Context
Recently, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about context. I’ll give an example:
Early in my college career, I had to take Botany 101. Maybe that wasn’t the exact name, but you get it; it was an introductory botany class. I wasn’t completely unaware of botany, and I enjoyed science in high school, but I lacked any real context regarding a college-level course, and beyond the basics, plants were new to me. I don’t recall enjoying the class and don’t think I did well. I lacked context; for the most part, the course content was entirely new to me.
If I took that course today, I would have years of context from working in horticulture; I would likely enjoy the course and probably, most certainly, ace it. With the context I’ve gained, the subject matter would make much more sense and be far more valuable.
College coursework is an extreme example of the importance of context. Still, we can find smaller examples in almost everything we do. Reading books with dense subject matter is another example that comes to mind.
Some of my favorite authors write books with dense context: Simon Sinek, Brene Brown, Adam Grant, and Malcolm Gladwell are just a few. Much of the content of their books requires context. Context, in this case, might be having experienced what they’re writing about, or context might be as simple as having read the book before.
Context is crucial in turf management. I cannot emphasize enough how many times I have attended a seminar, listened to a podcast, or had a conversation with a colleague where a subject was brought up that didn’t make sense at that moment. Sometimes, I would jot down a note or forget about it, only to implement something from that conversation later. With more context, I would revisit my notes and discover something I had completely missed during the initial discussion. I’ll give another example, one I’ve used often:
Micah Woods was here as a volunteer for the 2016 Ryder Cup. Since he was coming from halfway around the world, he came for two weeks. We had some downtime to discuss his work the week before the event. Clipping volume was one of those things, and he gently suggested it would be wonderful to have it measured during the Ryder Cup. I had no clipping volume context. I’d never measured it and had no idea how it might be helpful. We let it go then, but I made a mental note to look into it for 2017. With hindsight and seven years of clipping volume context, I lament that I don’t have clipping volume data from the Ryder Cup. It would be beautiful data to have in my records.
Go back and review your Intro to Botany textbook, re-read Adam Grant’s first book, or re-listen to a podcast that made you try something new. I guarantee you’ll learn something new with the context you’ve gained.
I have three things to recommend this week. The first two are episodes of Joe Gulotti’s Talking Greenkeeper podcast:
First, Joe talked with John Kaminski, and they began by discussing a conversation John, Micah Woods, and I had during the 2022 Masters. I’ve known John for many years; we had many discussions in the early days of Turf Twitter, and in current times, we see each other at least once a year at the Masters. I will see John in a couple of weeks because we are both on the docket for the Ontario Golf Superintendent Association conference in Niagra Falls.
We might discuss this podcast because, as you’ll hear, I have a few pieces of context I need to clear up for him. John is a good friend, and I’m looking forward to seeing him in a couple of weeks.
I also recommend you listen to Joe’s episode with Micah Woods. In what has become an annual holiday episode, Joe and Micah discuss the same conversation Joe and John discussed.
Joe does a beautiful job with his podcast; it’s become an absolute service to the turf industry.
When I decide I like listening to a band or an artist, I tend to get obsessed, as my kids will say. I prefer to think of it as immersion. This week’s musical immersion has been Jason Isbell.
I’ve always been a fan, but I listened and appreciated non-stop this week. I recommend the live recordings at the end of this album.
I’ve been lucky to inherit a ticket to his March concert in the Twin Cities; I’m looking forward to it.