Greg Norman, "Traitors", and Trust

Greetings Golfers,

It’s good to be home. 

I love South Carolina … but home is home. And, the weather up here is as warm as Down South. We talked all day about opening. We would never force it … but if it stays warm … we’ll probably open in mid-March.

Is the reasoning emotional? Yes - we love golf and love sharing our love of golf and hospitality. Does it need to be logical and well thought-out? Of course. It’s both.

Just read an article about Greg Norman proudly proclaiming that none of his business decisions are emotional. He also said that using emotions in business decisions is a weakness.

Really? Is trust an emotion? Yes. So … being really smart and strong is not using trust in business decisions? Good luck - that’s a recipe for disaster.

Of course you need to use logic and facts when making good business decisions. But if you don’t use your instincts and emotions too … you’re vulnerable to con-men.

Some people would say it’s the opposite. It’s only the opposite if you have bad instincts.

Have you watched this new reality show called “Traitors”? They take a group of about 20 people and call the members of the group “Faithfuls”. But, within the group are 3 people who have been picked to be “Traitors” … unbeknownst to the “Faithfuls”. 

Then the game is that the group performs tasks to earn money … that will go to the winners - either “Faithfuls” or “Traitors”. And then after every task … the “Faithfuls” vote out a suspected “Traitor” … and every night the “Traitors” secretly vote out a “Faithful”. 

It might sound dumb … but it’s actually fascinating. You can’t believe how bad people are identifying the “Traitors”. It’s mind-boggling. They don’t use their instincts. They try to figure it out logically - which they’re not good at. And their lack of understanding human behavior is shocking. Put some dogs and little kids in the room and they’d pick the “Traitors” in a minute.

Well, I think the show is an analogy to most human group behavior. Whether it’s politics or business.

And what I trust … is trust! An emotion. I trust my logic - but not as much as my gut.

Sorry Greg … I don’t trust you. Not that you care about what I think … but I think you could easily get yourself in with some bad guys. Guys who your gut would have said not to trust. Oh … but you think emotions are a weakness.

Good luck with that.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com