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Canadians at Wimbledon

A great weekend for Canadians at Wimbledon.

Eugenie Bouchard is runner-up in the final, Milos Raonic loses to Roger Federer in the semi-final and Vasek Pospisil wins in men's doubles.  Impressive results getting the attention of media, fans and opponents.

All three are young contenders that can only get better and do better. A theme that also works for entrepreneurs. Learn from your losses, rest, then get back into the fray with new tactics, skills and energy.  

 

Why Business is Like Golf

Like successful golfers, we believe entrepreneurs need to be constantly improving their performance and that we can apply the lessons from golf to improve our business performance.

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 another day.

Until then, keep hitting them down the middle!

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START OF A NEW SEASON

Finally got out to hit some golf balls today. 

Course is open and snowbanks have finally disappeared in Montreal. 
(Sorry forgot to take a selfie, please excuse the old photo of Jim Furyk.)

It is important to recognize the start of a new season.  Set the counters back to zero, define some new performance objectives for this season and get to work on the plan. 

And start on the driving range.  Loosen up, warm up and practice the fundamentals. Re-think your strategy and game plan. Consider a complete re-work of your swing instead of just repeating the same old bad habits with corrections and tweaking that didn't work last season. Maybe you need a new coach. 

All good lessons from the new golf season that you should consider for your business. 

Keep hitting them long and straight, stopping them close and rolling in the long putts. But most importantly enjoy!  

It's not just for the money, right!  

NHL or NBA

Lots of drama in both sports.

Playoff season for both with all the excitement, energy and talent at it's best, but a manager fined for complaining about ref's and an owner banned for life for racist comments.

There are some lessons there for your business. Too much to write in a Blog.  Maybe a chapter in the next book.

Your thoughts?

Good for Gold!

Whew!

After all the second guessing and snide comments and sweating through surprisingly tight games, we won gold! Again. In men's and women's hockey, our signature sports. Canadian pride is soaring again!

 See you in four years.

Unless Bettman and his bandits of the NHL decide to hold the fans and players to ransom for some bizarre business reason.  The guy loves to be in control.

I wonder if they noticed that no fighting still made for a great hockey spectacle.

Go CANADA Go!

Great hockey game, but much too stressful for a Friday afternoon at the office!

I'm still not agreeing with the coaching decisions, but some of the choices seem to be working out.  Who knew Jamie Benn before this.  And happy to see another BC boy and Montreal Canadien do so well  - attaboy Carey Price!

But how could you not include P.K. Subban and Martin St. Louis?  Two superstars that make a difference every time they play.

My approach would have been to pick the best possible team for talent and experience and put them on the ice from start to finish. Let them learn to play together and get over the added pressure of being still "on evaluation".

No way to build a winning team - in hockey or business.

(I know they are winning, but it shouldn't be this close. It just proves that when we have the luxury of a surplus of talent, it may be enough to make up for bad management.)