I am a golf fanatic and was getting my fix watching the final round of the PGA Championship won by Scottie Scheffler. Scheffler struggled on the front nine to open the door for 8-9 contenders. His 3-shot lead after 54 holes was gone, and Scheffler found himself in a tie with Jon Rahm as he stood on the 10th tee.
Later in an interview on the Golf Channel, Scheffler talked about how he had to make a mid-course correction, reset his mind and calm himself down. He posted a 2-under 34 over his final nine holes to win the championship with ease.
How many times have all of us had to do our own mid-course corrections in life, whether at home or at work?
Jonas Salk, inventor of the polio vaccine, said, “Life is an error-making and error-correcting process.”
I’ve had to make mid-course corrections many times in my career. In one of my ventures, we were preparing to launch a new product. We invested significant time and resources into development and marketing, confident that our product would meet the market’s needs. However, during the final stages of preparation, we received feedback from a focus group that highlighted a critical flaw in our product’s usability.
We analyzed the feedback data to identify specific areas of concern and potential solutions and made necessary adjustments to the product design, to meet the recommendations. We delayed the launch so we could refine the product and conduct additional testing to ensure its readiness.
We implemented the changes and launched the product. The positive reception and strong sales validated our decision to make the mid-course correction.
Listening to your customers and being willing to adapt can turn potential setbacks into successful outcomes.
My good friend John C. Maxwell, the leadership guru, said, “A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them and strong enough to correct them.”
Making a mid-course correction involves reassessing your current path and making necessary adjustments to align with your goals. Here’s how you can approach it:
Evaluate your current situation. Take stock of where you are now. What’s working well, and what isn’t? Identify areas that need improvement.
Revisit your goals. Ensure your goals are still relevant and meaningful. Sometimes, goals need to be adjusted based on new insights or changing circumstances.
Gather feedback. Seek input from trusted colleagues, mentors or friends. They can provide valuable perspectives that you might not see yourself.
Identify obstacles. Pinpoint any roadblocks that have hindered your progress. Understanding these challenges is crucial for developing effective strategies to overcome them.
Develop a new plan. Based on your evaluation, create a revised plan of action. Set clear, actionable steps that will help you get back on track.
Implement changes. Start making the necessary changes. This might involve learning new skills, adopting new habits or changing your approach.
Monitor progress. Regularly check your progress against your revised plan. Be flexible and willing to make further adjustments as needed.
Stay committed. Change can be challenging, but persistence is key. Stay committed to your new course and remain open to learning and adapting.
Among the companies that understood the importance of making mid-course corrections are these giants. Amazon started as an online retailer of physical books. Now that sector represents about 10 percent of its profits. Chipotle was long known for its counter-service approach. In 2020 the company added drive-thru pickup lanes called “Chipotlanes,” and the business has thrived. Netflix started as a business to rent or buy DVD movies. Now the focus is on streaming content.
Not all businesses need to make such drastic adjustments, but these examples demonstrate how being attentive to customers’ needs and market changes help companies thrive.
This urban legend is a good example of when to reset your course.
A big ship sees the bright light of what it presumes is another vessel that appears to be on a collision course with the ship. The ship makes radio contact, ordering the obstacle to divert its course to avoid a collision.
“We’re not moving,” comes the reply, and tells the ship to divert its course to avoid a collision. After a few rounds of back-and-forth and the ship’s captain making a few threats, the radio response crackled, “We’re a lighthouse. It’s your call.”
Mackay’s Moral: When you find yourself off course, don’t be afraid to adjust your sails. A mid-course correction can lead you to even greater success.
