I would head to my local golf club and practise regularly and I would practise at home, until I got to a point where I was confident enough to play with other golfers.

I starting playing competition golf with some reasonable golfers and was blown away by how well (and consistently) they hit the ball and how well they seemed to always score.

I would think to myself, "How talented are these guys?", "I wish I was able to hit the ball that well".

Over the past two years, it’s fair to say I have played a lot and I guess I have improved somewhat.

I still have terrible rounds, mis-hit balls and spend time under shrubs or in the bunker.

But, what I have noticed is; that with training, with an improving confidence, with a lot of research (mainly googling "golf swings") and with hours of practice rounds and mimicking my golf swing in the lounge room, I improved.

Now I am able to compete equally with the golfers that amazed me at the beginning of my golfing journey, a couple of years ago.

Improving my golfing techniques has also taught me a lot about business.

It taught me that no one is born "gifted" or "talented".

No one is born with a potential for success that is greater than anyone else.

It has taught me that people who are successful in business (and in life) are successful because they have practised, and worked hard at their trade.

These people have studied hard, are passionate about what they do, enjoy what they do, focus on those 1 per centers and have a set goal or focus

Golf has taught me that if we put the time, energy and passion into what we do (business, work, career), we will naturally improve.

It’s the old adage, "practice makes perfect".

It's not something that will happen straight away and it won’t be easy all the time.

But, the results will be there in the end.

One day you will look back on where you started and who you looked up to and realise that you are now standing next them – as an equal.

Do not ever make the mistake of thinking that someone else is more gifted, more talented or luckier than you are.

The "lucky" ones have (at one point) worked a lot harder to get where they are.

So, the next time you meet someone successful, don't say to yourself "lucky so and so". 

Admire them for the work they have put in and use them as a role model to motivate you to.

Read that book, work that little bit harder, make that career change, or focus a bit harder on your goals ahead of you to get into the swing of things.