With the New Year comes a fresh chance to start making golf a
part of the way you do business.
Yeah, you have probably started off every year saying I am going
to do something to improve my game or I am going to play more
golf next year...and you end up sitting in the office looking at
reports showing your customer base eroding away, your sales
force losing clients and office morale hitting the deck... All
making you feel you just cannot justify going out and playing
golf when the 'sky is falling'.
If this is the case, believe me, I totally understand. I have
seen sales reports that looked like a deficit report and I have
had to deal with the consequences of cutting operations costs
and payroll to keep things a float. Not just once, but about 6
times in my 31 years in the corporate America...
If all of this is what is keeping you off the golf course, I can
tell you this, an take me very seriously when I say it ...go
play golf....
Now, before you go running off thinking that what I am saying is
lunacy, a complete waste of your time, or I am not taking your
problems and challenges for 2006 seriously, just hear me out and
you can turn your challenges into increased productivity, which
means increase in profits, if you do the right things.
Now, if you truly are in a world of hurt and your business
problems are not the result of poor marketing, declining sales
and low productivity, then you probably need to be reading
articles on the specific problem you are having and seeking
advise from one of my business associates I can turn you onto
that handle those problems.
But, if you are lacking sufficient marketing, losing loyal
customers and your employees are just not giving you their all,
then here is one of the Right Things to do...
Plan on taking a client to play golf when your weather will
allows it. Not just any client, take your top client out. Even
if he does not play golf, ask him to join you on the course. Or,
invite an employee out to play golf with you. Again, not just
any employee, ask the person who is always calling in sick or is
always tardy to join you for a round of golf... or ask your
sales manager to invite the potential client he is making a call
on to join you and him on the course...
Now, keep this in mind, you are going to be taking them out to
play Business Golf.
What the heck is Business Golf? Well, if you are a golfer, it is
a way of doing something healthy and taking a purposeful
approach to doing business. If you are a non-golfer, it still is
a healthy activity that can improve your business if done
correctly.
Take it from someone who has spent 31 years dealing with the
challenges every business person deals with...there is nothing I
have not seen or have not dealt with in some similar instances
that you will deal with on a day to day basis.
Even if your business had its best year ever, Business Golf fits
into securing your businesses success and placing profitability
as a norm instead of a challenge...
So what do I recommend you do to start playing Business Golf in
the New Year?
I outline in my book How To Play Business Golf some very good
ideas on how to purposefully go about using golf to do business
without making it look like you are trying to work your golfing
partner out of more than a $5 Nassau.
I think you will find that it is easier than you think to
accomplish what you want and need to do in 2006 if you plan on
playing more golf... It IS worth the time and effort..
About the author:
About The Author: As President of Innovative Business Golf
Solutions, Scot Duke provides over 31 years of operational
management experience to helping small businesses improve their
marketing strategies. Author of: How To Play Business Golf.The
best investment you can make for your business.
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