Life Lessons from Old Entitled White Guys

Firstly, I don't know this guy, but am told that he's 102 years of age and despite his expression, still loves his golf.

It has often been said that golf is a game for entitled white guys (who were rubbish at real sports) and history will record that some of this is true. As a very sad golf addict, I can share that it is a relatively healthy vice with countless benefits that I had either forgotten or occasionally ignored.

The catalyst for these ramblings is a book that I received from my brother in yesterday's post that kept me up late into the night.

"Golf in the Kingdom" by Michael Murphy is a very different sports book and is set in Scotland in the second half of the 20th Century.

This is all very nice and possibly mildly interesting, but why am I sharing this on LinkedIn?

Well, from the very start I was transported to Scotland and was very much a voyeur as the story unfolded, with each page delivering reminders of those timeless life lessons that the strange game of golf uniquely provides.

The great thing about life lessons is, surprisingly, they apply to life, not just golf, or family, or work.

This somewhat mystical novel provided some obvious and some subtle reminders of the importance of the following (and much more):

• Honesty and integrity - there is no external umpire or referee - you live by your decisions and actions.
• Good manners - in golf it's still called etiquette, but it means the same as consideration and respect is paramount.
• Presence - the ability to be in the moment and block out all external distractions such as work, phones and worries.
• Committed Decision-making - the ability to focus, trust, commit and execute can bring great results, yet doubt or distraction will usually deliver failure.
• Resilience - as in life, bad decisions and bad shots happen. What happens next is what determines the outcome and the makeup of the person.
• Humility - on those rare occasions when the ball behaves, the ability to quietly celebrate and cherish the moment, understanding that any boasting or brash thoughts of "I've figured this game out" will quickly result in a rapid fall to a deep and lonely chasm.
• Gratitude - acknowledging and appreciating how lucky you are to be who you are and where you are, as countless millions could not even imagine such a privilege.
• Beauty - the sounds, smells and shapes of your environment is similar to being in the moment for yourself and those around you, with this being about the natural environment that supports and sustains us.
• Friendship - whilst solitude and quiet time can be rejuvenating in measured doses, we are wired to be social and genuine, supportive friendships provide comfort, balance and sustenance that keep us healthy and happy.

I am sure that many other sporting novels could also deliver some important reminders on what is truly important and what is ultimately trivial yet believe that golf stands alone in the breadth and depth of life lessons available to those who walk the fairways and are open to reflection and honest introspection.

Perhaps next time you are reviewing candidates for a new position or a promotion, ask them if they play sports, and what lessons they have learnt from the experience.