10 Ways You Play Golf Can Kill or Improve your Business

I believe strongly in how we approach sports, especially golf, and the way we play it can help grow successful businesses or kill them. Tim Moynihan and I recently got back from 36 holes of golf in Rhode Island and then in Denver and it sparked a conversation on how we and others play golf, is also how we and others live our life and run our businesses.

Over the years I have seen hundreds of ways people present themselves on the golf course as well as off the golf course. I wanted to write down the 10 ways I see how people play golf and use these techniques in growing a successful business.

Note: In no way am I saying that you have to be good in golf to be in good in business. I know many people who hate and suck at golf but they have the most successful businesses in the world.

The question is:

When you play golf or if you were to play golf, how do or would you play?

1. Do you set a goal before starting the game?
   1. Many just go through life without setting goals. Even if you are playing for fun, which you should always do or why play at all, you should have a goal in mind. Do you want to hit below 100 this round? Set a round goal. Set a hole goal and then set a swing goal. You will be surprised how much better you will do if you have a goal that you want to achieve. Business Tip: Set goals and quantify everything of importance. You will see it improve dramatically.
2. Do you run the swing and putt in your mind before you actually do it?
   1. This is call visualization. Every successful athlete and business person in the world are great visualizers. They plan everything in their head before they actually do it. Business Tip: Vision map where you want your business to be in 1 year, 2 years, 3 years and beyond. Define it clearly and run it through your mind daily.
3. Do you write down your scores?
   1. Do you write down your goal and score on every hole. Goals and progress must be written down or you will never improve. Business Tip: Write down goals and goal progress and share with your teams.
4. Do you move the ball when no one else is looking?
   1. Taking short cuts will never help you improve. Business Tip: Do not cut corners. Immediate revenue due to unethical actions will always kill your business and reputation.
5. Do you take advantage of situations, use your experience and a little luck to win?
   1. 
      
      Business Tip: When you do things right, sometimes you still need a little luck.
6. Do you give up?
   1. Are you one to play 9 holes and then give up? Can you get past the dip?
      
      Business Tip: Chinese proverb: “The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed.”
7. Do you complain over things you can’t control?
   1. We can’t control the wind. We can’t control the hole placement. We can’t control how fast the party in front of us is playing. There are many things in life and business we cannot control. Business Tip: Focus on things you can control. Don’t worry about outside forces you cannot change.
8. Do you have fun?
   1. You can’t be serious all the time. Here is Tiger Woods Farting.
   2. 
      
      Business Tip: Have fun. Life is too short.
9. Do you play it safe or do you take calculated risks?
   1. Some like to play safe and others like to take calculated risks. Which one are you? Business Tip: To grow your business you will have to feel uncomfortable. Take risks. Learn from your mistakes.
10. Are you mentally tough?

    Business Tip: Stay focused. Do extraordinary things and do it one product and customer at a time.