6. Beware when time off isn't
As I moved deeper into my competitive golf career, I added many top-notch business partners. I take these commitments seriously, and each one involves anywhere from two to six days of my time each year. Frequently, a week off from golf is not a week off from work. Fans might notice I'm not playing the LPGA tournament on a given week and think I'm kicking back by my swimming pool at Lake Nona. But an "off" week usually includes meetings for my company, working on my new wine label or fragrance, shooting a commercial or magazine articles, appearing at a corporate outing, and working at my academy. And that doesn't include the daily phone interviews, e-mails and other business functions. When you find your life has become a convergence of demands, it's time to prioritize those demands and re-order them in a way that most satisfies the complete you.
7. Note when the focus factor fades
I used to practice for eight hours and not realize it was past dinnertime. Now I get out there for an hour and start thinking about other things I need to be doing. That's when you know you're not fully focused on competing. One of my neighbors is David Leadbetter, and two years ago I was washing my car in the driveway on Christmas Eve day when I saw Michelle Wie, who works with David, driving by in a cart with her golf clubs. I remember thinking I didn't know which was stranger: that she was practicing on Christmas Eve, or that I was washing my car. When that voice inside you starts to question your life, listen to it, have a conversation with it.
8. Take notice when your passion changes
When I'm playing a course and find I'm more intrigued by the design of the hole than by the shot I've played, then I know I'm thinking
about myself as an architect more than
as a player. As I got further engrossed in my design work, I found I was paying greater attention to the detail of the course than I
was my shot execution. In one tournament, I was standing on the tee box and my caddie, Terry McNamara, said: "Are you here?" I was marveling at the piece of land surrounding us and thinking what a great course I could lay out there. This can happen to anyone in any line of work. When the outline of your job is more interesting than its details, your passion has shifted. Act on that.
9. Check when life extends beyond golf
My fiancé, Mike, and I share a lot of joy away from the golf course, whether it's working together on business projects, cooking, skiing, or sharing some nice wine while hanging out with friends at home. Eventually, we'll start a family. As my happiness away from the course increased, it became easier to make the decision to walk away from the competitive game. It's simplistic to say, "Follow your happiness," but it is not unrealistic to use your happiness as a guidepost for your activities. Develop a plan, commit to it and pursue it.
10. Follow your dreams
Some are fortunate enough to have lived their dreams. I am one of those. I won a lot of golf tournaments and earned a lot of money. And although it was very gratifying that my sponsors stuck with me when I stepped away from competition, for me golf was never about the money. It was always about achieving excellence and succeeding. If you have a new dream and begin the transition into the next challenges of your life, find a great support team to help you determine the right path. I have new dreams to chase and a great team supporting my efforts. One thing I've found is that the formula for success in business is the same as it is in golf or anything else: Never try to find a shortcut to success!
ANNIKA BY THE NUMBERS
8
Rolex Player of the Year awards (most in LPGA history)
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