The Lesson from Missing the Cut – Focus on What Matters

My buddy, a professional golfer, once missed the cut at a big tournament. But instead of packing up and heading home, he did something unexpected—he offered to caddy for another player. A competitor.

Why? To learn.

While caddying, he saw something that changed his game. The golfer wasn’t obsessed with draining long, dramatic putts. He focused on short, simple putts—two to three feet. The ones everyone thinks are easy, but they’re the ones that actually win or lose games.

And that got me thinking about construction and business.

We often focus on the “big swings”—landing massive projects, closing big deals, making bold moves. But we overlook the small stuff:

• Are your bids accurate?

• Are your teams communicating effectively?

• Are the day-to-day details being managed well?

It’s not the big wins that make or break you—it’s how solid your basics are.

Missing the cut wasn’t a failure for my friend. It was a wake-up call. It showed him where to focus his energy. He didn’t need to reinvent his entire game. He needed to tighten up the fundamentals.

So ask yourself:

• What “short putts” are you neglecting in your business?

• Are you focusing on flash instead of fundamentals?

The lesson? Consistency beats talent when talent forgets the basics. Focus on what matters.