Golf is Not a Game of Perfect

Enjoyed listening to LIFE IS NOT A GAME OF PERFECT by Dr. Bob Rotella, written and read by the author . . . he is a sports psychologist who believes talent, as it is usually defined, only plays a secondary role in determining our fate . . . what's more important is something he coins as "real talent," a combination of character, attitude and devotion that makes greatness possible. Best of all, Rotella contends that anybody can develop such real talent--and he gives some ideas for doing so in this book. One key is to choose a career doing something you love or develop the ability to love what you do. In addition, he shares such other valuable tidbits as the following: * People who are successful surround themselves with people who support their dream. * Half an hour or so is enough time to discuss what happened at work. After that, it is up to you to make sure your spouse enjoys the evening. * People with real talent compete primarily amongst themselves. Their quest is to see how good they can get. * Don't waist your enthusiasm or passion for a company that won't appreciate it. But if you're a manager, you must appreciate what people can do for you and your organization.

This book is about making the best of your abilities, whether you're a graduate of an Ivy League school or Podunk State University. I wish I'd read this book when I was in my teens.I'll be buying copies for young people that can use this to develop "real talent." I consider it a near-perfect graduation present.As an aside, I could not disagree more with the earlier review that complained about overachieving and getting burned out. I didn't consider Rotella's approach to be a burnout one at all. If you've found what you love to do, then becoming really good at it is not a recipe for burnout, but rather satisfaction. It sounds like the sour reviewer burned himself oout at something he didn't really love, or couldn't learn to love.

As tough as it is to imagine, Bob Rotella's teachings on life are just as effective as his now-famous teachings on golf. This book is a good, quick read, but its impact will be felt on you long after, IF you take to heart the lessons imparted and integrate them into your life. Just as he's lowered many a handicap, Doc's lessons on the importance of free will are key to understanding the essence of "real talent"; it's not about being a workaholic, thank God...

I was a mental midget on the golf course. Despite my low handicap, I was capable of shooting 90 anytime out. My swing and tempo would just go away. Sometimes only for a few holes, sometimes for a few weeks. It all had to do with my mental approach. I would go "unconscience" for weeks and shoot my standard round in the 70's, then I would wake up and decide to "think", and all of the sudden I was a mess. The guys at my club called me Jekyll or Hyde, depending on who I was that day. I won my club championship in 1995, finished 2nd in 1998, then failed to qualify by shooting 92 in 1999. I was almost ready to go to a shrink, and I considered being hypnotized. I went to a local pro that I knew casually for a lesson, and he told me after 10 swings that I was fine physically. I told him about my troubles. He confirmed that I had mental issues on the course, and instead of nitpicking a with a solid swing, he recommended I read this book. He even gave me his copy. I got through it in 2 sittings, bought my own, and now refer to it often. I have attained a tremendous level of consistency and rediscovered my confidence. My USGA handicap has dropped back to the 4's. I am thrilled, because I went as high as 9 after a month of complete futility last season. The only reason it stayed that low was because they toss out your 10 highest scores from your last 20 rounds when computing the handicap. My average score was almost 12 shots higher than the previous year.I don't have the vocabulary required to adequately praise this book. All I can say is BUY IT! I still can not believe what it did for me. I haven't had any funky spells since reading it, and my entire approach to the game has changed for the better.Good luck.

This was a great book! It's easy to read and one that you won't want to put down. Bob Rotella is an inspiring writer! It's nice to know what "real talent" is!!! I recommend this book to EVERYONE!