Most people would say Tiger Woods, right? Well, it's very unlikely he is the most talented to live. 

117,000,000,000 (billion) people have lived on this planet. 13,000,000,000 (billion) since 1900. Studies show the person with the most natural talent and physical gifts to succeed at golf likely died without ever even picking up a club. Now, Tiger Woods is definitely the hardest working golfer to ever live, but it's just not his talent alone that made him successful. 

Throughout human history there is NO evidence of high-level performance without high levels of hard work and practice! None. If a great performance was easy, it would not be rare! But it is very rare. You can make an unbelievable amount of money in Real Estate, even in 2023, but you must put in the time and effort. If you think about it, time might be the only thing Realtors have control over.

Tiger's father taught him early on that failure is usually due to one of these 3 things: 

1. Failing and not trying again.
   2. Not giving the effort required.
   3. Trying to re-invent the wheel.

So, they put in more than 17 years of training (from birth to age 20) before he won his first pro-tournament. But he didn't quit then. Below is what his "off days" (non-tournament days) looked like while he was the #1 golfer in the world, prior to his major injuries. 

Here's why Tiger was the greatest to play:

• 6:00 AM start at the gym
• 8:00 AM breakfast with coach
• Driving range to hit balls
• 10:00 AM play 9 holes
• Lunch 30-45 minutes
• Driving range to hit balls
• Play 9 holes again
• Work on putting
• Short game work until 6:00
• 6:00 PM go to gym again

He did this 6 days a week. 13-hour days. In his 20's, he also ran 4 or more miles per day.

Tiger (and his Dad) wanted him to be exceptional. Do you want to be exceptional? This is what wanting to be the best looks like: hard work and wise use of time.

Time is BY FAR the most valuable thing you have! Are you wasting it? You and only you will determine how your time is spent. What do those you are responsible for think about your use of it? What if your family saw what you did all day? Would they be proud of your effort?

Great performance is an energy swap for doing the things you know you need to do!

Tiger's Dad put a club in his hands while he was still in diapers and had him watch from his highchair as he hit balls. And from there, he proceeded to practice almost every day of his life. Literally.

• At 18 months old he went to the driving range for the first time.
• At 1, he played his first hole of golf, a par 4, 410-yard hole, scoring an 11. 
• At 2, he entered a pitch and putt competition for ages 10 and under, and WON. 
• At 3, he broke 50, shooting 48 on 9 holes. Jack Nicklaus didn't do this until he was nine. 
• At 4, he started with a professional coach. 
• At 5, he appeared on the show "That's Incredible", hosted by Fran Tarkenton. 
• At 6, he placed 8 out of 150 in World-wide competition for 10 & under children. He won it at ages 8 & 9. 
• At 10, he switched to a coach for adults. He placed 2nd in the biggest youth tournament in the world.
• At 14, Tiger won that youth tournament; the youngest person ever to do so. 
• At 15, he won the US Junior Amateur Championship, the youngest ever. Also, he began high school.
• At 16, he received a sponsor's exemption to play in his first PGA Tour event. 
• At 17, he won his 3rd straight U.S. Junior Amateur Championship; this had never happened before. 
• At 18, he won his 1st U.S. Amateur Title and begins his freshman year at Stanford. 
• At 19, he won his second Amateur title and finishes 41st in the Masters (1995). 
• At 20, he was the first to ever win 3 straight U.S. Amateur Titles; won NCAA Championship; entered 8 PGA events & won two; was 25th on the money list; won PGA Rookie of the Year & Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. 
• At 21, he won the Masters (1st major); youngest golfer to ever be ranked #1 (by 8 years); won 3 other tournaments and earns over $2 million. 
• At 23, he was first in 25 years to win 8 events in a year; won his 2nd major (PGA)tournament; and finished in the top ten 16 times; and earned $6.6 million. 
• At 24, he won 3 of 4 majors; had his lowest season scoring average ever; first person to win Sports Illustrated "Sportsman of the Year" twice; the 2nd person to win "AP Male Athlete of the Year" three times; cleared $9.9 million; and became the PGA career money-leader in his 5th pro-year.

Good habits require payment now, and the benefit comes later.

Bad habits give you the benefit now, but you pay for it later.

Think about it.