“I don’t measure a man’s success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom.”

– George S. Patton, US general in World War II

My dad loves golf. He loves to play it and he loves to watch it. Recently, while watching a tournament together, I noticed the commentator describing the characteristics of a golfer. In talking about him, they referred to a term known as the “bounce-back factor.” This term refers to the ability to achieve a birdie or eagle after a bogey or double-bogey on the previous hole.

Rarely in golf or life do we experience bogey-free rounds or successes without setbacks. Our ability to experience these events and bounce back with resilience and resolve, as Patton suggests, is a measure of success.

Exercise:

How often and how long do you stay down when faced with life’s setbacks? What strategies can you employ to bounce back even higher and faster in the future?