Don’t plow the field…

There is a field near our house, its a field I’ve driven by multiple times per day, nearly every day for five seasons. Every spring, the field would be plowed, seemingly being prepared for a crop. “I wonder what they are going to plant?” The first year, after all the prep work nothing got planted, and the field became weeds.

The next spring, the field was again prepped for a crop. I had the same wonder as I drove by the field. A few weeks later, nothing but weeds.

The third spring arrived and the field was prepped once again. This time, rather than wonder what they were going to plant, cynicism kicked in. “Bet its just going to go to weeds again.” Sure enough, weeds it was. The same thing happened in year four. Finally, year five, after my cynical “bet its going to be weeds again”, a cropped was planted.

Over the years, I’ve both witnessed and been a part of lots of plowing of the field, only to have the weeds take over. Do this enough, and your clientele began to greet your plowing, not with wonder of what may happen, but skepticism of anything happening at all.

Under promise and over deliver-a phrase we’re all likely familiar with. When it comes to making plans for the golf course, I’ve found over the years (often through less than enjoyable personal experience) it’s always better to lay out your plans away from the harsh light of criticism and expectation. We all make plans for improving our courses-its what we do. Next time you’ve got a good idea, rather than run out an tell everyone what you’re going to be doing, give yourself and your team a chance to digest the idea, plan for it and maybe implement in a low-key manner. Such patience brings one of two results; you surprise people with something new, or your plan is able to be perfected, or scraped all together with little or no judgement. When all is said and done, you’ve more than likely over-delivered, rather than under-promised.

Unless you are entirely ready to plant your crop-don’t plow the field.