So, my wife and I went bowling tonight in Harlem with two other couples.

We had a great time and really enjoyed ourselves. Just hanging out with friends was a much needed respite for me. As an extremely focused and determined individual, it’s very hard for me to take a break and relax. Many thanks to the friends that invited us to a night out.

To add icing on the cake, I bowled perhaps the best game of my life. Seriously. 127 points.

Now, I know that all of you semi-professional bowlers out there are thinking, “Whoop-de-do. I can bowl a 130 in my sleep.” Much power to you. However, for me, this was definitely one of my personal bests. I’m proud of my performance even if it seems novice to the pro.

You see I am a normally streaky, inconsistent bowler. I go back and forth between pummeling pins too hard or causing the ball to mysteriously veer to the left over and over again.

Unfortunately bowling is usually an emotional roller coaster for me. One moment I’m on cloud nine, doing the moonwalk back to the bench in celebration of my first strike…seven frames into the match. More often than not I am perplexed as to why the ball refuses to roll in the direction that I send it.

I must say, my friends, tonight was different. I walked up to each bowl relaxed and confident. The ball released from my hand at just the right speed and my aim was on point. I felt like a new man.

This evening’s success at the lanes reminded me of what causes me to be successful in life endeavors. Here is wisdom that tonight’s game taught me:

(1) Relax. What’s the opposite of being relaxed? Tense. I am a horrible bowler when I am tense. Being tense causes me to rush my bowls, forget my form and lose my focus. I perform much better when I let the game come to me. The same applies to my business, my ministry and even my marriage. Living life wound up and on edge promises spotty results. Learn how to take a deep breath, relax and tackle the challenges of life.

(2) Use just the right speed. Muscling the ball down the lane demolishes a few pins while failing to touch the others. Rolling the ball too lightly results in diminished impact. When I deliver the ball at just the right speed I increase my chances of hitting all of the pins.

Being successful in life is about working at just the right speed. How many times have we burned out because we tried to do too much at once? Conversely, how often have we missed opportunities due to laziness and lethargy?

Everyone has a productivity rhythm; I am still learning mine. Be strategic with your time and diligent with your efforts in order to maximize your results.

(3) Follow through. Sloppy follow-through causes the bowling ball to travel towards unintended destinations…like the gutter. How you end is really more important than how you begin. We are often guilty of generating great ideas but failing to see them through completion. Make the extra effort to finish what you started.

Follow these suggestions in life and you will see your ability to bowl strikes increase. And you never know, you may even beat my score.