Marcus Buckingham challenges the notion of “loving every minute of your job.” Instead, the English author and motivational speaker grounds resilience in identifying and intentionally engaging in the 20 percent of your work that lights you up daily. That’s your spark. That’s where your energy and longevity come from.
The Mayo Clinic research on “Resilient Health Workers During the Pandemic” uncovered it’s not the overall workload, it’s whether a slice of it – just 20 percent – feels energizing, meaningful or exciting enough to drive us every day.
What are your 20 percent activities? As a PGA of America Golf Professional, your day might include everything from teaching, planning events, managing staff and merchandising to handling member complaints. But where do you come alive? Examples of 20 percent activities might include:
• Giving a lesson where the student has a breakthrough.
• Reconnecting personally with a longtime member/customer.
• Leading a team meeting on a new event and feeling energy from collaboration.
• Organizing a junior golf clinic and watching kids fall in love with the game.
• Spending time outdoors on the course during peak hours.
• Mentoring a new assistant professional and watching them grow.
Write them down. Get specific. Think about what part of your day consistently feels the most you, the most purposeful, the most energizing.
My 20 percent example: Watching a struggling PGA Professional finally land the role he or she dreamed of, or create the role they wanted, or helping someone get a raise, or get better at interviewing, or seeing a team member grow into a leader under my mentorship. That recharges me.
As a teammate or leader, how do you help others discover their 20 percent? Start with conversations. Don’t assume you know what lights someone else up. Ask and observe.
Tips to help teammates ID their 20 percent:
• Ask them: “What part of your day do you look forward to most?”
• Pay attention to when they seem most engaged or energized.
• Talk about Buckingham in a meeting or one-on-one to spark the dialogue.
Normalize the idea that it’s OK to not love every part of the job – but it’s powerful to know the parts they do love. How can we lean into what we love, and learn to find value in the parts we don’t love as they help us grow?
As a leader, you are a facilitator of meaning. Sometimes people don’t realize their 20 percent until someone helps them see it. Example: “Hey Sarah, I noticed you were glowing after you ran that member event. Was that part of your 20 percent?”
Why should leaders help others lean into their 20 percent? Because it amplifies everything – productivity, engagement, retention and joy. And especially in golf and hospitality, joy is a competitive advantage.
Buckingham says: “The best people are not well-rounded, finding fulfillment in their uniform ability. Quite the opposite, in fact. The best people are spiky, and in their lovingly honed spikiness they find their biggest contribution, their fastest growth and, ultimately, their greatest joy.” This means we shouldn’t aim to round off edges in the name of versatility or conformity – we should help people do more of what they’re uniquely great at as there are real benefits for our organization when we help others discover their 20 percent:
• They bring energy and resilience to tough days.
• They’re more likely to grow in your organization.
• It creates a culture of appreciation and authenticity.
• They create better experiences for guests and members – which, in golf, is everything.
How Can You Leverage Your 20 percent in 2026? It starts by answering Marcus’ question daily, not just once: “What’s my 20 percent today?”
Then structure your day so you get to your 20 percent. Help your team do the same. Use that as a leadership lens: Build roles, events and culture around people’s energy sources – not just job descriptions. Reflect on what drains you and what gives you energy. How can you delegate the first, and do more of the second?
Suggested Action Plan:
Write down your 20 percent list – at least three things that energize you.
Schedule 20 percent time daily – even one hour a day can build long-term resilience.
Talk to your team – one-on-one, ask about their 20 percent.
Empower “spiky” talent – let people shine where they naturally excel.
Revisit regularly – your 20 percent may evolve as you grow in your career.
Final Reflection: What’s your 20 percent today – and how will it make you a better golf professional, leader and teammate in 2026? That question, answered daily, might be your roadmap to thriving through the entire season.
Let your PGA Career Consultant know if you want help creating a worksheet or journal prompt for your team to explore their own 20 percent.
Monte Koch, PGA, is a PGA Career Services Consultant serving the Pacific Northwest PGA Section. He can be reached at (206) 335-5260 or mkoch@pgahq.com.