“Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening – and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented.” – Arnold Palmer
This quote from one of golf’s greatest is reminiscent of the bitcoin journey in many ways. At first glance, these two inventions might seem entirely unrelated, but they share intriguing parallels. The principles of golf can offer valuable insights into bitcoin, and understanding bitcoin can shed light on the intricacies of golf.
In both pursuits, achieving a certain threshold of time and understanding is like gaining admission into an exclusive club. Until that point, it can be extremely frustrating and seemingly meaningless; and after, equally rewarding as it is maddening to be a part of. But whether it’s money or a game, both without a doubt are the greatest mankind has ever invented.
Most amateur golfers know how hard it is to play well consistently. It takes hard work, longevity, grit, and mental fortitude that can only be forged over years of dedication. For many, it is a lifelong journey. There is no substitute for hashing away on the driving range, ball after ball. The parallels to a personal bitcoin journey run deep. Success in golf and bitcoin is a product of a low time preference, proof of work, and minimizing mistakes.
A low time preference is essential
Golf is a hard journey. One that requires patience, discipline, and perseverance. Playing the game isn’t about the end destination, but the process along the way. That process has as much to teach us about ourselves as it can teach us the importance of looking out for our future selves.
Understanding the importance of bitcoin isn’t for the faint of heart. Learning what money is, what the problem with the money is today, and why bitcoin solves that problem takes time. But the fact that it’s hard is what makes it worth pursuing. After all, if it were easy, everyone would do it.
Worthwhile challenges come with obstacles, and this couldn’t be better represented in both bitcoin and golf. There are false peaks of understanding where good judgment lapses and hasty assumptions are made. There are snake oil salesmen offering shortcuts or “get rich quick” schemes along the way. And either way you spin it, ego is just another handicap.
Golf and bitcoin are incredibly humbling endeavors. Those who inevitably experience the pitfalls along the road learn that each is not about the end destination, and in fact, that they may never have one. But that journey can be incredibly rewarding in and of itself.
Once I understood bitcoin, the power I gained from using it as my primary form of savings trickled into other parts of my life. I suddenly became more interested in enhancing other parts of my life, like my health and my relationships with friends and family. I simply became happier, and generally, more optimistic toward the future. It’s a feeling…
Read More: Golf and Bitcoin: The Greatest Games