3 Lessons Learned from Tiger Woods & Mark McGwire

We have heard so much recently about the “sins” or “mistakes” of Tiger Wood’s and Mark McGwire.  Tiger Woods got caught up in a media mess that started as a story about a car accident.  After many days of avoiding the media and fans, Tiger released this statement:

As you all know, I had a single-car accident earlier this week, and sustained some injuries. I have some cuts, bruising and right now I’m pretty sore…This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way. Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible.

After several days of speculation, the story quickly turned into a public nightmare for Woods and his wife:

I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children. I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I’ve done, but I want to do my best to try.

Most of us should not be surprised that Mark McGwire revealed that he did use steroids.  Several creditable witnesses admitted to either giving him steroids or saw McGwire take steroids.  After years of speculation, McGwire finally admitted to the truth:

I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era… I never knew when, but I always knew this day would come. It’s time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected.

Wow, it is about time the truth came out.  Lies, tears, hearings, interviews… all the pain and deception.  It could have all been prevented.

Here are 3 lessons learned from Tiger Woods’ and Mark McGwire’s lives:

1. Come clean right away. Everyone makes mistakes.  We are human!  However, what defines us as people is how we handle our mistakes. There is honor in transparency.  People will respect you more if you admit your wrong doing right off the bat. Tiger would have recovered quickly and not lost his sponsorships… well, maybe not lost as many as he did if he came clean right away.  Tiger started losing more sponsorships after he admitted that he had not be completely honest.  Big Mac, on the other hand, waited too long.  The moment Mac consistently started using steroids is the moment he lost his Hall of Fame hopes.  There is a chance, although small, that he could have gotten into the Hall of Fame if he came clean earlier.
2. Ask for forgiveness and accept responsibility. When you delay your request for forgiveness after beating around the bush, it is disingenuous.  Woods and Mac suffered by not taking responsibility immediately.  Their delayed reaction is almost a prop… used as a last ditch effort because they have no other options.   People will respect you more if you admit your wrong doing and seek to take responsibility.  Pushing the blame off on someone else is obvious, you are trying to save face.
3. Seek reconciliation and restore trust. With Tiger, he asked for people to be understanding.  Bad move.  A mega golf star with millions of dollars asks for forgiveness from the American public, only after he lied?  Yah right.  People aren’t going to trust Tiger, therefore companies will not trust that Tiger can sell a product. That trust could have been restored quickly if Tiger came across as genuine.  With Mac, he has not done a whole lot to reach out to the fans.  Appearing before a Congressional committee or releasing press statements does not restore trust.  Reconciliation and trust come from a personal desire to want to make things better.

Steve Wilstein from CNN makes a good point about Mac:

McGwire chose the wrong path years ago and stayed on it — making the mistake of all public figures who try to stonewall their way out of trouble, from Richard Nixon to Tiger Woods. In the end, everybody knows and many will forgive, but the guilty have to live with the consequences of their transgressions.

We can learn from the mistakes of others.  Coming clean, seeking forgiveness, and rebuilding trust is the key to making things right.  We are so quick to be a victim of our own actions.  Let’s stop the drama!  Save the drama for your momma!  Let’s own up to our mistakes, try to save our relationships,  and not try to save face.