Category: hmm… thoughts

  • The Sucker Pin

    17th hole at TPC Sawgrass | Photo by nsaplayer via Flickr (Creative Commons)

    One of the hardest skills to teach a competitive golfer is what I call The Sucker Pin Principle.

    A sucker pin is a pin placement that is inviting you to take a dangerous or unnecessary risk. This takes advantage of an aggressive player.

    The sucker pin principle rewards the patient golfer while punishing the aggressive. Application of this principle is what separates a talented high school golfer from an all-conference high school golfer.

    For most golfers sucker pins are irrelevant because they just aren’t good enough to worry about pin placements. But for competitive golfers on every hole they are not just trying to hit the ball on the green from the fairway or the tee box on a par 3, they are trying to hit the ball to the area of the green where the pin is so that they can try to score. (e.g. birdie the hole)

    Sucker pins come mostly into play on a par 3 hole. If the greenskeeper wants to make a hole more difficult, he may place the pin to a comfortable distance, say 150 yards, but place it far to the right of the green near a bunker. The safe and smart play in that situation is to play the ball to the center of the green. But the aggressive player will be tempted to play to the right and flirt with the being in a short-side bunker.

    When I coached high school golf I would always say, “Play to the middle of the green, don’t fall for the sucker pin.” In practice this was fine. Players would amuse their coach. But in a match, particularly if they had bogeyed the hole before, they were tempted by the opportunity to get a stroke back. The lure of an easy birdie would be too much, they’d go for it, inevitably miss the green, and bogey another hole.

    If you watch golf on TV you will see that professional golfers pick spots on the course where they can be aggressive. But they show respect to certain hole and their pin placement, go for the middle of the green, and pat their caddy on the back as they walk to the next tee box with a par.

    Commentators talk about it all the time. “He picks his spots well.” or “He manages the golf course like Seve.” “Golfers are attacking this pin placement today.”

    More often than not, the golfer who picks his spots to be aggressive is going to win while the golfer who is overly aggressive is going to take too many risks, pay too many penalties, is going to lose.

    If you watched the final 9 holes of The Masters this year you saw a case study in this principle. Tiger Woods climbed up the leaderboard, chose a spot to be aggressive and came up short. Lee Westwood tried to be conservative all day and he was too patient. But Phil Mickelson chose to be aggressive on the 12th hole (I screamed at the TV) and he nailed it and hoisted the green jacket.

    The same principle applies in life. Life is full of sucker pin opportunities. Any major transaction in life is doubly full of sucker pins. You may just have to pay a price for your aggressiveness. But if you are patient and pick your spot, you can come out ahead.

    Specific areas of sucker pins:

    • Work life
    • Parenting
    • Investing money
    • New ventures
    • Love interests
    • Friendships
    • Choosing the color to paint the house

    What are sucker pins you fall for all the time?

  • They Can’t All be Winners

    Photo by canonsnapper via Flickr (Creative Commons)

    Golf has taught me a lot of life lessons.

    Probably most importantly is this one: Since you’ll never be perfect, success or failure is defined by how you respond in less-than-ideal circumstances.

    I’ve always been a recovery golfer. Even when I was playing my best golf– my playing partners always complimented me more on my ability to make a recovery shot than my ability to hit the ball a long way off the tee into the fairway or sink a 5 foot putt for par. As we drove home or hung out at the clubhouse it’s always the recovery shot stories that get told. “Adam hit his  tee shot into the next fairway, than pulled out an 8 iron and hit a sky ball over the tree line and into the middle of the green.”

    When I played on a golf league these stories annoyed me a little. I’d play 6-7 boring holes, playing from the middle of the fairway, hitting to the pin side of the green, and score a long series of pars. But these weren’t remarkable. I heard other golfers tell me I was a bad playing partner. “All he does is make pars.” What made the other men talk were my stories of recovery. Ending up behind a tree. Or missing the green badly with an approach shot. Scrambling for a decent score when most guys would go double bogey or worse is worth talking about. But being “good” isn’t.

    You should have seen when Adam hit it in the water on the par 5 and only made a bogey.

    He snaked his second shot from under some trees than over the pond and onto to the green.

    Never mind the fact that being in those positions qualified as horrible golf!

    I think this is why Christian make such horrible story tellers.

    We’re boring. While our struggle is the most interesting thing about us it is the thing we hide the most. We like to emphasize the boring parts of our story. Worse yet, we like to pretend like we don’t ever miss life’s green.

    We like to pretend like we magically stopped sinning when we became believers.

    Like it or not, Americans are intrigued by stories of imperfect winners.

    I guess that means that in order to be interesting we have to be more open about who we really are?

  • Megan won the prize!



    Megan won the prize!, originally uploaded by mclanea.

    The first kid to get 10 eggs this morning won the $1 bonus. It was close, but Megan won. As you can see, she was surprised.

  • Success and the American Dream

    Is this what you're after? Something tells me its not as easy as just buying it and sailing away.

    Have you ever noticed that people who have reached the pinnacle, the elusive American Dream, are actually miserable?

    “That’s just a Hollywood cliche.” Really? Think about your own interaction with highly successful people… I don’t think it’s a cliche. There are just as many miserable successful people as there are unsuccessful people.

    Here are some elements of what we define as people who’ve achieved the American Dream:

    • Big lifestyle (cars, houses, travel, jewelry, boats, planes, and other stuff)
    • Big notoriety (everyone knows who they are in their circle of influence, people talk about who they hang with, people are jealous of stuff they do)
    • Big influence (the stuff that they do makes others think, act, or spend)
    • Big power (they get to tell a lot of people what to do, they call the shots, they are monarchy at their work)

    While on the surface all of those things sound great, I think there’s a real reason why they are miserable.

    They are big, powerful, and wealthy… but none of that has brought them the freedom that sent them looking for the American Dream in the first place. It’s all come with entrapments.

    • Big lifestyle comes with a high cost of ownership. Buying stuff is fun, paying for upkeep and maintenance results in a lot of very wealthy people being in a lot of debt. They simply have to keep working just to maintain all the crap they own. You’d think that these people could control their schedules? Nope, they have to work 14 hours per day so they can keep the illusion going.
    • Big notoriety comes with a high cost of inconvenience and friendship politics. Within the rich and powerful there is a complex game to be played. You can’t just be seen with “anyone,” you need to be seen with the right people. And if you get too much notoriety you can’t be seen anywhere because going places just becomes annoying. People just wanting 5 minutes so they can say they met you… that sounds like a life full of hollow relationships to me. True friendship has got to be hard to find. Accountability? Yeah, right.
    • Big influence is a double-edged sword. This may seem like a lot of fun on the surface, but it comes with a ton of pressure. When the words that you say, the stuff you use, and the thoughts you think effects so many people– that influence comes with unlimited scrutiny.
    • Big power also means big responsibility. (You’ve heard that a million times!) Sure, it’s fun to call the shots. Who doesn’t like feeling like the genie every once in a while? But big power comes with the big expectation that you’ll deliver every time. The world holds its breath for Steve Jobs to reveal his latest gadget… but all the pressure is on him to reveal something that doesn’t suck. If it sucks, it was his call and a lot of people lose their livelihood. That’s a pretty stressful place to be every day.

    Sometimes when I look at the lives “rich and successful” people lead, I am repulsed. Seems more like a nightmare than a dream. That isn’t success! It’s a life of working 24 hours per day and being stressed about every relationship and decision. Yuck.

    I say these things because I’m beginning to dream of a different American Dream.

    If I’m honest, my American Dream has freedom at its core. (not acquiring stuff) I don’t want my stuff to own me so I want to make life simpler, not more complex. Buying stuff I can afford with cash is simple. The more I do that the more I like it. Notoriety isn’t nearly as intriguing as having truly deep relationships with a handful of friends. It is nice to be recognized for the right reasons, I can’t lie about that. But big influence? I’m working hard to have influence over my own actions! I suppose if that trickles out beyond me to my neighbors and community… cool, but I don’t dream of me speaking and an army of people doing. (Or watching a reality show about me) Really, I dream of having influence with a small number of people who also have influence in my life. Power? Only if that power leads to doing good for other people and having fun along the way. With that said, the power worth pursuing is to have enough power to truly have freedom.

    The old-style American Dream just feels tired and complex. I watch TV shows about them and just feel sorry for their life. This new-style American Dream makes me smile. Simplicity leads to freedom.

    Help me work this out a bit. Where does this new American Dream fall flat?

  • Forgetful

    My travel companion

    I’m forgetful. I hope people find it endearing. Who am I kidding? It’s annoying.

    I never know where my keys are. I say at least 10 times a day, “Where’s my phone?” I can be so absentminded that I miss appointments, only to discover them when the person I’ve stood up calls me. That leads me to schedule things that are either close to me in proximity or meetings I can do on the phone or online. It also makes me neurotic about putting things in iCal. If I don’t write it down right away, it’s in one ear and out the other. I’d forget my own birthday if my calendar didn’t remind me. If I didn’t get billminders, I’d go to jail for never paying a single bill.

    Kristen, my saintly wife, is forgiving of my absentmindedness. I hope she finds it endearing but I fear she loathes it. Let’s just hope she finds it cute.

    Yesterday was a typical mistake. I lost track of my morning and suddenly realized it was 7:50. To catch my train I need to mount my bike at 8:00 to get to the trolley in time. So I’m rushing around, packing up my stuff for the commute. And trying my best to be social by having a cup of tea.

    I take a few gulps of tea and look outside. It’s cold. A glance at my iGoogle homepage, which tells me the high in San Diego was going to be 63. Too cold for the shorts and t-shirt I was wearing. But riding my bike in pants is a drag, so I put my stuff down and head to my closet. Right before I went to Haiti I bought a high-end rain jacket. That will work perfect. I zip that up, put my headphones in, select the latest episode of The Moth, start the clock on Runkeeper, push my bike to the curb, and off I go. It’s 8:01 and I’m on my way to work. One minute late is no big deal.

    I get to the SDSU trolley stop, turn off Runkeeper, and take the elevator down to the platform. Just before the train comes at 8:17, The Moth ends and I switch over to This American Life. As Ira Glass narrates a beautiful story about the downfall of the NUMMI plant in Fremont, California, I flick open the New York Times app, and catch up on the news.

    Fifteen minutes later, now closing in on the Gillespie Field stop in El Cajon, I stand up and wheel my bike over to the door. I press the button, tuck my iPhone back in my pocket, and wait for the train to stop. Just as the doors open I realize… I forgot to turn on Runkeeper. I get off the train and start Runkeeper. When the GPS turns on, I hit the start button, tuck my phone in my jacket pocket, and begin my ride.

    I’m lost in the story on This American Life as I huff the .75 mile up the hill to the YS offices.

    Nearly to the top of the hill it dawns on me.

    Where’s my backpack? I said it out loud to myself, “Dude, where’s your backpack? You idiot!”

    My backpack is my constant companion. That thing has been with me on countless road trips. It’s been everywhere with me. Yet, in that moment, I suddenly realize that I’ve forgotten my friend somewhere between home and the hill. But where?

    I made a u-turn and speed down the hill. The trolley is long gone, but it only makes one more stop in Santee before looping back towards Old Town. If I hustle I can make it in time. For some reason I had caught a glimpse of the Trolley number. I’m looking for train #72. That has my backpack. (And all my work stuff, including my Macbook Pro)

    Annoyed at myself, I get to the trolley stop about 7 minutes after I got off. I look down at Runkeeper. Yeah, I’m done with that. No need to log this journey.

    As  I wait for the trolley to come back, my mind wondering if the last 2 people left on the train would take my stuff, I start to think back.

    Where was my backpack? When did I last see it? I’ve forgotten a lot of stuff in my life. But never something quite so valuable. This was a lot different than leaving my keys at home, or being late for lunch with a friend, or having no idea what I did with the book I was reading on the plane.

    Looking down the tracks to the east I decided to give Kristen a call. Now that I thought about it I couldn’t be certain I ever had my backpack that morning. Maybe I had just left home without it? Either she was going to find it and make fun of me or I was going to ask her to look and she’d know I left it on the train. Either way, she was the right person to call.

    I call home and ask Kristen to look for it. Sure enough, it was sitting on the kitchen table, packed and ready to go.

    In the rush to finish my tea, find a podcast to listen to, and put something warm on… I had forgotten my stuff on the kitchen table.

    Busted. I couldn’t play it off. It was another moment where I had simply forgotten something important. I hated my absentmindedness in that moment. It’s a quirk. It’s part of who I am. But it’s not something I’m proud of.

    Fortunately, Kristen had the flexibility to stop what she was doing, wake up Megan, and bring daddy’s stuff to work for him.

    I huffed up the hill to work for the second time. With no meaningful way to start my day, (90% of my work is done online!) I had to admit to Amy that I was… indeed… an idiot who left his stuff at home. She laughed at me and with me. Yup, I’m that guy.

    Just another typical day with forgetful Adam.

  • Church vs. Government

    Christians make strange political bedfellows

    Have you noticed that a lot of Christians are exhibiting a hatred for our government?

    I just don’t get it.

    For those who are mad about the latest government program… (yesterday it was social security, today it is health care, tomorrow it will be something else.)

    Just some friendly reminders

    • Anger isn’t the answer, it just make you look silly.
    • Agreeing with everything isn’t an option, we live in a pluralistic democratic society.
    • Living in denial of the situation we live in isn’t an option.
    • Pointing back to founding fathers of the nation is silly, they are dead.
    • Separating from society isn’t a biblical option.
    • Moving to Canada isn’t an option, they don’t want you.

    What is an option?

    • Changing your attitude.
    • Being a part of the solution.
    • Loving your neighbor.
    • Caring for your neighborhood and proving it with your actions.
    • Being hospitable to people you don’t know.
    • Stop waiting for your church to start a program.
    • Putting the needs of others above the needs of yourself.

    If you are Good News to your community you have to live like it.

    If you aren’t willing to be Good News to your community, than shut up and let the government do what you aren’t willing to do.

    Doing nothing tangible and also complaining about the government doing a bad job at your job… let’s just say that’s not “Good News.”

  • First carrot!



    First harvest of carrots!, originally uploaded by mclanea.

    So excited about this. I’ve tried carrots in the past, but this is the first one that actually looks like a carrot. (Grown from seeds!)

  • Putting Failure in Perspective

    When I meet someone who is stuck in life I often discern that they are really stuck because they are afraid to fail.

    Some ways that exhibits:

    • They hate their current lot in life (job, relationship status, living situation) but are afraid that if they make a move that may regret it and long for their current comfort.
    • They feel called to trust God in an area of their life but they want to wait for x, y, or z conditions to be right before they do anything.
    • They want to try something (new career, new relationship, new life) but think they aren’t qualified.

    Here’s a secret. I’ve got all of the same insecurities. I’ve got all the same worries. I don’t want to look stupid or act any more foolish than anyone else.

    But I’ve also learned this:

    • I’m not getting any closer to my dreams by sitting on my hands.
    • I’m not getting any more qualified by sitting on my hands.
    • I’ll never have a relationship with _____ if I don’t say hello.
    • If I don’t go for a chance to live somewhere else than it’ll never happen.
    • If I know God called me to do something, I don’t want to be like Jonah.
    • If I have friends who try to hold me back, I know they aren’t the type of friends I want to have.
    • I don’t want to sit on my porch swing in my 60s and tell my grandkids “coulda, woulda, shoulda” stories. I’d much rather tell them, “I tried it and sucked at it.“

    Here are some things I’ve learned about failure.

    • Failure is part of the process.
    • Failure can actually be fun.
    • Failure doesn’t make you a bad person.
    • Being a failure doesn’t make you a fool.
    • Failure is key to discovery.
    • Failure is a learning device.
    • Failure doesn’t limit your opportunities, it explodes them.

    Fear is none of those things. Fear inhibits the process. It prevents fun. It makes you no fun to be around. It makes you feel foolish. It prevents discovery. It prevents learning. It limits your opportunities.

    “The only thing worth fearing is fear itself” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

  • Holy Lens Flare Batman



    Glorious seagul, originally uploaded by mclanea.

    I really like this picture. I’ve been trying to learn how to capture lens flare intentionally… I just happen to catch this at the right moment as this seagul flew overhead. (No poop was a bonus!)

  • Back to Minneapolis

    Minneapolis, Minnesota
    Photo by stevelyon via Flickr (Creative Commons)

    This week I’m headed to Minneapolis for a week of meetings and team building. Since YS is a now part of YouthWorks, we get to be a part of their semi-annual gatherings where they come together to celebrate all that God is doing. I’m digging that.

    Here’s a couple of fun things I’ve been learning about YouthWorks.

    1. The missions team has more than 36,000 people registered for mission trips this summer. Most of them are middle and high schoolers.
    2. We are in the process of hiring about 350 summer staff.
    3. We have about 65 full-time, year-round staff. (Including the YS staff)
    4. YouthWorks has a foundation which gives back to the communities which host missions trips.

    This week I’m hoping to connect with some folks and figure out what people do. It should be big fun in the frozen tundra. Since I’ll be back their at least quarterly– my sidebar hope is to find some fun, funky places to explore.

    Yes, more fun than Chingy and Snoop at the Holiday Inn.