Rory McIlroy won the US Open, golf’s second major tournament of the year, on Sunday.  At 22 years and 1 month, he is the youngest person since WWII to do so.  He shot a record 16 under par for the tournament.  His closest competitor was eight shots behind.  It’s official.  I’m now a huge Rory McIlroy fan.  His story provides some great career advice.

I was really happy for Rory.  He was leading the Masters, golf’s first major of the year, by four shots going into the final round – and he blew up, shooting an 80 and finishing 10 shots behind the winner.

Rory was leading the US Open by eight shots going into Sunday’s last round.  I, and a lot of people, were hoping he wouldn’t choke and have a repeat of his Masters nightmare.  He didn’t.

There is some great career advice to be found in Rory McIlroy’s US Open victory.

Tweet 37 in my career advice book Success Tweets says, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it.  Don’t dwell on the negative, use it as a springboard to action and creativity.”  Losing the Masters in the way he did, could have had a very negative affect on Rory McIlroy.  He choked on one of golf’s biggest stages.  The tournament was his to win or lose – and he lost it that Sunday in April.

But Rory exemplified the career advice in Tweet 37 in Success Tweets.  He didn’t let his loss get him down.  He used it to propel him to future success.  After losing the Masters he said…

“It shows you what can happen on the last day of a major championship.  I’ve never been in this position exactly.  You learn. I have to take the positives and the positives are I led this golf tournament for 63 holes. I’ll have plenty more chances, I know that. It’s very disappointing what happened today and hopefully it will build a little bit of character in me as well.”

Read that quote again and think about it.  Rory McIIroy lost the Masters in a spectacular blow up on international TV but looked at the bright side.  That’s exactly what Tweet 37 in Success Tweets says to do.

Stuff happens as you go through life; positive stuff, negative stuff, happy stuff, sad stuff, frustrating stuff.  The important thing is not what happens, but how you react to it.  In other words, smash your negative thoughts; replace them with positive ones.  Don’t dwell on the negative, use it as a springboard to action and creativity.  Maximize the positive in your life by creating positive habits and routines.  When something goes well, take the time to celebrate.  You deserve it.  And, small celebrations when you succeed are a positive habit that will put you in a positive frame of mind, which in turn, will help you create more life and career successes.

Even after his humiliating defeat in the Masters Rory McIlroy celebrated what he had accomplished.  “I have to take the positives and the positives are I led this golf tournament for 63 holes.”  It was small consolation, but he found the positive in a very difficult situation.

But there’s even more career success advice that comes from to The Rory McIlroy story.  Tweet 16 in Success Tweets says, “Use affirmations to realize your vision of your career success.  Affirmations are statements about the future stated in the present tense.”  Going into the US Open Rory tweeted this…“It’s repetition of affirmations that leads to belief, and once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen – Muhammad Ali”  I don’t know what affirmation Rory used during the US Open, but I bet it was something like “I will win this tournament” — and he did.

Affirmations work.  Just decide what you want, visualize yourself as having it.  Tell yourself you have it.  Repeat that affirmation several times a day.  Then do whatever it takes to make your affirmation come true – just like Rory McIlroy.

Affirmations alone, however, are not enough to guarantee your career success.  You have to do the work.  Spend the time necessary to accomplish your goals.  Volunteer for projects that will get you noticed.  Become an expert on your company, its competitors, and your industry.  In other words, bust your butt, and you will succeed.  I know that Rory McIlroy worked on his game – and his mental attitude – in order to make his affirmation come true.
The Washington Post blog had this to say about Rory McIlroy’s win.  I think it sums up the points I’m trying to make about turning setbacks and defeats into positives that will lead to your career success.

“I’d wager that his win at the U.S. Open might not have been as big had his loss at the Masters not been so big, too. The power of past failure to motivate—and teach—is hard to overestimate, especially if the loss is played out in epic fashion on a worldwide stage. While some might be too overwhelmed by the enormity of such a fall, those who are able to wrestle with its lessons and harness it as drive for future wins have a decided advantage over those who’ve never experienced such colossal defeat.

“Had he not fallen apart in April, the young phenom might never have had that inspirational lunch with golfing great Jack Nicklaus, who told him that he had to learn to embrace the pressure. Had he not found himself triple-bogeying at the Masters, he might never have taken a moment to high five a two-year-old fan at the U.S. Open in an effort to slow down and break the tension before taking his next shot. And had he not responded so gracefully after his epic falling apart in Augusta, he might not have won over so many adoring fans who cheered him on to victory in Bethesda.

“It’s hard to know whether or not McIlroy would have won this tournament had he not lost the last one. If he didn’t, he surely would have won another one soon: his talent is simply too prodigious. But it’s hard to imagine that the spectacular loss in April did not have an outsized impact on his character, his drive and his approach to his game that led to such a spectacular win in June. Epic failures may be tremendously painful. But when they help lead to such epic wins, the success is usually all the more sweet.”

The career success coach point here is simple common sense.  Successful people follow the career advice in Tweet 37 in Success Tweets. “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it.  Don’t dwell on the negative, use it as a springboard to action and creativity.”  Get competent.  Create positive personal impact.  Become an outstanding performer and a dynamic communicator.  Build strong relationships with the important people in your life.  Positive habits will help you do all of these.  Smash the negatives in your life and create positive thoughts, habits and routines.  Use the negatives that come your way as learning experiences, and positive thoughts, habits and routines to create small victories.  And, follow the career advice in Tweet 16 in Success Tweets.  “Use affirmations to realize your vision of your career success.  Affirmations are statements about the future stated in the present tense.”  Take it from a career success coach, affirmations  and keeping a positive outlook when life throws painful experiences your way, will help you create the career success you deserve.

That’s the career advice I found in Rory McIlroy’s US Open victory.  What do you think?  Please take a minute to share your thoughts with us in a comment.  As always thanks for reading my daily thoughts on life and career success.  I appreciate it.

Bud

PS: If you haven’t already done so, you can download a free copy of my latest career success book Success Tweets Explained.  It’s a whopping 390 + pages of career advice explaining each of the common sense tweets in Success Tweets in detail.  Go to http://budurl.com/STExp to claim your free copy.  You’ll also start receiving my daily life and career success quotes.

PPS: When Rory McIlroy arrived for his press conference after the US Open, he took a picture of the U.S. Open trophy on the table and posted it on Twitter with two words that said it all: “Winning. Bounceback.”  Way to go Rory.

Rory McIlroy won the US Open, golf’s second major tournament of the year, on Sunday.  At 22 years and 1 month, he is the youngest person since WWII to do so.  He shot a record 16 under par for the tournament.  His closest competitor was eight shots behind.  It’s official.  I’m now a huge Rory McIlroy fan.  His story provides some great career advice.

I was really happy for Rory.  He was leading the Masters, golf’s first major of the year, by four shots going into the final round – and he blew up, shooting an 80 and finishing 10 shots behind the winner.

Rory was leading the US Open by eight shots going into Sunday’s last round.  I, and a lot of people, were hoping he wouldn’t choke and have a repeat of his Masters nightmare.  He didn’t.

There is some great career advice to be found in Rory McIlroy’s US Open victory.

Tweet 37 in my career advice book Success Tweets says, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it.  Don’t dwell on the negative, use it as a springboard to action and creativity.”  Losing the Masters in the way he did, could have had a very negative affect on Rory McIlroy.  He choked on one of golf’s biggest stages.  The tournament was his to win or lose – and he lost it that Sunday in April.

But Rory exemplified the career advice in Tweet 37 in Success Tweets.  He didn’t let his loss get him down.  He used it to propel him to future success.  After losing the Masters he said…

“It shows you what can happen on the last day of a major championship.  I’ve never been in this position exactly.  You learn. I have to take the positives and the positives are I led this golf tournament for 63 holes. I’ll have plenty more chances, I know that. It’s very disappointing what happened today and hopefully it will build a little bit of character in me as well.”

Read that quote again and think about it.  Rory McIIroy lost the Masters in a spectacular blow up on international TV but looked at the bright side.  That’s exactly what Tweet 37 in Success Tweets says to do.

Stuff happens as you go through life; positive stuff, negative stuff, happy stuff, sad stuff, frustrating stuff.  The important thing is not what happens, but how you react to it.  In other words, smash your negative thoughts; replace them with positive ones.  Don’t dwell on the negative, use it as a springboard to action and creativity.  Maximize the positive in your life by creating positive habits and routines.  When something goes well, take the time to celebrate.  You deserve it.  And, small celebrations when you succeed are a positive habit that will put you in a positive frame of mind, which in turn, will help you create more life and career successes.

Even after his humiliating defeat in the Masters Rory McIlroy celebrated what he had accomplished.  “I have to take the positives and the positives are I led this golf tournament for 63 holes.”  It was small consolation, but he found the positive in a very difficult situation.

But there’s even more career success advice that comes from to The Rory McIlroy story.  Tweet 16 in Success Tweets says, “Use affirmations to realize your vision of your career success.  Affirmations are statements about the future stated in the present tense.”  Going into the US Open Rory tweeted this…“It’s repetition of affirmations that leads to belief, and once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen – Muhammad Ali”  I don’t know what affirmation Rory used during the US Open, but I bet it was something like “I will win this tournament” — and he did.

Affirmations work.  Just decide what you want, visualize yourself as having it.  Tell yourself you have it.  Repeat that affirmation several times a day.  Then do whatever it takes to make your affirmation come true – just like Rory McIlroy.

Affirmations alone, however, are not enough to guarantee your career success.  You have to do the work.  Spend the time necessary to accomplish your goals.  Volunteer for projects that will get you noticed.  Become an expert on your company, its competitors, and your industry.  In other words, bust your butt, and you will succeed.  I know that Rory McIlroy worked on his game – and his mental attitude – in order to make his affirmation come true.
The Washington Post blog had this to say about Rory McIlroy’s win.  I think it sums up the points I’m trying to make about turning setbacks and defeats into positives that will lead to your career success.

“I’d wager that his win at the U.S. Open might not have been as big had his loss at the Masters not been so big, too. The power of past failure to motivate—and teach—is hard to overestimate, especially if the loss is played out in epic fashion on a worldwide stage. While some might be too overwhelmed by the enormity of such a fall, those who are able to wrestle with its lessons and harness it as drive for future wins have a decided advantage over those who’ve never experienced such colossal defeat.

“Had he not fallen apart in April, the young phenom might never have had that inspirational lunch with golfing great Jack Nicklaus, who told him that he had to learn to embrace the pressure. Had he not found himself triple-bogeying at the Masters, he might never have taken a moment to high five a two-year-old fan at the U.S. Open in an effort to slow down and break the tension before taking his next shot. And had he not responded so gracefully after his epic falling apart in Augusta, he might not have won over so many adoring fans who cheered him on to victory in Bethesda.

“It’s hard to know whether or not McIlroy would have won this tournament had he not lost the last one. If he didn’t, he surely would have won another one soon: his talent is simply too prodigious. But it’s hard to imagine that the spectacular loss in April did not have an outsized impact on his character, his drive and his approach to his game that led to such a spectacular win in June. Epic failures may be tremendously painful. But when they help lead to such epic wins, the success is usually all the more sweet.”

The career success coach point here is simple common sense.  Successful people follow the career advice in Tweet 37 in Success Tweets. “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it.  Don’t dwell on the negative, use it as a springboard to action and creativity.”  Get competent.  Create positive personal impact.  Become an outstanding performer and a dynamic communicator.  Build strong relationships with the important people in your life.  Positive habits will help you do all of these.  Smash the negatives in your life and create positive thoughts, habits and routines.  Use the negatives that come your way as learning experiences, and positive thoughts, habits and routines to create small victories.  And, follow the career advice in Tweet 16 in Success Tweets.  “Use affirmations to realize your vision of your career success.  Affirmations are statements about the future stated in the present tense.”  Take it from a career success coach, affirmations  and keeping a positive outlook when life throws painful experiences your way, will help you create the career success you deserve.

That’s the career advice I found in Rory McIlroy’s US Open victory.  What do you think?  Please take a minute to share your thoughts with us in a comment.  As always thanks for reading my daily thoughts on life and career success.  I appreciate it.

Bud

PS: If you haven’t already done so, you can download a free copy of my latest career success book Success Tweets Explained.  It’s a whopping 390 + pages of career advice explaining each of the common sense tweets in Success Tweets in detail.  Go to http://budurl.com/STExp to claim your free copy.  You’ll also start receiving my daily life and career success quotes.

PPS: When Rory McIlroy arrived for his press conference after the US Open, he took a picture of the U.S. Open trophy on the table and posted it on Twitter with two words that said it all: “Winning. Bounceback.”  Way to go Rory.

I’m really enjoying writing this series of posts further explaining the ideas in my latest career success coach book, Success Tweets: 140 Bits of Common Sense Career Success Advice, All in 140 Characters or Less.  I hope you’re enjoying reading them.  I’m pleased to say that Success Tweets is now in its second printing.  You can pick up a copy at your local book store, or online at Amazon.com.  Better yet, you can download the eBook for free at http://www.successtweets.com.

Today’s career advice comes from Tweet 97…

Today, do the things others won’t do; so tomorrow you can do the things they can’t.

I got this one from Jerry Rice an American Football player.  He is in the NFL Hall of Fame.  When he retired, he held all of the important records a wide receiver could amass.  I’ve never seen anyone better – and I’ve watched a lot of football over the years.  Growing up in Pittsburgh, Sunday’s meant two things – church and watcing the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Jerry Rice was well known for his commitment to fitness.  He worked out harder and longer than any other pro football player.  When he was asked the secret his success, he said, “I am willing to do the things today that others won’t do, so I can do things on Sunday that they can’t do.”  In other words – work hard, prepare, commit to taking personal responsibility for your own success.

It’s simple, really. Success is all up to you, and me, and anyone else who wants it. We all have to take personal responsibility for our own career success. I am the only one who can make me a career success. You are the only one who can make you a career success.  When you become willing to do things that others aren’t willing to do – and this can be a million little things like keeping your clothes in good repair; shining your shoes; rehearsing your presentation out loud; proofreading your emails, not just relying on spell check; staying up to date on your company, your competitors and your industry; building relationships by doing willingly for others.

If you already do these kinds of things, bravo.  You’re in the minority.  Too many people do only what they have to.  Successful people always go the extra mile.  As Jerry Rice says, they do the things others won’t.

Think for a minute.  What are the kinds of things that you can do that go above and beyond, that demonstrate your commitment to your own career success?  Make a list.  Then go about doing these things regularly.

Here’s a bit of important career advice.  Stuff happens: good stuff, bad stuff, frustrating stuff, unexpected stuff.  Successful people respond to the stuff that happens — especially the niegative stuff — in a positive way.  Humans are the only animals with free will.  That means we – you and me – get to decide how we react to every situation that comes up.  When you take responsibility for responding positively to people and events – especially negative people and events – you’re taking personal responsibiliyt for you career success, doing the things that a lot of people won’t do.  This means that you’ll be more successful in the long run.

Personal responsibility means recognizing that you are responsible for your life and the choices you make. It means that you realize that while other people and events have an impact on your life, these people and events don’t shape your life. When you accept personal responsibility for your life and career success, you own up to the fact that how you react to people and events is what’s important. And you can choose how to react to every person you meet and everything that happens to you.

The concept of personal responsibility is found in most writings on success. Stephen Covey’s first habit in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is, “Be proactive.” My friend John Miller’s book QBQ: the Question Behind the Question asks readers to pose questions to themselves like, “What can I do to become a top performer?”  When you ask and answer this question, you’ll be on your way to doing the things that other won’t do – and getting the promotions and recognition that they can’t get.

In my opinion, all of this comes down to two words: activity and persistence.  Activity and persistence are my watchwords.  I set some very high goals for myself for every year.  I begin each year in high gear and then I kick it into overdrive.  And, I persist until I achieve all of my goals, no matter what.  I am committed to activity and persistence.

My friend, Mike Litman has some interesting things to say about activity…

“Activity. Activity. Activity.  Too many people are standing still.  Too much pondering, too little action. Too much scatterness, too little focus.  Too much talk, too little results.  In 2009, commit to a year filled with activity.  Be 1% more active each day in your business.  Start at 1%.

“Activity. Activity. Activity.  When you stand still too long, moving becomes real tough.  Very tough.  Every day, do at least one action that moves you forward.  What I love best about a lot of activity, is that I get to make mistakes and learn what works.  You can do the same.  Activity. Activity. Activity.  2009 is about you being more active then you’ve ever been.  Are you in?  Are you ready to commit to a year filled with activity?”

Kevin Eikenberry writes to leaders, but his ideas apply to anyone who wants to create life and career success.  He says…

“Let me be blunt.  We can create and engage in the best leadership skill training, we can create the best leadership development opportunities, and we can provide coaching and mentoring that is outstanding, and yet, if all of these programs and leadership activities, don’t include an ongoing persistent process of improvement – a way to instill and inspire persistence, we will fall short of what is possible…As a leader, when we practice proactive persistence – persistence that is positive and supports people through both an example and support to pursue the desired objectives persistently, we are truly leading…Ask yourself today what you can do to create greater persistence in yourself and your organization.  Your answer (and the action taken on that answer) will pay you rich rewards.”

These guys are right!  Activity and persistence will make you an outstanding performer.  And they are the key to putting the career advice in Success Tweet 97 to work.  Activity — even 1% more than you currently do — and persistence — fighting through problems and setbacks — will yield positive results in the long term.  But you have to commit to them. 

The common sense career success coach point here is simple.  Successful people commit to taking responsibility for their life and career success.  They follow the career advice in Tweet 97 in Success Tweets.  “Today, do the things others won’t do; so tomorrow you can do the things they can’t.”  Be willing to put in the time necessary to create the life and career success that you want and deserve.  Successful people are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.  They are active and they are persistent.  The law of inertia says that a body in motion tends to stay in motion.  That’s why activity is so important.  Once you get moving, it’s easier to stay moving towards your goals.  And it’s easier to persist in the face of problems and setbacks.  To paraphrase Muhammad Ali – “Inside a ring or out, ain’t no shame in going down.  It’s staying down that’s shameful.”  Persistent people don’t stay down; they get back up and keep moving.  Make activity and persistence your watchwords.  You’ll amaze yourself with how much you will accomplish, and the life and career success you will create.

That’s my take on the career advice in Success Tweet 97.  What’s yours?  Please take a minute to leave a comment sharing your thoughts with us.  As always, thanks for reading.

Bud

I’m really enjoying writing this series of posts further explaining the ideas in my latest career success coach book, Success Tweets: 140 Bits of Common Sense Career Success Advice, All in 140 Characters or Less.  I hope you’re enjoying reading them.  I’m pleased to say that Success Tweets is now in its second printing.  You can pick up a copy at your local book store, or online at Amazon.com.  Better yet, you can download the eBook for free at http://www.successtweets.com.

Today’s career advice comes from Tweet 97…

Today, do the things others won’t do; so tomorrow you can do the things they can’t.

I got this one from Jerry Rice an American Football player.  He is in the NFL Hall of Fame.  When he retired, he held all of the important records a wide receiver could amass.  I’ve never seen anyone better – and I’ve watched a lot of football over the years.  Growing up in Pittsburgh, Sunday’s meant two things – church and watcing the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Jerry Rice was well known for his commitment to fitness.  He worked out harder and longer than any other pro football player.  When he was asked the secret his success, he said, “I am willing to do the things today that others won’t do, so I can do things on Sunday that they can’t do.”  In other words – work hard, prepare, commit to taking personal responsibility for your own success.

It’s simple, really. Success is all up to you, and me, and anyone else who wants it. We all have to take personal responsibility for our own career success. I am the only one who can make me a career success. You are the only one who can make you a career success.  When you become willing to do things that others aren’t willing to do – and this can be a million little things like keeping your clothes in good repair; shining your shoes; rehearsing your presentation out loud; proofreading your emails, not just relying on spell check; staying up to date on your company, your competitors and your industry; building relationships by doing willingly for others.

If you already do these kinds of things, bravo.  You’re in the minority.  Too many people do only what they have to.  Successful people always go the extra mile.  As Jerry Rice says, they do the things others won’t.

Think for a minute.  What are the kinds of things that you can do that go above and beyond, that demonstrate your commitment to your own career success?  Make a list.  Then go about doing these things regularly.

Here’s a bit of important career advice.  Stuff happens: good stuff, bad stuff, frustrating stuff, unexpected stuff.  Successful people respond to the stuff that happens — especially the niegative stuff — in a positive way.  Humans are the only animals with free will.  That means we – you and me – get to decide how we react to every situation that comes up.  When you take responsibility for responding positively to people and events – especially negative people and events – you’re taking personal responsibiliyt for you career success, doing the things that a lot of people won’t do.  This means that you’ll be more successful in the long run.

Personal responsibility means recognizing that you are responsible for your life and the choices you make. It means that you realize that while other people and events have an impact on your life, these people and events don’t shape your life. When you accept personal responsibility for your life and career success, you own up to the fact that how you react to people and events is what’s important. And you can choose how to react to every person you meet and everything that happens to you.

The concept of personal responsibility is found in most writings on success. Stephen Covey’s first habit in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is, “Be proactive.” My friend John Miller’s book QBQ: the Question Behind the Question asks readers to pose questions to themselves like, “What can I do to become a top performer?”  When you ask and answer this question, you’ll be on your way to doing the things that other won’t do – and getting the promotions and recognition that they can’t get.

In my opinion, all of this comes down to two words: activity and persistence.  Activity and persistence are my watchwords.  I set some very high goals for myself for every year.  I begin each year in high gear and then I kick it into overdrive.  And, I persist until I achieve all of my goals, no matter what.  I am committed to activity and persistence.

My friend, Mike Litman has some interesting things to say about activity…

“Activity. Activity. Activity.  Too many people are standing still.  Too much pondering, too little action. Too much scatterness, too little focus.  Too much talk, too little results.  In 2009, commit to a year filled with activity.  Be 1% more active each day in your business.  Start at 1%.

“Activity. Activity. Activity.  When you stand still too long, moving becomes real tough.  Very tough.  Every day, do at least one action that moves you forward.  What I love best about a lot of activity, is that I get to make mistakes and learn what works.  You can do the same.  Activity. Activity. Activity.  2009 is about you being more active then you’ve ever been.  Are you in?  Are you ready to commit to a year filled with activity?”

Kevin Eikenberry writes to leaders, but his ideas apply to anyone who wants to create life and career success.  He says…

“Let me be blunt.  We can create and engage in the best leadership skill training, we can create the best leadership development opportunities, and we can provide coaching and mentoring that is outstanding, and yet, if all of these programs and leadership activities, don’t include an ongoing persistent process of improvement – a way to instill and inspire persistence, we will fall short of what is possible…As a leader, when we practice proactive persistence – persistence that is positive and supports people through both an example and support to pursue the desired objectives persistently, we are truly leading…Ask yourself today what you can do to create greater persistence in yourself and your organization.  Your answer (and the action taken on that answer) will pay you rich rewards.”

These guys are right!  Activity and persistence will make you an outstanding performer.  And they are the key to putting the career advice in Success Tweet 97 to work.  Activity — even 1% more than you currently do — and persistence — fighting through problems and setbacks — will yield positive results in the long term.  But you have to commit to them. 

The common sense career success coach point here is simple.  Successful people commit to taking responsibility for their life and career success.  They follow the career advice in Tweet 97 in Success Tweets.  “Today, do the things others won’t do; so tomorrow you can do the things they can’t.”  Be willing to put in the time necessary to create the life and career success that you want and deserve.  Successful people are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.  They are active and they are persistent.  The law of inertia says that a body in motion tends to stay in motion.  That’s why activity is so important.  Once you get moving, it’s easier to stay moving towards your goals.  And it’s easier to persist in the face of problems and setbacks.  To paraphrase Muhammad Ali – “Inside a ring or out, ain’t no shame in going down.  It’s staying down that’s shameful.”  Persistent people don’t stay down; they get back up and keep moving.  Make activity and persistence your watchwords.  You’ll amaze yourself with how much you will accomplish, and the life and career success you will create.

That’s my take on the career advice in Success Tweet 97.  What’s yours?  Please take a minute to leave a comment sharing your thoughts with us.  As always, thanks for reading.

Bud