Finally some sunshine this week! I didn’t have to dress like the Michelin Man at the outdoor range. What a treat to hit balls and feel the warmth on your face. Warm muscles also turn better and produce a better swing.

My advice to anyone practicing or playing a round in cold weather is if you have back issues or are worries about tweaking it, use ThermaCare heat wraps for the lower back and hips. It is a fantastic way to keep you muscles warm and prevent injury. They are available online or at many drug and department stores.

I finally started swinging the driver this week. I was pulling a lot of balls and getting frustrated. I found when I slowed down my takeaway and was patient to let my club load up without rushing it, I could smash the ball. It is a great reminder to all golfers that tempo is so important to the golf swing. Rushing your swing will just rob you of distance and not allow you to maximize the technology of your equipment.

In addition to hitting the long ball, I am also a keynote speaker. I gave a speech this past week for Dominion Lending Centers Westcor. It took me several days in meetings, phone calls and research to personalize it, and I was thrilled with the outcome. I talk about how I went from a 30-plus handicap just over a decade ago to the seven-time Canadian Long Drive champion. The title of my talk is “Drive Determines Distance.” I truly believe knowing and being committed to what “drives” you, what you are passionate about, will determine how far you will go both personally and professionally.

In my speech I talk about how it. in fact, has been my failures that have taught me more about life than the successes, and that it is so important to appreciate the journey. My goal has always been to become the World Long Drive champion. I have come second twice but never won it. Many times I have wanted to quit along the way and had pity parties for

myself, but I have come to realize that there are so many phenomenal experiences I would have missed if I ever thought it was too hard or gave up.  It motivates me.

I have also worked on my branding this past week. For business owners, entrepreneurs, celebrities or even Joe Public, having a definable brand is so important in this high-tech, fast-paced world. To do just that, I worked with a branding expert, Kim Wallace at Oliver & Spence Creative Agency.

It is important that we all come to terms with the fact that we each have gifts and talents; mine do not lay in the arts. I have zero skill in that area. Luckily there are people that do. My advice is to definitely work with an expert or get advice from people who have talents where you do not.

Wallace is redesigning my website, and I love the direction she is going: clean, crisp and professional. It has saved me countless hours and headaches, and I am so excited to be launching it. She is also reworking my logo. I was trying to find a good logo to use with Lisa Longball, such as double “L” and golf-ball motifs but they all looked pretty cheesy. Again, having someone who is an expert in the area will help give you suggestions you have never considered.

My week is definitely not all work. I had a chance to get together with friends I share second tickets to the NHL’s Calgary Flames. We had a draft and got to pick the games that we wanted. I was pumped to get the Detroit Red Wings as one of our games. Great team! It is a big deal in Canada that hockey is back. There was a huge labour dispute between the owners and the players delaying the start of the season by three months. My American friends say they can’t imagine if that happened to football. The riot police would be out in full force.

And on that thought, until next week, go long!