on the golf course is still a great day.”

The truth is, I know how fortunate I am. I get to spend time with my children, and even more importantly, they still want to spend time with their dad and me. That’s something I’ll never take for granted.

As we made our way around the course, I couldn’t help but think about all the years I spent there with my own father. I grew up playing this same course when it was known as the Mason City Country Club. Today it’s called The Legacy under new ownership, and while it’s still hard for me to stop calling it “the Country Club” after 40 years, I have to give credit where it’s due. The new owners have done an incredible job. Not only is the golf course in fantastic shape, but the entire complex has been revitalized and opened to the public. If you’re a golfer, I highly recommend giving it a try.

But this post really isn’t about golf.

Several years ago, one of my closest friends was disappointed with the fundraising efforts in a women’s organization we’re both involved in. She looked at me and said something I’ll never forget: “I’m tired of complaining. If I really want things to change, I need to be part of making them better.” So she recruited me and her and I were a committee of two in raising money for our Chapter. In fact, we surpassed our goal and set a record.

That simple statement has stayed with me.

It’s easy to point out what’s wrong. It’s easy to complain. What’s harder, and far more meaningful, is deciding to become part of the solution.

The Legacy is a perfect example. The old country club was struggling. Membership was declining, and both the golf course and the facilities were beginning to show it. Instead of simply talking about what was wrong, someone saw an opportunity. They invested their time, energy, and resources into making it better, and today the transformation is remarkable.

The same principle applies everywhere: in our families, our workplaces, our organizations, our communities, and our state. If we want things to improve, we can’t just stand on the sidelines criticizing. Real change happens when people roll up their sleeves and get to work.

The next time you’re tempted to complain about something, ask yourself one simple question:

How can I be part of making it better?

That’s where real progress begins.