You may think you have little in common with Mark Brooks.
You probably don’t even know who he is. He has something in common with someone you know, or work with or are related to in some way.
Mark Brooks became a professional golfer in 1983. He won his first tournament in 1988 and his first major in 1996. At a quick glance it seems as though he was on a forward trajectory.
Since 1996 two runner-up positions a decade apart is the best he could muster. In fact, 389 times since his only Majors win, he has failed to win.
We tend to think of a PGA win as a platform to catapult someone to their next level of excellent golf. Winning a Major would seemingly catapult someone to an elite level of golf.
It doesn’t always happen that way. In fact, statistically it happens that way less often than you would think. The phenomenon has acquired its own name: Sophomore Jinx or Sophomore Slump.
There is so much more to this syndrome than a disappointing follow up year. For some, meeting lower expectations becomes a lifestyle.
Take Kimberly, the name has been changed to protect the guilty. She was a 20 something, Gen Y member of a law firm. She set her sights on making partner. In her early 30’s, largely through circumstances beyond her control, the Firm found themselves with no female partner. They looked around, and Kimberly was the most ready. And she was ready. She was ready to “make” partner she was not ready to “be” a partner.
She was made partner and her career immediately idled. Instead of the act of becoming partner catapulting her, it stymied her advancement. There was no advancement.
Mark was made director in 2012. In 2013 his accomplishments dwindled. It’s the Mark Brooks phenomenon in the workplace.
Your job in your professional life is to not just get a position, but to excel at the position.
When Tiger Woods was competitive every week, he had the most value on the tour. He had the most endorsements, and he had the biggest fan galleries because he replicated success on Sundays. The Mark Brooks of the golf world have less value because they can’t replicate stellar results.
You excel in your career or business when you can replicate success often. Not always, but often.
Even a highly paid batter does not hit a homerun every time at bat. Not even 50% of the time. So perfection is not the goal. Are you taking the steps to replicate success often enough?
Read more posts by communication expert, Leslie Ungar, here. Leslie blogs for JenningsWire.
