From today’s reading...

“Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
So Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
“Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.”"

We don’t know what we don’t know...ya know?

That’s why you must surround yourself with experienced, trustworthy mentors, like Samuel had with Eli, so they can tell you what’s what.

It is vital to your development in all areas of your life.

During that development your mentor will help you set realistic yet ambitious goals because they know that when your WHY is big enough you’ll figure out the HOW.

In fact, when you aim too low you’ll sabotage your own efforts and will miss even that low mark because you know deep down that your low goal does not require 100% from you so you coast...and succeed...at failing.

For my 23rd birthday my dad got me golf lessons. (I’m still undecided if that was a loving or a cruel gift!) I was single, earning good money as a Lieutenant in the Air Force, and was as competitive as ever so I poured myself into it.

I was reading golf magazines, golf books, taking lessons, and asking buddies for golf advice ad nauseum.

Based on my research the consensus seemed to be that a 7-iron was the proper club to use to hit a 150 yard shot, so that’s what I practiced.

And I failed.

Not only did I not hit the target, nine times out of 10 I was short.

Then my instructor pointed out that I was 4 inches taller and 45 pounds heavier than the average golfer and recommended I use an 8-iron or even a 9-iron for my 150 yard shots.

If you’re not a golf fanatic consider yourself blessed but just as background, the higher the number of the golf club, the shorter it will hit the ball. So the golf pro seemed to be talking nonsense…”Wes, to fix your shots that are coming up short...use an shorter club.”

Crazy, right?

To make a long story short—and a short ball long—it worked.

Subconsciously I knew that a 7-iron was too long for those 150 yard shots because I was bigger than the average golfer. So instead of hitting the ball with a full swing, I was babying my shots and creating a mess.

When I listened to my golf mentor and used what I thought was a club that was too short I had to give it my all, which is what is required in every area of our lives in which we want to excel: full, focused, concentrated effort with a clear goal in mind.

That’s what a good mentor brings you, and having good mentors are the only way to...

Stay the course.
Keep the faith.
Endure.

Now go sell something.