Golf is one of the greatest pastimes anyone can take up. That is according to Dr. John Binkley. With the attention devoted to his role of Chairman at Generational Equity and his work with numerous faith-based organizations, a few rounds of golf provide a welcome break for Dr. Binkley and his loved ones.

“I love golf. It teaches discipline, integrity and courtesy. Golf is a game of a lifetime. It takes a lifetime to learn it and it can be played for a lifetime. It is a game I can enjoy with our son and grandchildren even until I am age 100.”

As Dr. Binkley describes, golf is the game of a lifetime, for a lifetime. It is something that he can share with his family and friends, use to break the ice with fellow professionals, and develop as a player and a person.

But, can it have an impact on your business acumen?

Of course, in Dr. Binkley’s work with Generational Equity, many business owners are keen to move beyond their business to devote more time to their favorite pursuits, with golf high on that list. Because, after years spent building a company ready for a successful sale, what could be more rewarding than being able to enjoy as many peaceful afternoons on the course as you’d like?

Plus, as previously mentioned, it is a sport that teaches discipline, integrity and courtesy, which are essential attributes for success in business, especially when pursuing the optimal exit.

• You need discipline to persevere through the months of collecting data and negotiations
• You need integrity to ensure all information shared is honest and justifiable
• You need courtesy to build strong relationships with business buyers

John Glozek Jr. found a similar connection between golf and business in his book Business Golf: Your Key to Business Success Through Golf. Here, Glozek describes his experience of using this sport to help him grow in his business pursuits, all the way to starting his own golfing magazine. For Dr. John Binkley, the golf course is a great place to meet with clients and colleagues to establish a rapport and make major breakthroughs. You’d be amazed what you can achieve after just 18 holes!

Finally, what makes golf a great tool for building essential business skills is how it helps you overcome challenges. Golf is not easy, and after many years on the green, Dr. Binkley is still finding ways to improve. It could mean better equipment, a smoother swing or a different approach, but he’s always looking for ways to advance.

For business owners, the mantra is pretty much the same. Dr. Binkley has put decades of effort into building Generational Equity into one of the leading middle-market M&A firms in North America. It didn’t happen overnight, and refinements continue to help grow the business to the next level. Dr. Binkley and his son Ryan (who is President & CEO of the firm) often share their thoughts on growing the company over a round or two.

No matter what industry your business resides in, you’ll make mistakes that you’ll want to take another swing at over the years. It all helps to build your formula for success. Whether it’s practicing the perfect putt, or finding the most effective way to limit expenses in your company, you need to be determined.

Start out on the course and see what you might be able to apply to your business. You’ll find there’s a lot more to this game than meets the eye.

To learn more about Dr. John Binkley’s work, please visit Generational Equity’s website or his LinkedIn profile. In addition, you can find out more about his roots in business by reading this blog post.