Y'all, if you really wanna know if someone is actually who they say they are? Play nine holes with them.
9 or even 18 holes is all you need to decide...do I really wanna hang with this person or do business with them?
No need for 18, I guarantee you’ll have what you need by hole six…hear me out…
Golf has a weird way of pulling back the curtain on people faster than any LinkedIn profile, any pitch meeting, any reference check ever could. You’ll learn so very much about a person’s character in about two hours on a golf course.
How do they handle a bad shot? Do they own it or does the club suddenly have a problem? Do they cheat when they think nobody’s watching (and think you didn’t notice?) Are they the kind of person who celebrates your good shot or goes quiet and you think they’re judging you?
These aren’t small things, ya’ll! These are the exact things that matter in a business relationship.
The peeps who stay composed, laugh it off, and keep it moving even after they whiffed the ball? Those are your people. Add them to the contacts. Follow up on Monday. Hell…offer to grab drinks after the round…go all in, sis!
But the ones who blame the course, oh so conveniently miscalculate their score, or make the whole round about their mood? That’s information. Free, real-time, nobody-had-to-write-a-reference information.
Nine holes of golf doesn’t let you perform for very long. And honestly? That’s the whole gift each hole gives you!
So next time you’re deciding whether to move forward with someone, a partner, a client, a collaborator, offer up nine holes first. The course will tell you everything the conference room or a sales call never would.