Autumn 2010
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Jack Hitt offers some great insights in his article, "The Fairway Test," in the September issue of The Rotarian magazine. In essence, Hitt notes that "everything you need to know about somebody can be learned in a round of golf."
Since the golf course is such a common place of business — both relationship-building and transactions, Hitt's observations are valuable.
Here's an excerpt from his article:
Another correspondent writes that he plays golf regularly with a friend who will announce after a terrible shot that he’s taking a “do-over.” What to do? Well, we all know this kind of guy, right? He thinks he’s the president of the United States. I called my brother, Bobby, on this one. He’s the golfer in the family, and immediately you can tell that he’s our father’s son.
“I would not play golf with someone who makes up rules that way,” he said. He suggested that one might ask at the beginning of the game, “OK, are we playing for a true score this time? No mulligans?” Part of any game is to ensure that everyone knows the rules before you start. So, all of you are complicit if you let a friend tweak the rules or get around them because you chose not to clarify them up front. At the very least, you should say, “How many do-overs are we going to allow on this round? And each will count as a stroke, right?” Why does golf even allow this kind of slack attitude? What would you say to a guy in a friendly poker game who announced that he’d like an extra card because his hand just wasn’t that good, or decided in the middle of a hand that one-eyed jacks were wild? Same essential principle.
But more than that, my brother said: “Ben Hogan used to say that golf is a game of recovery. It’s about what you’re going to do when you get into trouble. It’s about shooting out of the woods or a sand trap.” If one cheats over the very essence of the game, what does that say about your friend? “I wouldn’t do business with him,” added my brother, who said the golf course is where he often goes to take the measure of a man. “Everything you need to know about somebody you’re going to work with can be learned in a round of golf.”
I bet you've encountered some of the situations he describes. Click here to read the entire article at The Rotarian website.
You might also enjoy this PowerPoint presentation on the "truisms" of golf.
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Much criticism has been heaped in provisions of the federal health care reform and its potential consequences. While we have been among those criticizing aspects of the legislation, we’ve also praised its focus on wellness. We’re also happy to point out some positive benefits, as noted in a commentary written by Bob Barry of Connecture, Inc., in BizTimes Milwaukee.
Barry refers to the reasons that dissuade companies with fewer than 50 employees from providing health care coverage, versus those with more than 50 employees.
His insights on the situation, including the minimum loss ratio requirement, exchanges, tax credits and portability were given in a BizTimes Milwaukee blog. Click here to read the commentary.
Health Insurance Underwriter magazine has a good synopsis from The Cato Institute on the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act, commonly known as federal health care reform.
Among the conclusions: the bill will fall far short of its goal of universal coverage; it will cost far more than advertised; most Americans will see little change in their skyrocketing health care costs.
Milwaukee-area media recently reported on double-digit increases imposed on businesses here for health care plans. Wellness programs are effective in containing costs, according to a new white paper by United Benefit Advisors LLC.
The report offers best practices and case studies that will benefit any sized company. Click here to download the white paper in PDF form.
On a related note, it's good to see the success of Marquette University's wellness campaign, as noted in this letter by University Provost John Pauly.
New MPS superintendent Gregory Thornton will join a team of business leaders at a Sept. 28 meeting on what how education plays a role in the growth of business. The panel discussion will take place at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare in Franklin, and is being presented in conjunction witht the South Suburban Chamber of Commerce. Space is limited, and registration is required. See the invitation.
A panel of public and private sector experts will discuss implications of health care reform during an Oct. 5 event presented by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
The panelists will discuss tax implications, insurance exchanges and reporting and accounting rules.
Click here to see the flyer on the event, including registration information.
Let’s stay connected!
Read our Summer 2010 isue of Tillmar Connection