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Summary: A great investment. Required business reading.
Review: Author Mike Smith is articulate and delivers a highly organized, common sense look at how to comport oneself while on the links w/ a client. All 18 chapters give you the chance to score your "game" versus what may be your competition! A fun, quick read choc full of great advice. Go for it!
Rating:
Summary: A great investment. Required business reading.
Review: Author Mike Smith is articulate and delivers a highly organized, common sense look at how to comport oneself while on the links w/ a client. All 18 chapters give you the chance to score your "game" versus what may be your competition! A fun, quick read choc full of great advice. Go for it!
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Summary: Business to Business Golf: How to Swing your Way to Business
Review: Great read! Short but informative. A clever approach to things that are common snes in business as well as some great new insight. Get several copies for you and your associates. Great promo gift for businesses.
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Summary: A Banker's Review of B to B Golf
Review: I entertain clients on the Golf Course frequently. This book gave me real insight into Customer golf. First, I found it very easy reading, and easy to follow. The Business to Business Golf Principles contained within the book are real, and worthwhile. I was particularly impressed with the 18 Chapters - Equal to the number of holes in a golf game. Smith gives easy to follow instructions in how to become more successful in your Business, through Customer entertainment on the Golf Course. A most interactive experience.
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Summary: Fun Reading For Entrepreneurs and Golfers
Review: If you're an entrepreneur who likes to play golf or if you think playing golf could be a good business networking opportunity for you, you'll enjoy reading "Business-To-Business Golf: How To Swing Your Way To Business Success" by Michael Smith.Smith divides his book into eighteen chapters, one for each hole of golf. Smith begins by posing a question about business-golf etiquette, answers it, and then discusses solid business ideas based upon his experience in the financial services industry and as an entrepreneur in the field of manufacturing. On the 6th hole, Smith gives us this scenario: "... You're on the green putting for a birdie from about twenty-five feet away. Your guest is standing quite close to you and does not seem to realize how much it is bothering your concentration. You wish to communicate using one of the following:" Smith gives three possible golf-etiquette answers: "A. Wave your arm at your guest to have him or her move a little and say nothing. B. In a pleasant way, ask your guest to move away since it is bothering you. C. Don't rock the boat since this is an important client and you do not want to miss any sale opportunities. Go ahead and putt." What? Whack the guest on the shin with your putter is not an option? Smith says the correct answer is B because it shows diplomacy and shows you're willing to confront problems without hesitation. Smith says C is the worst choice because it may indicate a personal weakness your guest is trying to probe--a lack of assertion which might well lead you to hide problems from the client. On the 8th hole, Smith poses the question: "...Your second shot finds you just off the fairway in the rough. While addressing the ball, you inadvertently touch the ball with your club and the ball moves from its original position about an inch or so. You know full well that the golf rules mandate a one stroke penalty." What do you do? Smith gives these choices: "A. Do not worry about it since your guest was on the opposite side of the fairway and could not have possibly noticed. B. Your intention is to say something but wait until later in the round. C. You immediately add the penalty to your score and hit the ball. You advise your guest right away of your score." The birdie (correct answer) is C. However, since the film "The Legend of Bagger Vance," I question people who call strokes against themselves for just touching the ball. Are they really just being honest or are they sacrificing an insignificant golf stroke to impress me with their Matt Damon honesty? So, maybe, if you are playing the skeptical, untrusting sort, it's better to ignore the minor touch. Or, if you feel it's really a question of ethics, take a huge swing and run it over the top of the ball! Personally, I feel that the rules of golf should be changed to exclude any stroke, excluding putts, which moves the ball less than about five feet! Many of the golf-etiquette lessons are pretty basic, but some are also more advanced and could really help you in a business-golf situation. For example, I didn't know that the rules of golf disallow a person to search for a ball for more than five minutes. While half of "Business-To-Business Golf: How To Swing Your Way To Business Success" is devoted to golf etiquette, the other half is devoted to business lessons entrepreneurs will find useful. For example, Smith tells us about the 80/20 principle which says that for many businesses only 20% of all customers account for 80% of the company's sales. Smith compares business measurements to golf scores. How can you know how well your company is doing if you don't keep proper score? Smith writes: "Do you list your most important statistics? Can you readily assess your key costs? How are your sales listed--by type of units or services, volume or profitability? Who are your most profitable customers? Why do they place their business with you? Are there others that you can add to your list of key customers? Do you know what your tip customers represent in overall sales to your business?" Smith suggests listing your top 20% of customers by both gross sales and profitability and then looking for similarities between these customers so that you'll have more insight into finding profitable customers. "Business-To-Business Golf" also contains a short glossary of golf terms (bogey is one over par, birdie is one under par) and a short list of some basic golf rules which people new to golf can use. Overall, if you enjoy golf (or, are just learning to play it) and you enjoy reading about business, you'll probably enjoy Business-To-Business Golf. Peter Hupalo, Author of "Thinking Like An Entrepreneur."
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Summary: Highly recommended for the novice golfer
Review: In Business-To-Business Golf: How To Swing Your Way To Business Success, business development specials and golfer Michael Smith shows the reader how to make "business golf" work to advance their corporate interests in a informative, easy-to-read guide. This "user friendly" how-to manual is peppered with real life business golf situations, topics and tips. Here are to be found practical golf-course tips to help close a deal; when, where and how to bring up your business while golfing; the use of key golf rules and etiquette during a round of golf; as well as developing business relationships within the context of the golfing experience. The informative text is ideally suited and highly recommended for the novice golfer just getting started in the business world, as well as offering a wealth of insights for the more experienced business golfer on doing business while enjoying the game.
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Summary: Refreshing
Review: In this age of ethical confusion detached from traditional sources of guidance Mike's delightful compendium of observations is refreshing indeed. This slender volume poses and answers disarmingly simple questions that often lead to exquisitely delicious reflections on morals and mores. You'll love it if you love golf or life.
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Summary: Refreshing
Review: In this age of ethical confusion detached from traditional sources of guidance Mike's delightful compendium of observations is refreshing indeed. This slender volume poses and answers disarmingly simple questions that often lead to exquisitely delicious reflections on morals and mores. You'll love it if you love golf or life.
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Summary: "Must" reading for serious business golfers
Review: Mike Smith's book did more for me in one round of golf than any other book I have read about business relationships. It is easy to read, packed with useful information and will help you avoid making mistakes in etiquette that could cost you a lot more than the cost of the book. It is written for golfers but Mike's common-sense approach to creating successful business relationships is transferable to any situation. As far as golf books go, it's an eagle!
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Summary: Fun to read - excellent insight
Review: Mike Smith's book is packed with tips that are very helpful both on the golf course and at the office. As a re-emerging golfer, I found it helpful for my golf game and etiquette, and it has given me useful insight into running my business.
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