Summer 2022
®
Patrick Walters -- are just going out there, catching them, and making bank. Mostly these complaints come from older or middle- of-the-road pros who either experienced prior success and now have lost their mojo, or guys who’ve never done well at all.
You know the best thing about top-flight pros like KVD and Palaniuk and Jordan Lee and Ott DeFoe? They focus their energy on the job, not on making excuses. I’ve seen KVD fired up, but I’ve never seen it impact his performance. Do you remember when Palaniuk was DQed at the Mississippi River? He handled it professionally and moved on. If your life is a litany of complaints, there’s generally no way to excel. Mike Iaconelli is one of the few who is able to take frustration and channel them into a positive result, but before you try to “Be Like Mike,” you need to understand that it’s a lonely, difficult and often counterproductive road if not done correctly.
It’s ok to petition a circuit or a governmental body for a change. It’s ok to be mad about a decision. We can all
Patrick Walters
disagree over big and small ticket items without making it personal or disagreeable. Most of the dust-ups and blow- ups, however, are just signs of ego or insecurity.
Sometimes you just need to shut up and cast.
And one more thing: If you haven’t fallen into this trap yet and you’re surrounded by people who never have anything good to say about anyone or anything, find new friends. Otherwise, they’ll pull you down into their quagmire. Misery loves company. •
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