"Keep your head down"

"The reason the pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can't see him laughing"

Phyllis Diller (Quote of the Day, Montreal Gazette)

Why Business is like Golf

DirectTech Solutions understands that business is like golf - easy to get into trouble and hard to get the results you want. So don't putter around. Get creative, practical solutions for your corporate strategy, business plans, and performance improvement needs. More than a mulligan, we deliver solutions.

Like successful golfers, we believe entrepreneurs need to be constantly improving their performance.

This Blog is an extension of the theme that we can apply the lessons from golf to improve our business performance .

It fits with my online efforts to help entrepreneurs as Uncle Ralph, with "Enrepreneurs Only" and DIYBusinessPlan.com  (http://www.diybusinessplan.com/), where I write, teach, advise, consult and comment on management, leadership and other issues of entrepreneurship. The golf analogy keeps coming back.

So let`s test the analogy a little further.

Here is my list of "Why Business is Like Golf" :

1. It's important to have a plan. Of course nothing goes exactly according to plan, but if you have one, you will at least recognize where you should be now and can adjust to get where you want to be.  (Like Oops! I'm in the bunker and need to get out of the sand and back on the fairway in front of the green.)
2. Even the good shots can end up badly. And vice versa. So take your best shot and hope for the best. That great drive (or proposal) may have gone too far and ended up in the rough. And sometimes a terrible slice (or bad sales call) can actually bounce off a tree and end up right where you wanted to be.
3. Every problem is just another challenge. It was not supposed to end up in the rough and behind a tree, but now you have a chance to work on your "recovery" shot.
4. Work on the fundamentals. You cannot get better if you don't understand and master the basic principles, techniques and foundation of a good swing (or business).  As Arnie Palmer apparently advised one angry amateur, "you're not good enough to get that upset about poor results." 
5. Choose and use the right tools and equipment. Technology keeps making the game easier, but make sure it is the right equipment for you and your plan. And don't try to use an 8-iron for a long, low fade, when a 4-iron is the right tool.  Same for a home office $129 accounting package when your business is doing plus $2 million a year.
6. Know the rules and play fair. Even if nobody catches you cheating, you know you don't deserve the credit you're getting for a good game.  Kidding yourself about your score doesn't work in business either.
7. Continuous learning and determined practice are the disciplines of champions. If the Number One golfer in the world is still adjusting his swing with a new coach, what are you doing to be better and do better?
8. It's easier if you lower your expectations and have good excuses. But you want more, right?
9. Learn from your mistakes. You will inevitably have an occasional bad shot, a bad hole or a bad day. It may just be bad luck, a bad idea, or a bad swing, but continuously analyse what you did wrong so that you can avoid the mistake next time.

That's the first nine holes, I have for you. 
Hopefully some memorable ideas that will improve both your golf and your business.
I'll work on another nine for another day.

Until then, keep hitting them down the middle!

Del

Oops, caught me.

The Dreaded Call My boss phoned me today. He said, "Is everything okay at the office?" I said, "Yes, it's all under control. It's been a very busy day, I haven't stopped." "Can you do me a favor?" he asked. I said, "Of course, what is it?" Speed it up a little, I'm in the foursome behind you."

Why is Business like Golf? Or vice versa?

I'm looking at the golf courses nearby getting ready for opening in Montreal, so maybe it's time to re-op this Blog too with a quick re-cap of why I think Business is like Golf.  And Vice Versa.

Several years ago at DirectTech Solutions we worked that theme into our marketing strategy.
Manage your game ... with DirectTech Solutions.
Especially if you recognize these problems in your business:  

• Business Plan went sideways on the first tee.
• Marketing strategy is all wet.
• Corporate image looks like a mashie niblick (Old 7 iron).
• Brochures looking pretty rough.
• Sales are slicing into the trees.
• Website costs are in bogie territory.
• Couldn't sink a contract if you tried.
• Distribution strategy is on the beach.
• Advertising manager lost his balls.
• Nobody even knows you won the Open.
• Your best hole is the 19th.

DirectTech Solutions understands that business is like golf - easy to get into trouble and hard to get the results you want. Don't putter around. For creative, practical solutions to your corporate strategy, business plans, and performance improvement needs. More than a mulligan, we deliver solutions.

Our marketing strategy included golf themed brochures, putting contests at trade shows, sponsoring golf tournaments, etc. It was fun and created some buzz, but when it was no longer new and original, we moved on.

Then I started this Blog for expansion on the theme. It fit with my online plans for Uncle Ralph, "Enrepreneurs Only" and DIYBusinessPlan (http://www.diybusinessplan.com/), where I am trying to write, teach, advise, consult and comment on management, leadership and entrepreneurship.   The golf analogy keeps coming back. So let`s test that analogy a little further. 

Here is my list of "Why Business is Like Golf" :

1. It's important to have a plan.  Of course nothing goes exactly according to plan, but when you look up, you can recognize where you should be now, and where you're trying to go.  (Like Oops!  I'm in the bunker and need to get out of the sand and back on the fairway in front of the green.)  
2. Even the good shots can end up badly.  And vice versa.  So take your best shot and hope for the best.  That great drive (or proposal) may have gone too far and ended up in the rough.  And sometimes a terrible slice (or bad sales call) can actually bounce off a tree and end up right where you wanted to be.  
3. Every problem is just another challenge. It was not supposed to end up in the rough and behind a tree, but now you can work on your "recovery" shot.
4. Work on the fundamentals.  You cannot get better if you don't understand and master the basic principles, techniques and foundation of a good swing (or business).
5. Choose and use the right tools and equipment.  Technology keeps making the game easier, but make sure it is the right equipment for you and your plan.  And don't try to force an 8-iron to work like a 4-wood. 
6. Know the rules and play fair.  Even if nobody catches you cheating, you know you don't deserve the credit you're getting for a good game.
7. Continuous learning and determined practice are the disciplines of champions.  If  the Number One golfer in the world is still adjusting his swing with a new coach, what are your doing to be better and do better?
8. It's easier if you lower your expectations and have good excuses. But you want more, right?
9. Learn from your mistakes. You will inevitably have an occasional bad shot, a bad hole or a bad day.  It may just be bad luck, a bad idea, or a bad swing, but continuously analyse what you did wrong so that you can avoid the mistake next time.

That's the first nine holes, I hope it gives you some memorable ideas that will improve both your golf and your business. I'll work on another nine for another day.

Until then, keep hitting them down the middle!

Del

Tiger is No.2 to Westwood, now No.1.

Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood at Pebble Beach, US Open - June 2010.

The slide in golf performance by Tiger Woods since his disgrace as a husband and father has finally allowed him to be overtaken by Lee Westwood as the number one golfer in world rankings.  Nobody has been there longer than Tiger at more than 600 weeks during his twelve year career to date.  Greg Norman is the only golfer at plus 300 weeks to ever come close to a similar reign at the top of the golf kingdom. 

Is Tiger's reign over as he slips into oblivion?  I doubt it.  No longer the prime contender to win at any tournament he enters he still proved his capabilities in his appearance at the Ryder Cup and he still draws the crowds with his ability to make the shots that no one else even tries.  He's no longer number one, but still on the comeback and will be a threat and the man to watch for years to come.

"Beware of the Tiger" is still good advice.  His career is not over and he is determined to win more than the 18 Majors of Jack Nicklaus.  He will continue to entertain and inspire us - at least on the golf course.  In his personal life, he has lots more work to do to recover our respect. 

And that too is how business is like golf.  

Keep on playing is the answer.   



The fairy tale ends

The fairy tale family  - golf god, blonde beauty, and two adorable children - made for the media and subject of public adulation, is over.  Now divorced, Tiger Woods and Elin Nordgren will still try to meet their parental duties, but the image of the perfect modern celebrity family has shattered. 

The career of the golf god is also in doubt as Tiger struggles to perform at any level near his past performance. His recent play has been far from the super-human heroics on the course that used to fascinate us.  Instead we overdosed on media coverage of his extra-marital sex life to the point of wanting to hear no more.

A very unhappy ending to the fairy tale of Tiger Woods - from child prodigy to Number 1 Golfer in the World for the best part of 10 years.  The image that allowed him to become the the most highly paid athlete by advertising sponsors is also shattered and unlikely to be rebuilt.  Maybe Donald Trump has the best suggestion  - just change the sponsors to products that appeal to chauvinist, sexist, drinking, partying and gambling men (in addition to golfers) and forget the family-oriented role model.

The next chapter of this tale will aslo be fascinating to follow. 

Let's hope it ends better than the last.   

Golf is Cruel

Chunk one in the water, or a putt bumps off line and you LOSE! Not sure you feel better if you got beat by a 59.  On Sunday, Stuart Appleby came from way behind and had the round of his life to walk away with the championship.

Sometimes it's hard to accept, but golf like business and life in general, is not fair.  You don't always get the results you deserve.  Sometimes the good shots end up bad and the bad shots end up good.  The wrong guy often wins.  Our heroes sometimes disappoint us.

My son and I played on the weekend and learned some of those lessons (again).  As did Fred Couples and Jeff Overton.  (No, neither of us shot a 59, but the other stuff, yes.)

We were reminded of that great stress relief phrase coined by life coach and motivator, Rock Thomas, "What's Good about This."  For example: "What's good about this unlucky bounce off a rake and into the foorprint in a sand trap is .... that I get to make a great sand save!"

Making the most of our setbacks just makes the eventual success even more satisfying.