Perfect games are rare. In over a century of Major League Baseball, only 24 have ever been recorded. The most recent? Domingo Germán of the New York Yankees, June 28, 2023—27 up, 27 down. No hits, walks, or errors. Pure, unblemished excellence.
Golf has its own version of perfection. Only fifteen rounds in PGA Tour history have broken 60. Jim Furyk’s iconic 58 remains unmatched. These feats are dazzling—but incredibly rare.
Now compare that to the Yankees’ 27 World Series titles, or the six men who have achieved golf’s career Grand Slam—Sarazen, Hogan, Player, Nicklaus, Woods, and McIlroy. Their greatness wasn’t built on perfect games or flawless rounds. It was built on resilience, adaptability, and sustained excellence.
The Perfection Myth
So, what’s the point of this sports history?
Simple: Perfection is not the standard. Persistence is.
Consider Tiger Woods at the 1997 Masters. He opened with a front-nine 40—four over par—and the press nearly wrote him off. But golf is a 72-hole test, not a nine-hole sprint. After a quick pep talk from his friend Mark O’Meara, Tiger surged. Six-under on the back nine. Just three strokes back by day’s end. The rest is history: he seized the lead and never let it go, winning by 12 shots in a legendary performance.
Was it perfect? No. But it was powerful. A masterclass in composure and course correction.
The Real World Application
That same lesson applies off the course as well. When I transitioned from a successful sales career to becoming a fitness professional at Life Time, I fell into the trap of expecting perfection—of myself, my clients, and my business model.
I loved training and genuinely cared for my clients. However, I struggled with the uncontrollable factors: cancellations, income variability, and inconsistent schedules. I interpreted these as signs that something was broken.
But I was wrong.
Cancellations aren’t failures. They’re life. And learning to see them not as setbacks but as part of the process has changed everything.
When One Door Closes…
For a long time, I believed that a missed session meant lost value. But that mindset only fed frustration. Then last fall, I had a breakthrough. I began to accept that when one client steps away, space is created for something—or someone—even better.
That’s exactly what happened.
I offered a complimentary training program to a senior member named Sam. He couldn’t afford training, but I wanted to help. His outdated phone couldn’t support our training app, so I offered a printed version. He declined, saying he planned to upgrade soon—and he did.
Sam now enjoys his program and his new iPhone. It felt great to help him, and I expected nothing in return.
Then came Reza.
…Another Opens
Reza wasn’t even on my radar. He showed up unexpectedly, wandering the gym floor while I trained another client. He stopped, apologized for interrupting, and asked for my contact info.
Since then, he has been training with me four days a week and has already lost over 20 pounds. We’ve built a solid connection, and he’s been a tremendous blessing to my life and business.
I never could have orchestrated that. But I believe that when we serve without expectation, abundance finds us.
Sowing and Reaping
My pastor often speaks about the law of the harvest: You will always reap more than you sow. That can be a blessing or a curse. Sow negativity, and it multiplies. Sow kindness, and it does the same.
Helping Sam opened a door I couldn’t have seen. It reminded me that we serve not for the return—but from the heart.
Living on Daily Bread
Dallas Jenkins, the creator of The Chosen, shared a powerful lesson at my church. His journey was filled with setbacks. What carried him through was a story from Exodus—how God fed the Israelites with manna, one day at a time. They couldn’t store it; they had to trust daily.
That hit home.
I used to worry constantly about the future. But now I strive to live one day at a time, trusting God’s provision. The day before I met Reza, I had no idea how my business would shift. And that’s the point—only God sees the full picture.
Five Loaves, Two Fish
One of my favorite biblical accounts is the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish. A reminder that when we bring what we have in faith, it’s enough. More than enough.
There’s often a gap between our resources and our vision. But God fills that gap. Faith fills that gap.
Final Thought
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to show up. Serve well. Stay committed.
Because your life isn’t a game of perfect.
It’s a game of perseverance, perspective, and purpose.
kellyamidonblog.com 
Leave a comment