Fathers Day, Daughters, And Golf

This blog post is dedicated to my daughter. Brittany, who is 19, planned a fathers day that I will not forget. It was special to me for many reasons but mostly because it was important for her to demonstrate her love in a way she never could before now. In other words, she has some money in the bank that she earned and saved.

My fathers day gift began as a mystery. I was to be "kidnapped" at 9:00 am but first I had to wear my first gift, a Tommy Hilfiger golf shirt. She insisted I wear this with my golf shorts and running shoes. Now I'm thinking we are going golfing but she did very well at the denial. I hope that is not a family trait. As I'm rushed off in the car she continues her ruse of mystery and eventually we enter the parking lot of a local golf course. Upon arrival she informed me that my clubs are in the trunk, that my brother will be joining me (he was set up by his daughter in the same way), she gave me $20.00 spending money, a pen for the score card and a pin for my shirt that was like the the blue ribbon you award to the prize bull at the country fair that said; 'Worlds Greatest Dad'.

My brother was dressed in the same khaki shorts with his new blue Tommy Hilfiger shirt and prize ribbon. Our daughters took our picture together and sent us on our way for the day. As we came off the golf course they were there to pick us up and then continued the day treating us to dinner at a local franchise pub. At the pub they presented us with a framed picture wrapped nice and it was the two of us dressed alike from this morning. I should mention that the golf was great and many fathers were out with their wife and children. Golfing has truly become a family sport.

Our daughters were very proud to do this for us and I was moved and proud of them as I will always be proud of my daughter. My love and thanks to my daughter for the best fathers day so far. Don't tell her but, I miss the paper finger painted ties I use to get and I would be just as happy with that today.

Zach Johnson Wins The Masters of Golf

I have been ill with a cold like flu since Wednesday so I apologize for not providing my daily post since Friday. On the positive side I was able to watch the 2007 PGA Masters from Thursday's first round and watch Zach Johnson a rookie from the USA Team of the 2006 Ryder Cup hold his own against the best of the best in the game of golf at Augusta National when Augusta was arguably the toughest it has been in close to 20 years. What impressed me most about Zach is the focus in the present he displayed at the tender age of 31 in front of huge galleries, TV cameras airing to over 190 countries around the world and, playing against his idols on a course he walked around as a guest following one of his idols Phil Mickelson only a few years ago dreaming of once playing on this famed course.

For anyone who has played the game of golf most of us know the inner doubts we battle lining up for our birdie putt that comes around not too often if you are a bogey golfer like myself. Amplify that by the distractions Zach had to encounter and you may well, just possibly, imagine the feat of this young man.

Here is the amazing part of all this, to control his nerves he refused to look at the leader board particularly on the back nine of Sunday's last round. In doing so he birdied 3 out 4 holes going into the 17th. Then, at the 17th, he takes a peek at the leader board. As a result he bogeys the 17th because he took himself out of the present and allowed himself to think about the future possibilities. Never the less, he had a 2 stroke lead and the bogey put him to 1 over with a 1 stroke lead. He got focused again and completed the 18th with a par leaving him to wait and see what Tiger Woods would do who was chasing him with now 2 strokes behind after getting an eagle on the par 5 13th hole.

No worries, Tiger made a couple of bad strokes and Zach won the 2007 Masters and had the Green Jacket placed on him by Phil Mickelson.

It is this kind of single minded focus that defines winners. To stay in the present ignoring all outside influences. His long term goals were established including to play and win the Masters and all he had to do now was stick to his plan of practice, play, and improve, in time for Augusta.

This same focus should be applied to business, life, passions. When you want to achieve something important to you, your passion, do you have a single minded focus that tunes out the external negative influences? Are you a winner?

This is not easy and may take practice but it is truly easier if your 'Why' is big enough. Is your reason for succeeding, (your 'why'), big enough, to let nothing stop you from succeeding. Including the failures along the way?

Golf Closes The Great Sales Divide

I was speaking with an Internet Business Consultant located in the UK today who told me about the Golfing Association he founded back in 1999 with a few others as a way to create charitable funds. Since 1999 with only a few members who loved the game of golf and played in different local clubs they have grown to over 50 members who all love the game of golf and play different courses now in different parts of the world. The monies they generate through various drives that are conceived on those golfing trips has certainly benefited their chosen charities. They have also benefited from each other.

Besides the good feeling of giving back to their community, they have made many new friends who all enjoy the game of golf. But the benefit to their respective businesses is even more evident as they all share referrals and conduct business with each other where it is deemed necessary. As their charitable golfing association grows so will their business networking group who all share a love for the game of golf.

Now imagine speaking to a new prospect who also loves the game of golf and when the topic of golf comes up you speak about this association, perhaps you get them excited about being a part of the association or as a minimum they want to listen to what you have to say because you know Mr. Big Wig of ABC company and they would like to get to know him for their business. Anyway you look at it, this Golfing Charitable Organization is a Win/Win/Win that 'Closes the Great Divide' between seller and buyer.

Let's Play Golf

How often can you play golf? As often as you want. If you are self employed then golf should be a sport you learn to play. I admit that I'm not a great golfer. As a matter of fact, I am a 'hacker'. I will hack at as much turf as I hit the ball. Never the less, I don't slow the game down, I do make some good shots now and then and even have made my odd birdie holes. Yet I love the game. I love walking or driving in a cart through the links of a course thinking about what club to use and sharing in the "great shot and great putt" moments with friends, family and business associates. Sharing moments with business associates, now there is an interesting concept.

Many times I have secured business as a result of these shared moments on the golf course. If I was having difficulty getting an appointment with a Senior Decision Maker or Approver and I knew they played golf then I would invite them to a game at a course I knew they would have a difficult time saying no to because of it's prestige, ranking, price, or tee off time availability.

I would invite them with a compliment of recognition e.g, "Mr. Senior Decision Maker, you are probably the busiest man (or woman) I have ever tried to speak with, listen, if you're interested, I have a tee off time this Thursday [never a Friday or Monday because that is family, friends or work time. Thursday seems to be the best day I found because they can get through Wednesday 'hump day' and are now starting to think about the weekend] and my partner cancelled on me today. It's a nice course, 'Elitist Springs Golf and Country Club' and I was looking forward to playing the course. Why don't you join me Thursday and reward yourself for all the hard work you've been putting in, it's on me?"

Very rarely, and I mean rarely, have I been turned down by anyone who likes to play golf to play a round of 18 holes at one of the best golf courses in town. And it is worth every penny I spend. How often do you get to connect with a future client with all their guards down. By the 19th hole we are buddies and talking about doing it again. Now here is the secret; never during the entire time do I sell or speak about my company. Remember, this is his reward for working hard. However, by the 19th hole he will bring up questions about my business which I do answer but in snippets and then eventually say, "Listen 'Bob' today is about golf. Why don't I come into your office tomorrow afternoon and we can talk business then?" He agrees and now I have earned his respect. Not to mentioned that I also love playing golf, and 'shooting the breeze' about golf over a beer is also a well earned reward for my hard work.

Follow up to this post: check out Golf Now for discounts at many Golf Courses around the USA as proffered by one of my readers.