Tag Archives: life

September 22, 2015 · 11:02 am

A Lesson On Sorry

You have probably heard of The Ryder Cup even if you’re not a golfer.  The women’s version of that competition is called The Solheim Cup and it was contested over the weekend.  During the run of play, an incident occurred between one of the European golfers and an American.  I’ll explain it in a second (with minimal golf jargon – you’re welcome) but it’s what has happened afterwards that’s instructive to all of us in business.

Solheim Cup

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The cup competitions are match play.  The total score you shoot is immaterial; you just need to have a better score than the person you’re playing on any particular hole to win that hole.  Most holes won wins the match.  Unlike the tournaments you’re used to seeing on TV, a golfer doesn’t have to putt out – finish the hole – if their opponent concedes that the next putt will be made.  Most short (2 feet and under) putts are conceded since at this level, golfers rarely miss anything that short.

What happened was that an American missed a long putt and had an 18-inch putt coming back.  The Europeans walked away from the hole and the green, so the American assumed they had conceded the putt and picked up the ball.  At that point, one of the very experienced European golfers informed her that they had not conceded the putt and the US just lost the hole at a critical point in the match.  Everyone was stunned at this bit of gamesmanship.  While she was correct with the rules of the game (you can’t assume the concession and just pick up your ball), it is way out of line with the spirit of these competitions and how the game is played.

I’m sorry for that long introduction, but it’s what has happened since that’s instructive.  In two words: she apologized.  You can read her heartfelt apology here, and it is a model for how any business or businessperson should act when they have screwed up.  It shows the difference between “I’m sorry” and the far too common “I’m sorry but…” or “I’m sorry if I offended anyone”.

This is how she begins:

I am so sorry for not thinking about the bigger picture in the heat of the battle and competition. I was trying my hardest for my team and put the single match and the point that could be earned ahead of sportsmanship and the game of golf itself! I feel like I let my team down and I am sorry.

She goes on to acknowledge each of the offended parties and to ask for forgiveness, promising to earn back each party’s faith and trust.  The next time I need to say I’m sorry for something, this will be my model.  You?

Leave a comment

Filed under Helpful Hints, What's Going On

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

September 17, 2015 · 11:19 am

The Bright Side

I have a confession: I am an unrepentant optimist. I’m told that I can find a silver lining in almost any circumstance, and while I’m not a complete idiot with respect to denying reality, I also don’t fall into the trap of seeing only the negative. Anyone who knows me will tell you I have a skeptical side (bordering on cynical), but I think they’d also recognize my generally optimistic nature. What does this have to do with your business?

It has to do with how new concepts are perceived by optimists.  You probably hear about new ideas all the time. Sometimes those ideas make waves, and sometimes they bring storm warnings with respect to the future. It is easy to dismiss them. It’s also easy to find fault with them. You might ask yourself if whatever is being proposed is going to work. That is the wrong question in my mind since inherent in that question is the skeptic’s point of view. You assume there is a chance, maybe even a good chance, that it won’t work.  You dismiss the idea and the possibility of any of the circumstances that might eventuate thereafter.

Optimistic little me doesn’t ask that question. I tend to think about what might happen if the new idea does work, however unlikely that might be. What next? How is my business different? What new competitors or markets emerge?  Even if they don’t, by not having dismissed the new thinking out of hand, I’m better prepared to deal with whatever happens.

I tend to look on the bright side of life, as the song (below) suggests.  Putting aside the positive mental outlook I think optimism provides, from a business perspective using the optimistic perspective would have allowed you to be ready for many of the changes of the last 30 years.  So sing along with the Pythons and tell me if you don’t feel better!

Leave a comment

Filed under Helpful Hints, Thinking Aloud

Tagged as , , , , ,

September 15, 2015 · 12:15 pm

Undefeated But Beaten

Over the weekend, Floyd Mayweather fought what he claimed would be his last fight. Whether or not you know boxing, there is something instructive in what Mayweather has done. Unfortunately, it’s not about being great. Mayweather is retiring with an unblemished record in the ring: 49-0. This ties Rocky Marciano‘s unbeaten record, but there is a huge difference between the two. That difference makes a great business point as well.

English: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Juan Manuel...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For the last few years, Mayweather was fighting what are called in boxing “tomato cans.”  Boxers either of far lesser skill or once great boxers past their prime.  He has done so with one notion in mind: not to lose and keep his record clean.  In so doing he can do something greats such as Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard couldn’t: retire unbeaten.  That record, though, is criticized for how he hand-picked his opponents rather than fighting the best opponents available, something other great fighters rarely did.  He was more focused on not losing than on beating the best. It’s a shame, and that’s the business point.

No one likes to lose.  That said, what kind of victory is it when we know we’re not being pushed to be our best?  In my mind, the lessons one learns from a tough loss are more important than those learned from an easy victory, mostly because in the unsatisfying walkover there really aren’t any lessons to be learned.  That’s not to say we need to accept losing, but it does mean that we can’t compromise our greatness to avoid the possibility.  The best business lessons often come when we’re on the short end of a decision, and we need to embrace the value of those losses even as we hate losing itself.

I suspect that Mayweather will fight again.  His main focus has always been on making more money in the ring than any fighter in history (something he’s already accomplished) and he’ll win the fight easily because his opponent will be a joke (this last one lost his last three fights previous to fighting Mayweather).  His bank account will shine; his reputation will be further tarnished.  Unlike Marciano who fought everyone both good and bad in his weight class, Mayweather may be undefeated but he’s been beaten, in my book.  Yours?

Leave a comment

Filed under Reality checks, Thinking Aloud

Tagged as , , , , , , ,