In this episode, Charlie Mechem sits down with Nancy Lopez, one of the great names in the history of golf. In her time, Nancy has won 48 LPGA Tour events, three of which were major championships. But, Nancy is not just a hall of famer. Her warmth, her smile, and her determination to give back to the game are legendary. She is much like Arnold Palmer in all that she has meant to the game of golf. Nancy reacts to anecdotes from “Total Anecdotal: A Fun Guide to Help You Become a Better Speaker and Writer.” You can learn more about the book at charliemechem.com/book, or find it available through Amazon or Barnes & Noble, and perhaps your local bookstore.
Care and Positivity
Charlie and Nancy shared the same position on the Smucker’s Board of Directors—she had replaced Charlie in this position once he left. Nancy found something very inspirational in just how much the board cared about their customers. In her golfing career, she has tried her best to reflect this positive and caring attitude in how she treats her fans. It is clear that Nancy’s gleaming positivity that has helped her to become the person she is today, to gain great and meaningful friendships, and to aid her in being a such a crucial part of the LPGA. Nancy has always wanted to do what is best for the LPGA, just as Smucker’s wished do always do the best for its customers.
You Can’t See the Ball When You’re Crying
Hard work was something that Nancy’s father always taught her. He owned an auto-repair shop in Roswell, New Mexico where he would fix cars and do paint jobs—his customers would always come back again and again because they loved her father because he did such great work. She took this as a lesson and brought it out onto the golf course with her; she would always go out and give her all, and that’s precisely how she got to where she is today. If you give 100%, Nancy says, that’s all you can do. Nancy recalls a time when she was playing in the US Open in Philadelphia—as she walked off the green after two days, she knew she wasn’t making the cut. In that moment, she hugged her father and he looked at her and said “all we gotta do is work a little harder.” She credits her father greatly for her success and for giving her all of the things she needed to become a champion.
Shoot for the Best to be the Best
If you want to be successful, you have to love what you’re doing. Nancy says, you must be a good person, know that your word is all you have, and always work hard—that’s passion. Her father always told her to set goals high. As she raised three daughters, she reiterated her father’s advice, telling them to work hard and set goals high. If you set mediocre goals, you don’t reach what you could reach. If you don’t shoot for the best, you can’t be the best.
Patience with Everyone
Once again, Nancy recalls her father, who was so very patient with everyone. He never disagreed with an unhappy customer, he was patient with them and worked with them to make them happy. Nancy tries her best to be patient with herself—which was especially important during golf tournaments, as there was no way she could win every time. Her husband, she notes, has never been very patient with people, sometimes she takes time to encourage him to be as patient as he can. Patience is very hard quality to develop, but it is critical to anyone’s success and happiness.
If you’d like to listen to more episodes of “15 Minutes With Charlie,” please visit the podcast page or search for “15 Minutes With Charlie” in your podcasting app. If you are enjoying the show you should check out “Total Anecdotal: A Fun Guide to Help You Become a Better Speaker and Writer.” Learn more on our book page, or find it available through Amazon or Barnes & Noble, and perhaps your local bookstore.
