This week’s episode of Office Hours features entrepreneur Jerome Bloch, who shares how lessons from golf have shaped his outlook on business and life.
I’ll be honest. My business career has had more disappointments than highlights.
In my early thirties, I was disappointed for three promotion cycles before I got the news that my grade had changed from H to G. I was disappointed when the firm sent me to be the deputy of an oil platform instead of putting me in charge of one of my own.
And virtually every annual pay discussion… you guessed it… disappointing.
That isn’t to say there haven’t been highlights. Arriving at work in May to a case of champagne from one of the partners when we met the annual target seven months early was cause for celebration.
Yes, I was disappointed at the speed of promotion. But they came in the end – and faster for me than for many others.
My business career is a lot like my squash career: more defeats than victories. I came close in a few junior tournaments. If you looked closely at my old junior trophies, you would see the words 'runner-up' a lot more than 'winner'.
Unless you are the best in the world at squash, there is always someone better than you. You learn to be comfortable with defeat. Frustrating in the moment, you learn to quickly get over it and chat with your opponent at the bar. Politely at first, then with genuine enjoyment of your shared love for a great game.
Learning these skills isn’t limited to squash. You learn them in all competitive sports.
You don't learn them watching films. James Bond always kills the baddies and gets the girl.
I really do believe that sport teaches the lessons you need in life, and the sooner you learn them the better.
You don’t need to be great at the sport. I was a very average junior and Sunday league footballer. We did win some trophies and leagues, but we certainly didn't win more than 50% of those we entered.
It then came as no surprise to me to discover that the successful entrepreneur, Jerome Bloch, had a background in sport. In my interview on this week’s episode of Office Hours, he shares how lessons from golf have shaped his outlook.
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If you would like your child to be the next Jerome Bloch, tear them away from Netflix and YouTube. Your kid is a good kid, but Tom Cruise is teaching them that the good guys and girls always win. MrBeast and the Sidemen are teaching them that anyone can become rich and famous.
Instead, chuck them in the car and take them down to your nearest golf, squash, football, tennis, or swimming club. And on the journey, put on Jerome's interview for them to listen to – you never know…
You could just have put them on the path to entrepreneurial and business success.
Listen to the podcast here:
