Take a Clue from Padraig Harrington: Pick Yourself Up and Try Again
For those of you who do not like golf, I hope you will bear with me as I write about another golfer. I choose golf because to use a famous quote: “Golf does not build character, it reveals character.” Practicing law reveals the character of lawyers, so we all can learn from those whose character is revealed internationally in front of millions.
When this is posted, Nancy and I will be on our way home from a week in Ireland. On Sunday, we played golf and spent time talking to two Irish couples who finished after us. Our discussion focused on Padraig Harrington. I could tell he is a national hero.
After golf, we went to a busy pub at our hotel. We watched a semi-final match in the Ireland Hurling championship. A few hours later, we returned to the pub to dine and watch the PGA tournament. During the first seven holes, the attention of every patron was focused on Padraig Harrington. I could tell his countrymen love him. Needless to say the patrons were silent and then gasped when they watched Padraig go in the water twice on the 8th hole. I could sense their extreme disappointment after he posted an 8 on the par 3 hole.
The American golfers frequently say they feel more pressure playing in the Ryder Cup because they are representing their country, not just themselves. Padraig Harrington must feel that added pressure every tournament.
There is no way I can capture the feelings the Irish have for Padraig as well as Irish Times writer Roddy L’estrange. In his column, a character at a pub named Vinny Fitzpatrick defends Padraig to his friends who lost money betting on him, telling them:
Put yourself in Harrington’s position. He knows he’s blown his chance of winning, but there are no tantrums…no loss of self-esteem. He comes across the same way when he’s on top of his game, as a gent. He acknowledges the crowd, doffs his cap, and smiles. Now, that’s easy when you’ve made eagle or birdie, not so easy when you’ve just had a snowman at a par three.
What can you learn from all of this? I doubt you will ever suffer public humiliation before a worldwide TV audience of millions, but in your long career as a lawyer you will make mistakes, and the lawyers and staff who work for you will also make mistakes. How you rebound from your mistakes and how you treat those who work for you when they make mistakes will reveal your character.
In those really tough times, think about Padraig and bear your setbacks with fortitude and dignity and focus on how the experience will ultimately make you a better lawyer.
