In this episode of The Long and Short of It, Jennifer and Jaacob pull a card labeled “Charles Howell III” and trace a story from Jaacob’s early years as a new pro at Pebble Beach into a wider conversation about resilience when things go sideways.

Watching a world-class player top a fairway shot or hearing Roger Federer’s reminder that even he as a GOAT barely won more than half his points, they unpack what it can take to recover after a stumble.

Along the way, Jen brings in her doctoral journey, perfectionism, and performance anxiety, and together they land on a simple mantra, “hit ball, go forward,” as one way to meet mistakes, creative blocks, and everyday stumbles with more neutrality, self-kindness, and courage to keep moving.